Using the Enter key in another program's Textbox

[API newbie]

I have used the SendMessage Function to send text to another program's text box. The program requires that the enter key be hit to send the text.
Anyone know how I can make my program use the enter key?

[Oafo]

Use the API SendMessageLong and pass vbKeyReturn as one of the parameters. If you need some source, just ask.

[stevereno]

I have not tested this, but this may help you get where you want to be:

1. determine the ascii value of the enter key, it should be 13, but I don't remember if this is hex or base 10. To find the ascii value of any key, use KeyPress, like so:

Private Sub Text1_KeyPress(KeyAscii As Integer)
Print KeyAscii
End Sub

Now, run program and press the enter key

2. Convert this number to a character and use Send Message to send this also, like:
dim KeyAscii as Integer (or could be Long)
dim Acharacter as String

Acharacter = Chr(KeyAscii)

Append Acharacter to the string you wish to send using "&".

[API newbie]

Oafo, some code example would help out a lot, thanks.

[API newbie]

stevereno, I tried your method but I don't know what constant to use. With WM_SetText, I see a square box.
Here's what I used:

acharacter = Chr(13)
Mess = txtWindow.Text & acharacter
Sendit = SendMessage(qWnd, WM_SETTEXT, ByVal 0&, ByVal Mess)
Is WM_SETTEXT wrong ?

[stevereno]

I do not know enough to tell you what value to use as the second parameter. I think you may need to play with a few things unless you can get more experienced help, but here is something you might look into:

go to http://www.allapi.net/apilist/apilist.php?beginletter=S
click on SendMessage
review the examples and see how they have used a variety of things for that second parameter...

Send Message:
Const LB_FINDSTRING = &H18F

Redirect output:
Private Const EM_SETSEL = &HB1
Private Const EM_REPLACESEL = &HC2

Hotkey:
Const WM_SETHOTKEY = &H32
Const WM_SHOWWINDOW = &H18

Rich Text Line Numbers:
Private Const EM_GETLINE = &HC4
Private Const EM_GETLINECOUNT = &HBA
Private Const EM_LINEINDEX = &HBB
Private Const EM_LINELENGTH = &HC1

Drag Form:
Const WM_NCLBUTTONDOWN = &HA1

It almost seems that this number is a function of the app you are sending the string into.

all for now

[API newbie]

THANKS A LOT FOR YOUR HELP!
I used: keybd_event(VK_RETURN, 1, 0, 0)
and got it to work. I really appreciate your help.

[Joey_k29]

The only problem with keybd_event is it requires focus. If you can not insure it will have focus, you should try this:

PostMessage (arrays[1], WM_KEYDOWN, 13, 0) ; 
PostMessage (arrays[1], WM_KEYUP, 13, 0) ;

I took the code from my c++ program, but I do not see why it wouldn't work in vb. The advantage is that it does not require that the form have focus. Hope this helps.

Joe

[Megatron]

Here is the VB equivilent of Joey's code.

PostMessage hwnd_of_window, WM_KEYDOWN, vbKeyReturn, 0

[API newbie]

Wow, you guys are really helpful!
Thanks for code Joey and Megatron.