The Capture Screen Issue

[Q_Gecko]

Ok I have read almost all forums relating this topic. But mine is somewhat different. I need the complete code to directly capture the active window/screen and get a color on a specified point on it. It can't be entered in the clipboard because it will make it slow, and besides it needs it to do this repeatly about every 40 milisec.

And I don't need to delclare the API funtions anymore because I stumbled on what might help all of you. If you reply I will tell you.

[Serge]

All you really need is to use GetPixel API which will return the color of the pixel.

[Q_Gecko]

I already know that, I just want the complete code.

[Serge]

Well, not a problem. Add a picture box to your form that will display the color of the current pixel. Also add a timer control and change it's interval property to 50:

Private Type POINTAPI
    X As Long
    Y As Long
End Type
Private Declare Function GetCursorPos Lib "user32" (lpPoint As POINTAPI) As Long
Private Declare Function GetPixel Lib "gdi32" (ByVal hdc As Long, ByVal X As Long, ByVal Y As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function GetDC Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long) As Long
 
Private Sub Timer1_Timer()
    Dim pt As POINTAPI
    Dim lngDC As Long
    
    '0 indicate the Desktop window
    lngDC = GetDC(0)
    Call GetCursorPos(pt)
    Picture1.BackColor = GetPixel(lngDC, pt.X, pt.Y)
End Sub

[Q_Gecko]

I am not using the mouse movement, I just need the snapshot of a screen or active window, then put into a picturebox without calling the clipboard. All under 40 miliseconds. I want it to be as fastest as can be. I tried everything but my coding made it to slow. I am just asking for a fast code that can do this repeatly.

[Q_Gecko]

You want to know how to never call API functions or what. You scratch my back I scratch yours.

[Serge]

No Thanx, my back is fine

I dont understand what exactly you're after. When you take a snapshot of the window, what portion of the snapshot color do you want to know???

[Q_Gecko]

It doesn't matter what color, just put anything in like a variant or rgb color code.

[Serge]

Then I don't understand what you're after at all.

[Q_Gecko]

Ok I'll start over. I just need to capture the sceen within a game and get the pixel color of position 4500,3600. However it gives me back "-1." So how can I do this? And it must not go into the clipbaord I don't want it to be slow because it has to do this under 250 miliseconds, also repeatedly. You see my problem? And the color I'm trying to get is 255 (Red). And what is supose to do is that if the pixel is red:

call keybd_event(VK_SPACE, 0, 0, 0)

And then it needs to shut off some how because it will act like it keeps pressing the spacebar.

There's My Problem.

P.S.
And if you never want to call API, user32, or gdi32 functions. Just add this file to your reference. You need the windows 98 CD, and find "win.tlb." This contains almost every function for Windows.

[Serge]

It gives you -1 because you have to translate your coordinates to be relative to the screen and not the form.

P.S.
And if you never want to call API, user32, or gdi32 functions. Just add this file to your reference. You need the windows 98 CD, and find "win.tlb." This contains almost every function for Windows.

I like using pure APIs

[Q_Gecko]

Up

[TiPeRa]

http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?threadid=146730

[Q_Gecko]

Ok I'll repeat this again... there is no mouse in the game! So there is no way you can get a pixel color with a mouse over it.

Here, the simplest form:

Game Screen
to
GetPixel of Point on Game Screen
to
If color is red then...
to
Send Virtual Keys to Game

You understand?

[Shawn N]

you're
treating
the
directx
window
as
having
a
regular
device
context.
i
don't
think
it
does.

[TiPeRa]

If the window does have a normal DC can't you?

Get the handle of the window.
Get the DC of the window.
Get the pixel in the window.

[Q_Gecko]

I'm not treating as a window or a dc. I'm treating it as a whole screen. Like the screen is an image, not as contents.

[Shawn N]

looks like someone needs to read up on their gdi usage...

[TiPeRa]

What game is it?

[Q_Gecko]

Can't you just give me the code?

[Mc Brain]

Ok... since there's no mouse on the game you won't matter what happen with it, do you? If so... here's a tricky solution:

Private Type POINTAPI
    X As Long
    Y As Long
End Type
Private Declare Function GetDesktopWindow Lib "user32" () As Long
Private Declare Function GetWindowDC Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function GetCursorPos Lib "user32" (lpPoint As POINTAPI) As Long
Private Declare Function GetPixel Lib "gdi32" (ByVal hdc As Long, ByVal X As Long, ByVal Y As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function SetCursorPos Lib "user32" (ByVal X As Long, ByVal Y As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function ShowCursor Lib "user32" (ByVal bShow As Long) As Long
 
Private X As Single
Private Y As Single
 
Private Sub Form_Load()
    Timer1.Enabled = True
    ShowCursor 0
    X = 50
    Y = 500
End Sub
 
Private Sub Form_Unload(Cancel As Integer)
    ShowCursor 1
End Sub
 
Private Sub Timer1_Timer()
    Dim dc As Long, pt As POINTAPI
    X = X + 1
    Y = Y + 1
    
    If X = 300 Then Unload Me
    
    SetCursorPos X, Y
    GetCursorPos pt
    dc = GetWindowDC(0)
    colour = GetPixel(dc, pt.X, pt.Y)
    Me.BackColor = colour
End Sub

[Mc Brain]

Originally posted by Q_Gecko
Can't you just give me the code?

I think you're getting a bit annoying. No-one here is compelled to answer you.... and you're not asking for it in the nice way. So, let the sarcasm go... OK?

[Q_Gecko]

THAAAAANNNNNNKKKKKKKK YOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!
There really is life out there.

If you can come up with a better code I'll be happy, but this one is perfect. No one else would give me a good code but you.

[Shawn N]

Originally posted by Q_Gecko
Can't you just give me the code?

[Mc Brain]

Of course, you will need to calculate the coordinates for the point you were looking... but I let that work to you. I did this way to be sure that it was working.

[TiPeRa]

Mc Bain - Why are you doing?

SetCursorPos X, Y
GetCursorPos pt

To me that makes no sense. They are both in screen coordinates aren't they?

[Mc Brain]

You're absolutely right... I just got Megatron's code (I think) and do the re-position of the mouse. This way is better, then

Option Explicit
 
Private Declare Function GetWindowDC Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function GetPixel Lib "gdi32" (ByVal hdc As Long, ByVal X As Long, ByVal Y As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function SetCursorPos Lib "user32" (ByVal X As Long, ByVal Y As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function ShowCursor Lib "user32" (ByVal bShow As Long) As Long
 
Private X As Single
Private Y As Single
 
Private Sub Form_Load()
    Timer1.Enabled = True
    ShowCursor 0
    X = 50
    Y = 500
End Sub
 
Private Sub Form_Unload(Cancel As Integer)
    ShowCursor 1
    End
End Sub
 
Private Sub Timer1_Timer()
    Dim dc As Long
    Dim colour As Long
    X = X + 1
    Y = Y + 1
    
    If X = 100 Then Unload Me
    
    SetCursorPos X, Y
    dc = GetWindowDC(0)
    colour = GetPixel(dc, X, Y)
    Me.BackColor = colour
End Sub

[Mc Brain]

Originally posted by Mc Brain
You're absolutely right... I just got Megatron's code ...

Actually, I guess it's pretty similar to Serge's code, as well.

[TiPeRa]

Or even:

Private Declare Function GetWindowDC Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function GetPixel Lib "gdi32" (ByVal hdc As Long, ByVal X As Long, ByVal y As Long) As Long
Private Sub Timer1_Timer()
    Dim dc As Long
    Dim colour As Long
    Dim X As Long
    Dim y As Long
    X = 4500 / Screen.TwipsPerPixelX 'Twips to pixels.
    y = 3600 / Screen.TwipsPerPixelY
    dc = GetWindowDC(0)
    Colour = GetPixel(dc, X, y)
    If Colour = vbRed then 'Send Message here.
End Sub

[Mc Brain]

Right again (I think) but it was harder to see if it was getting the right colour.