why keybd_event does not work in this case?

I want to send some key strokes to another application. I tried:

Keybd_event and sendinput

However, it seems the application does not get the key strokes, since after keybd_event or sendinput, the application does not act as it is supposed to be (i.e. if send a 'ESC', it should pop up a window). The weird thing is if I press the 'ESC' directly, the window pops up. And, if I use my program on 'Notebook', it is ok (i.e. if I send 'a', 'a' will show in notebook the same as I press 'a' directly).

What's the possible reason? Is it possible for me to overcome this?

BTW, the application I'm working on is a video game.

thanks

:( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :(

Did you try SendKeys?

.

Use SendKeys.

System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys

Use SendKeys to send keystrokes and keystroke combinations to the active application.

Each key is represented by one or more characters. To specify a single keyboard character, use the character itself. For example, to represent the letter A, pass in the string "A" to the method. To represent more than one character, append each additional character to the one preceding it. To represent the letters A, B, and C, specify the parameter as "ABC".

The plus sign (+), caret (^), percent sign (%), tilde (~), and parentheses () have special meanings to SendKeys. To specify one of these characters, enclose it within braces ({}). For example, to specify the plus sign, use {+}. Brackets ([ ]) have no special meaning to SendKeys, but you must enclose them in braces. To specify brace characters, use {{} and {}}.



---- see MSDN

:wave:

that the program in question that you are trying to send your simulated key presses to is not currently in focus during the routine?

Quote:

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Originally posted by honeybee
Did you try SendKeys?

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yes, doesnot work

Quote:

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Originally posted by sw_is_great
Use SendKeys.

System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys

Use SendKeys to send keystrokes and keystroke combinations to the active application.

---- see MSDN

:wave:

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thanks, however, I am using VB6. I'll try .NET

Quote:

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Originally posted by TokersBall_CDXX
that the program in question that you are trying to send your simulated key presses to is not currently in focus during the routine?

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It is currently in focus.
:blush: :blush: :blush: :blush:

setting focus to the program in question?

Quote:

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Originally posted by TokersBall_CDXX
setting focus to the program in question?

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my program is supposed to run at the background and send key strokes to the foreground program which is a game and using DirectX for graphics.

so, the focus must be on the game, not my program.

Are you certain DirectX is letting the keybd_event calls execute and process?

Still, DirectInput might somehow be the culprit, although that would be a bit odd.

Quote:

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Originally posted by jemidiah
Are you certain DirectX is letting the keybd_event calls execute and process?

Still, DirectInput might somehow be the culprit, although that would be a bit odd.

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Yes, DX should let keybd_event calls execute and process. I tested it on another game, it is ok. It is weird that it does not work on current game.

I searched google, another guy had this problem too. He said that he overcame this problem by installing a debug version of DX8, then it is ok. Also, all the works were on WinXP. And he had no problem on Win2k at all. It is weird, isn't it?

I guess it is because of DX or WinXP?

BTW, where I can donwload debug version of DX8? Can not find it on Microsoft.