How can i send an "CTRL" -i command using PostMessage (or SendMessage) ?

Hello
Sending normal chars works fine, but how can i send an "CTRL" -i command
using PostMessage (or SendMessage) ?


Sample:






Private Declare Function PostMessage Lib "user32" Alias "PostMessageA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, ByVal lParam As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA" (ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
Private Const WM_KEYDOWN = &H100
Private Const WM_KEYUP = &H101
Private Const WM_CHAR = &H102
Private Const WM_SYSKEYDOWN = &H104
Private Const WM_SYSKEYUP = &H105
Private Const VK_SHIFT = &H10
Private Const VK_CONTROL = &H11
Dim hWn


Private Sub Form_Load()
Visible = False
hWn = FindWindow("ieframe", vbNullString) 'Find the IExplorer window (Clsname="IEFrame")
'sending CTRL-i (Toggels the "Favorites" Window visible-invisible-visible, in German IExplorer)
PostMessage hWn, WM_KEYDOWN, VK_CONTROL, 0
PostMessage hWn, WM_KEYDOWN, Asc("I"), 0
PostMessage hWn, WM_KEYUP, Asc("I"), 0
PostMessage hWn, WM_KEYUP, VK_CONTROL, 0
End Sub


Sub sendAlt_DN()
'sends ALT-D-N (=File Menu, in German IExplorer)
PostMessage hWn, WM_SYSKEYDOWN, Asc("D"), &H20200001 'Alt-D Down
t = Timer: While Timer - t < 0.8: DoEvents: Wend
PostMessage hWn, WM_SYSKEYDOWN, Asc("N"), &H20200001 'Alt-N Down
End Sub










<img src="http://members.theglobe.com/HenryForts/Pusteblume.gif"><img src="http://members.theglobe.com/HenryForts/Pusteblume.gif">


Virtual-Key Codes

Const VK_LBUTTON = &H1
Const VK_RBUTTON = &H2
Const VK_CANCEL = &H3
Const VK_MBUTTON = &H4 ' NOT contiguous with L RBUTTON
Const VK_BACK = &H8
Const VK_TAB = &H9
Const VK_CLEAR = &HC
Const VK_RETURN = &HD
Const VK_SHIFT = &H10
Const VK_CONTROL = &H11
Const VK_MENU = &H12
Const VK_PAUSE = &H13
Const VK_CAPITAL = &H14
Const VK_ESCAPE = &H1B
Const VK_SPACE = &H20
Const VK_PRIOR = &H21
Const VK_NEXT = &H22
Const VK_END = &H23
Const VK_HOME = &H24
Const VK_LEFT = &H25
Const VK_UP = &H26
Const VK_RIGHT = &H27
Const VK_DOWN = &H28
Const VK_SELECT = &H29
Const VK_PRINT = &H2A
Const VK_EXECUTE = &H2B
Const VK_SNAPSHOT = &H2C
Const VK_INSERT = &H2D
Const VK_DELETE = &H2E
Const VK_HELP = &H2F

VK_0 30 0 key
VK_1 31 1 key
VK_2 32 2 key
VK_3 33 3 key
VK_4 34 4 key
VK_5 35 5 key
VK_6 36 6 key
VK_7 37 7 key
VK_8 38 8 key
VK_9 39 9 key
3A–40 Undefined
VK_A 41 A key
VK_B 42 B key
VK_C 43 C key
VK_D 44 D key
VK_E 45 E key
VK_F 46 F key
VK_G 47 G key
VK_H 48 H key
VK_I 49 I key
VK_J 4A J key
VK_K 4B K key
VK_L 4C L key
VK_M 4D M key
VK_N 4E N key
VK_O 4F O key
VK_P 50 P key
VK_Q 51 Q key
VK_R 52 R key
VK_S 53 S key
VK_T 54 T key
VK_U 55 U key
VK_V 56 V key
VK_W 57 W key
VK_X 58 X key
VK_Y 59 Y key
VK_Z 5A Z key
VK_LWIN 5B Left Windows key on a Microsoft Natural Keyboard
VK_RWIN 5C Right Windows key on a Microsoft Natural Keyboard
VK_APPS 5D Applications key on a Microsoft Natural Keyboard
5E–5F Undefined
VK_NUMPAD0 60 Numeric keypad 0 key
VK_NUMPAD1 61 Numeric keypad 1 key
VK_NUMPAD2 62 Numeric keypad 2 key
VK_NUMPAD3 63 Numeric keypad 3 key
VK_NUMPAD4 64 Numeric keypad 4 key
VK_NUMPAD5 65 Numeric keypad 5 key
VK_NUMPAD6 66 Numeric keypad 6 key
VK_NUMPAD7 67 Numeric keypad 7 key
VK_NUMPAD8 68 Numeric keypad 8 key
VK_NUMPAD9 69 Numeric keypad 9 key
VK_MULTIPLY 6A Multiply key
VK_ADD 6B Add key
VK_SEPARATOR 6C Separator key
VK_SUBTRACT 6D Subtract key
VK_DECIMAL 6E Decimal key
VK_DIVIDE 6F Divide key
VK_F1 70 F1 key
VK_F2 71 F2 key
VK_F3 72 F3 key
VK_F4 73 F4 key
VK_F5 74 F5 key
VK_F6 75 F6 key
VK_F7 76 F7 key
VK_F8 77 F8 key
VK_F9 78 F9 key
VK_F10 79 F10 key
VK_F11 7A F11 key
VK_F12 7B F12 key
VK_F13 7C F13 key
VK_F14 7D F14 key
VK_F15 7E F15 key
VK_F16 7F F16 key
VK_F17 80H F17 key
VK_F18 81H F18 key
VK_F19 82H F19 key
VK_F20 83H F20 key
VK_F21 84H F21 key
VK_F22 85H F22 key
VK_F23 86H F23 key
VK_F24 87H F24 key
88–8F Unassigned
VK_NUMLOCK 90 NUM LOCK key
VK_SCROLL 91 SCROLL LOCK key
VK_LSHIFT 0xA0 Left SHIFT
VK_RSHIFT 0xA1 Right SHIFT
VK_LCONTROL 0xA2 Left CTRL
VK_RONTROL 0xA3 Right CTRL
VK_LMENU 0xA4 Left ALT
VK_RMENU 0xA5 Right ALT
BA-C0 OEM-specific; reserved. See following tables.
C1-DA Unassigned
DB-E2 OEM-specific; reserved. See following tables.
E3 – E4 OEM-specific
E5 Unassigned
E6 OEM-specific
E7-E8 Unassigned
E9-F5 OEM-specific
VK_ATTN F6 ATTN key
VK_CRSEL F7 CRSEL key
VK_EXSEL F8 EXSEL key
VK_EREOF F9 Erase EOF key
VK_PLAY FA PLAY key
VK_ZOOM FB ZOOM key
VK_NONAME FC Reserved for future use
VK_PA1 FD PA1 key
VK_OEM_CLEAR FE CLEAR key


OEMs should make special note of the VK key ranges reserved for OEM-specific use: 2A, DB–E4, E6, and E9–F5.

In addition to the VK key assignments in the previous table, Microsoft has assigned the following OEM VK keys.

Symbolic constant Value (Hex) Mouse or keyboard equivalent
VK_OEM_SCROLL 0x91
VK_OEM_1 0xBA “;:” for US
VK_OEM_PLUS 0xBB “+” any country
VK_OEM_COMMA 0xBC “,” any country
VK_OEM_MINUS 0xBD “-” any country
VK_OEM_PERIOD 0xBE “.” any country
VK_OEM_2 0xBF “/?” for US
VK_OEM_3 0xC0 “`~” for US
VK_OEM_4 0xDB “[{” for US
VK_OEM_5 0xDC “\|” for US
VK_OEM_6 0xDD “]}” for US
VK_OEM_7 0xDE “'"” for US
VK_OEM_8 0xDF
VK_OEM_AX 0xE1 AX key on Japanese AX keyboard
VK_OEM_102 0xE2 “<>” or “\|” on RT 102-key keyboard







=======================================================================

If you want to send the string "Fo", post the following messages:


WM_KEYDOWN WKeyShift
WM_KEYDOWN WKeyF
WM_KEYUP WKeyF
WM_KEYUP WKeyShift
WM_KEYDOWN WKeyO
WM_KEYUP WKeyO


The destination application messageloop watches the keydown and keyup
messages and posts a WM_CHAR message for each ASCII keydown message it se=
es.
Also keystrokes messages are turned into WM_SYSKEYDOWN, WM_SYSCHAR, and
WM_SYSKEYUP messages for those that had the ALT key down at the time.


If you use SendMessage the messages are not translated in WM_CHAR.



========================================================================
· Nonsystem Keystroke

WM_KEYDOWN a key has been pressed
WM_KEYUP a key has been released
WM_CHAR contains the character code of a pressed key


· System Keystroke (While the Alt key is pressed)

WM_SYSKEYDOWN system key has been pressed
WM_SYSKEYUP system key has been released
WM_SYSCHAR Contains the character code while the Alt key is pressed

· A program normally ignore the system keystroke messages and pass them to DefWindowProc()


===========================
The lParam Variable

This 32-bit variable, with 6 fields, is passed to the WndProc()

Bit 0-15 Repeat count; the number of times of keystroke is repeated
Bit 16-23 8-bit OEM scan code
Bit 24 Extended key flag: 1 – extended key; 0 -- otherwise
Bit 25-28 Reserved
Bit 29 Context code: 1=Alt key is pressed; 0=otherwise (100000000000000000000000000000=&H20000000)
Bit 30 Previous key state: 0=previous key up, 1=previous key down (=40000000)
Bit 31 Transition state: 0 – WM_KEYDOWN, 1 – WM_KEYUP
========================================================================






<img src="http://www.bz-berlin.de/musik/awards/grandprix/gifs/bb19raab.gif">

just set the system state of control instead:

Call keybd_event(VK_CONTROL, MapVirtualKey(VK_CONTROL,0),0,0)

and to release the Control key:

Call keybd_event(VK_CONTROL, MapVirtualKey(VK_CONTROL,0),KEYEVENTF_KEYUP,0)

I know keybd_event. It must work using PostMessage or SendMessage.

Depends on the app. sending a Ctrl Down message to a program that checks the system state of special keys will not do a thing.

Why do you want to use postmessage anyway. whats so special about it?

you can still use the postmessage to send the "I" character which will work as ctrl-I if you have used keybd_event.

you cannot set the state of special keys to one window, you have to set it to the system as a whole, unless the app can reconise the control down messages (most cannot)

IE accepts "ALT" messages posted by sendmessage or postmessage.


Example:
Sub sendAlt_DN()
'sends ALT-D-N (=File Menu, in German IExplorer)
PostMessage hWn, WM_SYSKEYDOWN, Asc("D"), &H20200001 'Alt-D Down
t = Timer: While Timer - t < 0.8: DoEvents: Wend
PostMessage hWn, WM_SYSKEYDOWN, Asc("N"), &H20200001 'Alt-N Down
End Sub



sends ALT-D to the Internet Explorer. Think, that is possible
to send a "CTRL" message too.

>Why do you want to use postmessage anyway. whats so special about it?

specifying handle of the target window.(no need SetForegroundWindow !)



Postmessage can simulate an "ALT" -keydown ! So it can simulate
a "CTRL" or "Shift" keydown too ***i think** (???)

again, it all depends on how the program intrepates the messages, Alt controls are a bit different

postmessage can send a control down message to a window, but it will only work if the window accepts it!

if you use the keyboard event API, you can still send a Ctrl-I without setforegroundwindow. just use keyboard event to set the SYSTEM state of control, then use sendmessage to post the I character to the Window in the background.

Call keybd_event(VK_CONTROL, MapVirtualKey(VK_CONTROL,0),0,0)
PostMessage hWn, WM_KEYDOWN, Asc("I"), 0
Call keybd_event(VK_CONTROL, MapVirtualKey(VK_CONTROL,0) ,KEYEVENTF_KEYUP,0)

that code will work, doesn't matter if the window is in the foreground or not

OK, it seems that sending "ALT" is a really special
case, and sending "SHIFT" or "CTRL" is something
complete different !

Fine, that i don't need setforegroundwindow.

I will use keybd_event and postmessage now. -thanks!