Getting state of CAPS and NUM lock

[Cagez]

I've searched everywhere for this, I thought I found it when I saw System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs, but I don't think so...

Any help would be great Thanks!

[Static]

geez.. I just looked for an hour...cant find anything yet either!

Windows.forms.keys.numlock <- thats the key..but i cant seem to return a keystate

[Cagez]

I know, I can find it all over in vb6, just not vb.net. Must be some where!

[Lethal]

Here's a class I wrote that will show you how to achieve this. The code is in C#, so if you need me to convert to VB.NET, let me know.

using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices; 
using System.Windows.Forms;

[ComVisibleAttribute(false)] 

public class KeyBoardState
{
    [DllImport("user32.dll", CharSet=CharSet.Auto, ExactSpelling=true, CallingConvention=CallingConvention.Winapi)]
    public static extern bool GetKeyboardState(byte[] keys);
    private int KeyCode;
    
    public bool KeyState()	
    {
	byte[] keys = new Byte[256];
	GetKeyboardState(keys);
	return (keys[this.KeyCode] == 1 ? true : false);	
    }

    public KeyBoardState(int keycode)
    {
	this.KeyCode = keycode;
    }
}

class TestHarness
{
    static void Main()
    {
	KeyBoardState state = new KeyBoardState((int)Keys.NumLock);
	Console.WriteLine(state.KeyState().ToString());
    }
}

[Cagez]

Please convert it if you have the time! But can't you include C#.net code in VB.net code? I thought that was one of the selling points of the new .NET stuff.

Anyway, I see you'r using the user32.dll, I was reading around and I saw you needed that DLL to get the state's, in vb6... I did't know you could include DLL's in VB.NET, well, not that I didn't know more like I didn't know how I've gotta learn how to do that!

[Lethal]

< Translation >

Imports System
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
Imports System.Windows.Forms

Module Module1
    Sub Main()
        Dim state As New KeyBoardState(CType(Keys.NumLock, Integer))
        Console.WriteLine(state.KeyState)
    End Sub
End Module

Public Class KeyBoardState
    Declare Function GetKeyboardState Lib "user32" Alias "GetKeyboardState" (ByVal pbKeyState() As Byte) As Long
    Private KeyCode As Integer

    Public Sub New(ByVal keycode As Integer)
        Me.KeyCode = keycode
    End Sub

    Public Function KeyState() As Boolean
        Dim state(256) As Byte
        GetKeyboardState(state)
        return (iif(state(me.KeyCode) = 1, true, false))
    End Function
End Class

Also, in order to interop with multiple .NET compliant languages, for instance C#, the C# module will have to be compiled into an assembly. Then, your VB.NET project will need to set a reference to the dll.

[Static]

Thanks to Lethal!....now..
....if you dont want to add a seperate class and want it in your form.. then

Public Class Form1
    Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form
    Declare Function GetKeyboardState Lib "user32" Alias "GetKeyboardState" (ByVal pbKeyState() As Byte) As Long
'etc
'etc
'etc
 
Private Sub Button1_click......etc
Dim state(256) As Byte
GetKeyboardState(state)
If stateX(Keys.NumLock) = 1 Then
MsgBox("true")
Else
Msgbox("false")
End If
End Sub

Thanks Lethal...I saw something similar to your code above (C version) and Could'nt quite convert it right!

[Lethal]

Yeah, I have a habbit of posting all my code in the VB.NET forums in C#, just to help others (myself as well) with the learning process when moving between languages. But, I also like converting my C# code to VB.NET to keep me on my toes!

[Static]

Lethal one question:

Is this line the one required to use API's?

Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices

[Lethal]

You got it.
The System.Runtime.InteropServices namespace provides a plethra of classes useful for interoping with COM objects, and native APIs from .NET.

[Static]

Sweet! The floodgates are now open! lol

[Lethal]

I got my raincoat on, bring it on!

[Cagez]

KeyDown isn't working properly, its suppose to purform the code I have within it everytime a key is pressed... In that code I want to test for the the state, and lets say, show a message box... But its not working

(Other then that, works great! Thank you )

[Static]

Do it on Key up

and make sure KeyPreview is set to true for your form properties

[Cagez]

Ah, your right again

Don't worry, my dumb questions will end soon --im getting a book soon

[Static]

good..then I can ask you questions

[Cagez]

lol I doubt it