[RESOLVED]Global Keypress?

[bluehairman]

I'm writing a program that sends keys on keypess. So if they press F2 it sends "Hello World" or whatever they want it to send. But I don't know how to detect global keystrokes. I have searched this forum and found that I need to use a hook but everything I found for it doesn't help me. Any help? Thanks

[wrecklesswun]

on your form turn on keypreview and then :

for keydown event:

nonnumberentered = False
If e.KeyCode = Keys.Delete Then
do something
End If

keypress event:

If nonnumberentered = True Then e.Handled = True

declare nonnumberentered

and done !

[sparrow1]

I'm writing a program that sends keys on keypess. So if they press F2 it sends "Hello World" or whatever they want it to send. But I don't know how to detect global keystrokes. I have searched this forum and found that I need to use a hook but everything I found for it doesn't help me. Any help? Thanks

Hi,

Here's a link about the Keypress Event;

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/lib...ffice.10).aspx

Wkr,

sparrow1

[bluehairman]

on your form turn on keypreview and then :

for keydown event:

nonnumberentered = False
If e.KeyCode = Keys.Delete Then
do something
End If

keypress event:

If nonnumberentered = True Then e.Handled = True

declare nonnumberentered

and done !

Thats not for global. If I'm wrong correct me. sparrow1 I'm checking out that page right now.

[bluehairman]

Ok, I'm using VS 2005 and e.KeyCode isn't declaired. What else can I do?

[sparrow1]

Ok, I'm using VS 2005 and e.KeyCode isn't declaired. What else can I do?

Hi,

Here's an example how to use Keypress:

Private Sub Form1_KeyDown(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles MyBase.KeyDown
        If e.Control And e.KeyCode = Keys.D Then
            MsgBox("You pushes the D key")
        End If
        If e.KeyCode = Keys.Delete Then
            MsgBox("You pushes the Del key")
        End If
    End Sub

Wkr,

sparrow1

[bluehairman]

'e.Control' is not a member of 'System.Windows.Forms.KeyPressEvenArgs'
'e.KeyCode' is not a member of 'System.Windows.Forms.KeyPressEvenArgs'

[bluehairman]

Ok, I got it now, but theres still one problem. When I go into a different program and hit 'F2' nothing happens. Its still within the form.

[sparrow1]

'e.Control' is not a member of 'System.Windows.Forms.KeyPressEvenArgs'
'e.KeyCode' is not a member of 'System.Windows.Forms.KeyPressEvenArgs'

Hi,

No keypress it is not a member of keypressEventArgs.
That's way you need the Keydown event for this like the code I gave you in the previous post.

Do the test and include my code into your form class.
The first test is the controlbutton and the key "D".
The second test just push the del button.
See what happens.

Wkr,

sparrow1

[bluehairman]

Private Sub Form1_KeyDown(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles Me.KeyDown
        If e.KeyCode = Keys.F2 Then
            SendKeys.Send(TextBox1.Text)
            If CheckBox1.Checked = True Then
                SendKeys.Send("{enter}")
            End If
        End If
    End Sub

Thats my code. But it only works within the form. I want it to be globaly, so I can send stuff to other programs, web pages, ect.

[Merrion]

There is a system wide hotkey control here which uses the RegisterHotkey API call:

<DllImport("user32", EntryPoint:="RegisterHotKey", _
          SetLastError:=True, _
          ExactSpelling:=True, _
          CallingConvention:=CallingConvention.StdCall)> _
Public Function RegisterHotkey(ByVal hwnd As IntPtr, _
           ByVal Id As Int32, _
           <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.U4)> ByVal fsModifiers As Int32, _
           <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.U4)> ByVal vkey As Int32) As Boolean
 
End Function

[bluehairman]

Ok, but how sould I get the F1, F2, F3, F4, ect. keys too. I read that site and I found this only:

The id parameter is used to differentiate between multiple hotkeys that can be received by a given window. To ensure that we are dealing with an unique ID, I use the API call GlobalAddAtom to return the id. This is declared thus:
 
<DllImport("kernel32", EntryPoint:="GlobalAddAtom", _
SetLastError:=True, _
ExactSpelling:=False)> _
Public Function GlobalAddAtom(<MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPTStr)> _
                ByVal lpString As String) As Int32
 
End Function

But I don't know how I would add the other keys. I also found this :

Public Enum HotkeyModifierFlags
    MOD_ALT = &H1
    MOD_CONTROL = &H2
    MOD_SHIFT = &H4
    MOD_WIN = &H8
End Enum

[bluehairman]

Any help here? Thanks.

[Merrion]

Put one instance of the control on your form for each key combination you want to trap and set the properties of each appropriately..

[bluehairman]

Yes, but thats what I need help with. How would I set the key combination?

[superbovine]

There is a system wide hotkey control here which uses the RegisterHotkey API call:

<DllImport("user32", EntryPoint:="RegisterHotKey", _
          SetLastError:=True, _
          ExactSpelling:=True, _
          CallingConvention:=CallingConvention.StdCall)> _
Public Function RegisterHotkey(ByVal hwnd As IntPtr, _
           ByVal Id As Int32, _
           <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.U4)> ByVal fsModifiers As Int32, _
           <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.U4)> ByVal vkey As Int32) As Boolean
 
End Function

hmm never seen it done that way. I usually do it like this example

http://forums.microsoft.com/msdn/sho...28399&siteid=1

Public Class Form1
 
Public Declare Function RegisterHotKey Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As IntPtr, ByVal id As Integer, ByVal fsModifiers As Integer, ByVal vk As Integer) As Integer
Public Declare Function UnregisterHotKey Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As IntPtr, ByVal id As Integer) As Integer
Public Const WM_HOTKEY As Integer = &H312
 
Protected Overrides Sub WndProc(ByRef m As System.Windows.Forms.Message)
    If m.Msg = WM_HOTKEY Then
        ' Pressed the hotkey!
        Debug.WriteLine(m.Msg.ToString & ":" & m.WParam.ToString & ":" & m.LParam.ToString)
    End If
    MyBase.WndProc(m) '<-- Never Ever Forget This!
End Sub
Private Sub Form1_FormClosing(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.FormClosingEventArgs) Handles Me.FormClosing
    Call UnregisterHotKey(Me.Handle, 9) '<-- Don't forget this
End Sub
 
Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
    Call RegisterHotKey(Me.Handle, 9, 0, 44) '<-- Play with these settings
End Sub
End Class

[Merrion]

How would I set the key combination?

Select the component and bring up its properties (F4) in the form designer.
Set the properties: AltKey , ShiftKey, CtrlKey, WinKey and VKey to the combination you want to trigger the event.

For example to use Shift+Ctrl+S use:
AltKey=False
ShiftKey=True
CtrlKey=True
Winkey=False
VKey=vbKeyS

[bluehairman]

Ok. For the keys I noticed they use
&H(number here)
And it represents a key. So how would I find out F1, F2, ect. is?

[superbovine]

Ok. For the keys I noticed they use
&H(number here)
And it represents a key. So how would I find out F1, F2, ect. is?

http://www.programmersheaven.com/dow.../download.aspx

[bluehairman]

Thanks but, the F1, F2, ect. are only listen in virtual key codes, and they don't work. Anymore help?

[bmahler]

Here is an example of a hook I use on the keyboard in one of my apps, I modified the isHooked function to give you an example of how to se it for your needs.

Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
Imports System.Reflection
Module keyHook
 
    Public Declare Function UnhookWindowsHookEx Lib "user32" _
      (ByVal hHook As Integer) As Integer
 
    Public Declare Function SetWindowsHookEx Lib "user32" _
      Alias "SetWindowsHookExA" (ByVal idHook As Integer, _
      ByVal lpfn As KeyboardHookDelegate, ByVal hmod As Integer, _
      ByVal dwThreadId As Integer) As Integer
 
    Private Declare Function GetAsyncKeyState Lib "user32" _
      (ByVal vKey As Integer) As Integer
 
    Private Declare Function CallNextHookEx Lib "user32" _
      (ByVal hHook As Integer, _
      ByVal nCode As Integer, _
      ByVal wParam As Integer, _
      ByVal lParam As KBDLLHOOKSTRUCT) As Integer
 
    Public Structure KBDLLHOOKSTRUCT
        Public vkCode As Integer
        Public scanCode As Integer
        Public flags As Integer
        Public time As Integer
        Public dwExtraInfo As Integer
    End Structure
 
    ' Low-Level Keyboard Constants
    Private Const HC_ACTION As Integer = 0
    Private Const LLKHF_EXTENDED As Integer = &H1
    Private Const MOD_CONTROL As Long = &H2
    Private Const LLKHF_INJECTED As Integer = &H10
    Private Const LLKHF_ALTDOWN As Integer = &H20
    Private Const LLKHF_UP As Integer = &H80
    Private Const LLKHF_DOWN As Integer = &H81
 
    Private Const VK_F1 As Integer = &H70   'F1 key
    Private Const VK_F2 As Integer = &H71   'F2 key
    Private Const VK_F3 As Integer = &H72   'F3 key
    Private Const VK_F4 As Integer = &H73   'F4 key
    Private Const VK_F5 As Integer = &H74   'F5 key
    Private Const VK_F6 As Integer = &H75   'F6 key
    Private Const VK_F7 As Integer = &H76   'F7 key
    Private Const VK_F8 As Integer = &H77   'F8 key
    Private Const VK_F9 As Integer = &H78   'F9 key
    Private Const VK_F10 As Integer = &H79  'F10 key
    Private Const VK_F11 As Integer = &H7A  'F11 key
    Private Const VK_F12 As Integer = &H7B   'F12 key
 
 
    Public Const VK_CONTROL = &H11  'Control
    Public Const VK_PRIOR = &H21    'PAGE UP key
    Public Const VK_NEXT = &H22     'Page DOWN key
 
    Private Const WH_KEYBOARD_LL As Integer = &H13
    Public KeyboardHandle As Integer
 
 
    Public Function IsHooked(ByRef Hookstruct As KBDLLHOOKSTRUCT) As Boolean
 
        If (Hookstruct.vkCode = VK_F1) And CBool(Hookstruct.flags And LLKHF_ALTDOWN) _
            And CBool(Hookstruct.flags And LLKHF_UP) Then
            MessageBox.Show("Hello World")
            Return True
        ElseIf (Hookstruct.vkCode = VK_F1) And CBool(Hookstruct.flags And LLKHF_ALTDOWN) Then
            Return True
        End If
 
        'Etc
    End Function
 
    Private Sub HookedState(ByVal Text As String)
 
    End Sub
 
    Public Function KeyboardCallback(ByVal Code As Integer, _
      ByVal wParam As Integer, _
      ByRef lParam As KBDLLHOOKSTRUCT) As Integer
 
        If (Code = HC_ACTION) Then
            Debug.WriteLine("Calling IsHooked")
 
            If (IsHooked(lParam)) Then
                Return 1
            End If
 
        End If
 
        Return CallNextHookEx(KeyboardHandle, _
          Code, wParam, lParam)
 
    End Function
 
 
    Public Delegate Function KeyboardHookDelegate( _
      ByVal Code As Integer, _
      ByVal wParam As Integer, ByRef lParam As KBDLLHOOKSTRUCT) _
                   As Integer
 
    <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.FunctionPtr)> _
    Private callback As KeyboardHookDelegate
 
    Public Sub HookKeyboard()
        callback = New KeyboardHookDelegate(AddressOf KeyboardCallback)
 
        KeyboardHandle = SetWindowsHookEx( _
          WH_KEYBOARD_LL, callback, _
          Marshal.GetHINSTANCE( _
          [Assembly].GetExecutingAssembly.GetModules()(0)).ToInt32, 0)
 
        Call CheckHooked()
    End Sub
 
    Public Sub CheckHooked()
        If (Hooked()) Then
            'MsgBox("Keyboard hooked")
        Else
            MsgBox("Keyboard hook failed: " & Err.LastDllError)
        End If
    End Sub
 
    Private Function Hooked()
        Hooked = KeyboardHandle <> 0
    End Function
 
    Public Sub UnhookKeyboard()
        If (Hooked()) Then
            Call UnhookWindowsHookEx(KeyboardHandle)
        End If
    End Sub
 
End Module