Programming Forums > Application Development > C++

cloud- · May 29th, 2008, 1:44 PM

I'm working on a small program that will send keys to a program.. Well whatever is active atm on a mouseclick.. But lets say the program I'm sending to has a function that is triggered when space " " is pressed and I want to bind it to mouse click in my program, sending a space doesn't work, I thought it wouldn't but was worth a try

~~ So is there anyway to actually emulate pressing a key in the program?

 c++ Syntax (Toggle Plain Text) 
void send_key(BYTE vKey)
{
 
	INPUT Input;
	ZeroMemory(&Input, sizeof(Input));
	Input.type = INPUT_KEYBOARD;
	Input.ki.dwFlags = KEYEVENTF_EXTENDEDKEY;
	Input.ki.wVk = vKey;
	SendInput(1, &Input, sizeof(INPUT));
 
}
void send_key(BYTE vKey)
{

	INPUT Input;
	ZeroMemory(&Input, sizeof(Input));
	Input.type = INPUT_KEYBOARD;
	Input.ki.dwFlags = KEYEVENTF_EXTENDEDKEY;
	Input.ki.wVk = vKey;
	SendInput(1, &Input, sizeof(INPUT));

}

c++ Syntax (Toggle Plain Text)

send_key(VK_SPACE);

Sorrofix · May 29th, 2008, 6:51 PM

If I recall correctly, SendInput() only affects the application in the foreground. Thus, if you want this to work, you'll have to set the focus of the application after you receive the event for the mouse click. I haven't programmed on Windows in a long long time, but I belive you can use the SetFocus() function to accomplish this. You'll need a window handle though. Then again, If you have the window handle, you might as well just send the message directly to the window with SendMessage.

It's also quite likely that I'm completely wrong and you should ignore me entirely. Do whatever you wish with the information I provided.

cloud- · May 29th, 2008, 7:20 PM

yeah I already had focus and the window handle i didn't post the whole code cause it was quite big, anyway I will look up SendMessage and see if that helps, thanks ^^

Klarre · May 30th, 2008, 12:26 PM

You don't have to keep the window focused to let it receive messages. By modifying this function you will be able to simulate key presses in any window that is running.

(Toggle Plain Text)

void send_key(UINT key)
{
	HWND window = FindWindow("#32770", "app.exe"); // TODO: <-- MODIFY THIS TO GET THE CORRECT WINDOW HANDLE

	typedef struct tag_KEYDATA
	{
		WORD cRepeat;
		BYTE ScanCode;
		BYTE fExtended;
		BYTE Reserved : 4;
		BYTE fAltDown : 1;
		BYTE fRepeat : 1;
		BYTE fUp : 1;
	}KEYDATA;

	KEYDATA sKey;
	memset(&sKey, 0, sizeof(KEYDATA));
	sKey.cRepeat = 1;
	sKey.ScanCode = (BYTE)MapVirtualKey(key, 0);
	sKey.fExtended = 0;
	sKey.fAltDown = 0;
	sKey.fRepeat = 0;
	sKey.fUp = 0;

	DWORD dwVal_down;
	memcpy(&dwVal_down, &sKey, sizeof(DWORD));

	DWORD dwVal_up;
	memcpy(&dwVal_up, &sKey, sizeof(DWORD));

	PostMessage(window, WM_KEYDOWN, key, dwVal_down);
	Sleep(50);
	PostMessage(window, WM_KEYUP, key, dwVal_up | 0xc0000000);
}

/Klarre

May 29th, 2008, 1:44 PM	#1
cloud- Hobbyist Programmer Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 110 Rep Power: 4	Sending keys(presses) in Windows I'm working on a small program that will send keys to a program.. Well whatever is active atm on a mouseclick.. But lets say the program I'm sending to has a function that is triggered when space " " is pressed and I want to bind it to mouse click in my program, sending a space doesn't work, I thought it wouldn't but was worth a try ~~ So is there anyway to actually emulate pressing a key in the program? c++ Syntax (Toggle Plain Text) void send_key(BYTE vKey) { INPUT Input; ZeroMemory(&Input, sizeof(Input)); Input.type = INPUT_KEYBOARD; Input.ki.dwFlags = KEYEVENTF_EXTENDEDKEY; Input.ki.wVk = vKey; SendInput(1, &Input, sizeof(INPUT)); } void send_key(BYTE vKey) { INPUT Input; ZeroMemory(&Input, sizeof(Input)); Input.type = INPUT_KEYBOARD; Input.ki.dwFlags = KEYEVENTF_EXTENDEDKEY; Input.ki.wVk = vKey; SendInput(1, &Input, sizeof(INPUT)); } c++ Syntax (Toggle Plain Text) send_key(VK_SPACE); send_key(VK_SPACE);

May 29th, 2008, 6:51 PM	#2
Sorrofix Expert Bug Developer Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 21 Rep Power: 0	Re: Sending keys(presses) in Windows If I recall correctly, SendInput() only affects the application in the foreground. Thus, if you want this to work, you'll have to set the focus of the application after you receive the event for the mouse click. I haven't programmed on Windows in a long long time, but I belive you can use the SetFocus() function to accomplish this. You'll need a window handle though. Then again, If you have the window handle, you might as well just send the message directly to the window with SendMessage. It's also quite likely that I'm completely wrong and you should ignore me entirely. Do whatever you wish with the information I provided.

May 30th, 2008, 12:26 PM	#4
Klarre Game engine designer Join Date: May 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 297 Rep Power: 4	Re: Sending keys(presses) in Windows You don't have to keep the window focused to let it receive messages. By modifying this function you will be able to simulate key presses in any window that is running. (Toggle Plain Text) void send_key(UINT key) { HWND window = FindWindow("#32770", "app.exe"); // TODO: <-- MODIFY THIS TO GET THE CORRECT WINDOW HANDLE typedef struct tag_KEYDATA { WORD cRepeat; BYTE ScanCode; BYTE fExtended; BYTE Reserved : 4; BYTE fAltDown : 1; BYTE fRepeat : 1; BYTE fUp : 1; }KEYDATA; KEYDATA sKey; memset(&sKey, 0, sizeof(KEYDATA)); sKey.cRepeat = 1; sKey.ScanCode = (BYTE)MapVirtualKey(key, 0); sKey.fExtended = 0; sKey.fAltDown = 0; sKey.fRepeat = 0; sKey.fUp = 0; DWORD dwVal_down; memcpy(&dwVal_down, &sKey, sizeof(DWORD)); DWORD dwVal_up; memcpy(&dwVal_up, &sKey, sizeof(DWORD)); PostMessage(window, WM_KEYDOWN, key, dwVal_down); Sleep(50); PostMessage(window, WM_KEYUP, key, dwVal_up \| 0xc0000000); } void send_key(UINT key) { HWND window = FindWindow("#32770", "app.exe"); // TODO: <-- MODIFY THIS TO GET THE CORRECT WINDOW HANDLE typedef struct tag_KEYDATA { WORD cRepeat; BYTE ScanCode; BYTE fExtended; BYTE Reserved : 4; BYTE fAltDown : 1; BYTE fRepeat : 1; BYTE fUp : 1; }KEYDATA; KEYDATA sKey; memset(&sKey, 0, sizeof(KEYDATA)); sKey.cRepeat = 1; sKey.ScanCode = (BYTE)MapVirtualKey(key, 0); sKey.fExtended = 0; sKey.fAltDown = 0; sKey.fRepeat = 0; sKey.fUp = 0; DWORD dwVal_down; memcpy(&dwVal_down, &sKey, sizeof(DWORD)); DWORD dwVal_up; memcpy(&dwVal_up, &sKey, sizeof(DWORD)); PostMessage(window, WM_KEYDOWN, key, dwVal_down); Sleep(50); PostMessage(window, WM_KEYUP, key, dwVal_up \| 0xc0000000); } /Klarre __________________ http://www.klarre.se

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May 29th, 2008, 7:20 PM	#3
cloud- Hobbyist Programmer Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 110 Rep Power: 4	Re: Sending keys(presses) in Windows yeah I already had focus and the window handle i didn't post the whole code cause it was quite big, anyway I will look up SendMessage and see if that helps, thanks ^^

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Programming Forums > Application Development > C++

Sending keys(presses) in Windows