Using API to press a key

BlitzMax Forums/BlitzMax Programming/Using API to press a key

plash

(Posted 2007) [#1]

I'm looking for something to programmically press a keystroke. I have not been able to find anything on Google (yet).
Can anyone help me?

Gabriel

(Posted 2007) [#2]

What are you trying to fool? BlitzMax or the OS?

I think the correct term ( or *one* correct term, anyway ) is synthetic keyboard events, but I'm not sure if it's even possible at the OS level.

plash

(Posted 2007) [#3]

I'm not trying to fool anything, I'm trying to create a macro system, you can record keyboard and mouse events, then play them back, I just want to be able to do something like this, only for the keyboard.

Who was John Galt?

(Posted 2007) [#4]

I have a code example in the archives that clicks the mouse using Windows' SendInput function. You could modify this to insert keyboard events. Do a search for MSDN + Sendinput on google.

Who was John Galt?

(Posted 2007) [#5]

Alternatively try a search for "AutoIT" on these forums. It may be of use I'm told.

plash

(Posted 2007) [#6]

While searching for what nomen luni told me to, I found this. Now I just need to get all the variables for the keys. I dunno where y'all come up with all these api variables, but I'd sure like to get them for this.

plash

(Posted 2007) [#7]

Found the variables, source

Const VK_0 = $30
Const VK_1 = $31
Const VK_2 = $32
Const VK_3 = $33
Const VK_4 = $34
Const VK_5 = $35
Const VK_6 = $36
Const VK_7 = $37
Const VK_8 = $38
Const VK_9 = $39
Const VK_A = $41
Const VK_B = $42
Const VK_C = $43
Const VK_D = $44
Const VK_E = $45
Const VK_F = $46
Const VK_G = $47
Const VK_H = $48
Const VK_I = $49
Const VK_J = $4A
Const VK_K = $4B
Const VK_L = $4C
Const VK_M = $4D
Const VK_N = $4E
Const VK_O = $4F
Const VK_P = $50
Const VK_Q = $51
Const VK_R = $52
Const VK_S = $53
Const VK_T = $54
Const VK_U = $55
Const VK_V = $56
Const VK_W = $57
Const VK_X = $58
Const VK_Y = $59
Const VK_Z = $5A
Const VK_ADD = $6B
Const VK_ATTN = $F6
Const VK_BACK = $8
Const VK_CANCEL = $3
Const VK_CAPITAL = $14
Const VK_CLEAR = $C
Const VK_CONTROL = $11
Const VK_CRSEL = $F7
Const VK_DECIMAL = $6E
Const VK_DELETE = $2E
Const VK_DIVIDE = $6F
Const VK_DOWN = $28
Const VK_END = $23
Const VK_EREOF = $F9
Const VK_ESCAPE = $1B
Const VK_EXECUTE = $2B
Const VK_EXSEL = $F8
Const VK_F1 = $70
Const VK_F10 = $79
Const VK_F11 = $7A
Const VK_F12 = $7B
Const VK_F13 = $7C
Const VK_F14 = $7D
Const VK_F15 = $7E
Const VK_F16 = $7F
Const VK_F17 = $80
Const VK_F18 = $81
Const VK_F19 = $82
Const VK_F2 = $71
Const VK_F20 = $83
Const VK_F21 = $84
Const VK_F22 = $85
Const VK_F23 = $86
Const VK_F24 = $87
Const VK_F3 = $72
Const VK_F4 = $73
Const VK_F5 = $74
Const VK_F6 = $75
Const VK_F7 = $76
Const VK_F8 = $77
Const VK_F9 = $78
Const VK_HELP = $2F
Const VK_HOME = $24
Const VK_INSERT = $2D
Const VK_LBUTTON = $1
Const VK_LCONTROL = $A2
Const VK_LEFT = $25
Const VK_LMENU = $A4
Const VK_LSHIFT = $A0
Const VK_MBUTTON = $4
Const VK_MENU = $12
Const VK_MULTIPLY = $6A
Const VK_NEXT = $22
Const VK_NONAME = $FC
Const VK_NUMLOCK = $90
Const VK_NUMPAD0 = $60
Const VK_NUMPAD1 = $61
Const VK_NUMPAD2 = $62
Const VK_NUMPAD3 = $63
Const VK_NUMPAD4 = $64
Const VK_NUMPAD5 = $65
Const VK_NUMPAD6 = $66
Const VK_NUMPAD7 = $67
Const VK_NUMPAD8 = $68
Const VK_NUMPAD9 = $69
Const VK_OEM_CLEAR = $FE
Const VK_PA1 = $FD
Const VK_PAUSE = $13
Const VK_PLAY = $FA
Const VK_PRINT = $2A
Const VK_PRIOR = $21
Const VK_PROCESSKEY = $E5
Const VK_RBUTTON = $2
Const VK_RCONTROL = $A3
Const VK_RETURN = $D
Const VK_RIGHT = $27
Const VK_RMENU = $A5
Const VK_RSHIFT = $A1
Const VK_SCROLL = $91
Const VK_SELECT = $29
Const VK_SEPARATOR = $6C
Const VK_SHIFT = $10
Const VK_SNAPSHOT = $2C
Const VK_SPACE = $20
Const VK_SUBTRACT = $6D
Const VK_TAB = $9
Const VK_UP = $26
Const VK_ZOOM = $FB

plash

(Posted 2007) [#8]

I'm getting this error:

Compile Error: Missing type specifier

on the dwFlags variable for keybd_event function.

I searched MSDN to find the type for this and it is a "DWORD", however I noticed that DWORD is not a valid variable type in Max.
Does anyone know what the Max equivalent to a DWORD is?

Who was John Galt?

(Posted 2007) [#9]

DWord is a double word=2*16 bits, which is a an unsigned long in Blitz I think (or a long will do).

Would you consider sticking your function in the code archives when it's done? Could be useful for me! : )

plash

(Posted 2007) [#10]

Here is the completed version, please post bugs and improvements.

Virtual Keys

Who was John Galt?

(Posted 2007) [#11]

OK thanks Plash!

plash

(Posted 2007) [#12]

No problem.