PureBasic Forum

Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by PB.

UPDATE: This currently only works with English keyboards (sorry!).
This means you CANNOT compile it as a Unicode executable (yet).
I am looking into this to see if I can update it ASAP for you.

Here is something that you might find useful. It lets you type keys to other
windows, which you specify by either handle or title. If the target window is in
the background and doesn't have the focus, it is activated before typing starts.

To use it, call the procedure like so: r=SendKeys(handle,window$,keys$)
Specify either the target handle or window$ title, but not both. If you specify
both, the title takes priority and the handle is ignored. The procedure returns
0 for failure to type, otherwise 1 for success.

To type special keys, put them inside curly braces. So to type the Escape key,
you'd specify {ESCAPE} in keys$. Naturally this means you cannot type curly
braces themselves... so add this functionality yourself if you really need them.
Take care to ensure that any opening brace is followed by a closing one, as the
procedure does not check for this.

To hold down the ALT, CONTROL, or SHIFT keys when typing, use the designations
{ALTDOWN}, {CONTROLDOWN}, and {SHIFTDOWN}. Use the opposite of these to
release them again. Look at the procedure to see the other "special" key
assignments.

I hope you like this... it took a while to get it perfect, so let me know if it
fails on a particular set of keystrokes that you want to type. Thanks! :)

(Fred, could this become a native command in future release, please?)

Restored from previous forum. Originally posted by naw.

Genius - How did you know that I was looking for a program to *remote control* Apps. Just what I needed to do some benchmarking work (simulated users)...

Just made a couple of changes to *externalise* the Key Sequences into a Loadable Macro File:




==========================
In Global Section:
Launch - Initial Program To Launch/Startup
Title - Default Title to Use of *Launched* Program
Delay - Big delay after Launching Initial Program
Items - # of commands / Keys to send
Description - Pop up text that appears before Application is Launched...

In Macro Section:
cmd1 - Text / Keys to send
del1 - Delay in milisecs
tit1 - Title of Window to send the Text to (overrides the "Title")

macro.naw file:
==========================

[Global]
Items=8
Launch=C:\WINNT\NOTEPAD.EXE
Title=Untitled - Notepad
Delay=3000
Description=This Macro Should Open Notepad, do a search and replace, close the replace dialog...

[Macro]
cmd1=This is a Text Entry{RETURN}
del1=1000

cmd2=This is another Text Entry{RETURN}
del2=1000

cmd3={CONTROLDOWN}h
del3=1000

tit4=Replace
cmd4=another{TAB}
del4=1000

tit5=Replace
cmd5=yet another{ALTDOWN}a
del5=1000

tit6=Replace
cmd6={RETURN}{TAB}{TAB}{TAB}{TAB}{TAB}{RETURN}

del7=1000
cmd7={RETURN}{RETURN}Hello World{RETURN}


===================================
PBs ripped off code :wink: with a few minor changes...
===================================
; SendKeys procedure by PB -- do whatever you want with it. :)
; Syntax: r=SendKeys(handle,window$,keys$) ; r = 0 for failure.
; Specify either a handle or window$ title to type to, but not both!
; You cannot type curly braces { } as part of the keystrokes, sorry!
;
Procedure Alert(m$)
MessageRequester("Alert",m$,#MB_ICONINFORMATION)
EndProcedure


Procedure$ FN_Space(Num)
For Counter = 1 To Num : Tmp$ + " " : Next Counter
ProcedureReturn Tmp$
EndProcedure

Procedure.s FN_readINI(inifile.s, section.s, key.s)
result.s = FN_Space(255)
Empty.s = ""
Ret = GetPrivateProfileString_(section, key, empty, @result, 255, inifile.s)
ProcedureReturn result
EndProcedure

Procedure.l FN_writeINI( inifile.s,section.s, key.s, value.s)
result = WritePrivateProfileString_(section, key, value, inifile)
ProcedureReturn result
EndProcedure

Procedure SendKeys(handle,window$,keys$)
If window$"" : handle=FindWindow_(0,window$) : EndIf ; Use window$ instead of handle.
If IsWindow_(handle)=0 ; Does the target window actually exist?
ProcedureReturn 0 ; Nope, so report 0 for failure to type.
Else
; This block gives the target window the focus before typing.
thread1=GetWindowThreadProcessID_(GetForegroundWindow_(),0)
thread2=GetWindowThreadProcessID_(handle,0)
If thread1thread2 : AttachThreadInput_(thread1,thread2,#TRUE) : EndIf
SetForegroundWindow_(handle) ; Target window now has the focus for typing.
Delay(125) ; 1/8 second pause before typing, to prevent fast CPU problems.
; Now the actual typing starts.
For r=1 To Len(keys$)
vk$=Mid(keys$,r,1)
If vk$="{" ; Special key found.
s=FindString(keys$,"}",r+1)-(r+1) ; Get length of special key.
s$=Mid(keys$,r+1,s) ; Get special key name.
Select s$ ; Get virtual key code of special key.
Case "ALTDOWN" : keybd_event_(#VK_MENU,0,0,0) ; Hold ALT down.
Case "ALTUP" : keybd_event_(#VK_MENU,0,#KEYEVENTF_KEYUP,0) ; Release ALT.
Case "BACKSPACE" : vk=#VK_BACK
Case "CONTROLDOWN" : keybd_event_(#VK_CONTROL,0,0,0) ; Hold CONTROL down.
Case "CONTROLUP" : keybd_event_(#VK_CONTROL,0,#KEYEVENTF_KEYUP,0) ; Release CONTROL.
Case "DELETE" : vk=#VK_DELETE
Case "DOWN" : vk=#VK_DOWN
Case "END" : vk=#VK_END
Case "ENTER" : vk=#VK_RETURN
Case "F1" : vk=#VK_F1
Case "F2" : vk=#VK_F2
Case "F3" : vk=#VK_F3
Case "F4" : vk=#VK_F4
Case "F5" : vk=#VK_F5
Case "F6" : vk=#VK_F6
Case "F7" : vk=#VK_F7
Case "F8" : vk=#VK_F8
Case "F9" : vk=#VK_F9
Case "F10" : vk=#VK_F10
Case "F11" : vk=#VK_F11
Case "F12" : vk=#VK_F12
Case "ESCAPE" : vk=#VK_ESCAPE
Case "HOME" : vk=#VK_HOME
Case "INSERT" : vk=#VK_INSERT
Case "LEFT" : vk=#VK_LEFT
Case "PAGEDOWN" : vk=#VK_NEXT
Case "PAGEUP" : vk=#VK_PRIOR
Case "PRINTSCREEN" : vk=#VK_SNAPSHOT
Case "RETURN" : vk=#VK_RETURN
Case "RIGHT" : vk=#VK_RIGHT
Case "SHIFTDOWN" : shifted=1 : keybd_event_(#VK_SHIFT,0,0,0) ; Hold SHIFT down
Case "SHIFTUP" : shifted=0 : keybd_event_(#VK_SHIFT,0,#KEYEVENTF_KEYUP,0) ; Release SHIFT.
Case "TAB" : vk=#VK_TAB
Case "UP" : vk=#VK_UP
EndSelect

If Left(s$,3)"ALT" And Left(s$,7)"CONTROL" And Left(s$,5)"SHIFT"
keybd_event_(vk,0,0,0) : keybd_event_(vk,0,#KEYEVENTF_KEYUP,0) ; Press the special key.
EndIf

r=r+s+1 ; Continue getting the keystrokes that follow the special key.

Else
vk=VkKeyScanEx_(Asc(vk$),GetKeyboardLayout_(0)) ; Normal key found.
If vk>304 And shifted=0 : keybd_event_(#VK_SHIFT,0,0,0) : EndIf ; Due to shifted character.
keybd_event_(vk,0,0,0) : keybd_event_(vk,0,#KEYEVENTF_KEYUP,0) ; Press the normal key.
If vk>304 And shifted=0 : keybd_event_(#VK_SHIFT,0,#KEYEVENTF_KEYUP,0) : EndIf ; Due to shifted character.
EndIf
Next
If thread1thread2 : AttachThreadInput_(thread1,thread2,#FALSE) : EndIf ; Finished typing to target window!
keybd_event_(#VK_MENU,0,#KEYEVENTF_KEYUP,0) ; Release ALT key if user forgot.
keybd_event_(#VK_CONTROL,0,#KEYEVENTF_KEYUP,0) ; Release CONTROL key if user forgot.
keybd_event_(#VK_SHIFT,0,#KEYEVENTF_KEYUP,0) ; Release SHIFT key if user forgot.
ProcedureReturn 1 ; Report successful typing!
EndIf
EndProcedure

Procedure GoMacro(x$,t$,m$)

desc$=FN_ReadINI(m$,"Global","Description"): If (desc$) : Alert(desc$): EndIf

If (RunProgram(x$,"",0))


Delay(Val(FN_ReadINI(m$,"Global","Delay"))+1)
maxctr=Val(FN_ReadINI(m$,"Global","Items"))
For ctr=1 To maxctr
cmd$=FN_ReadINI(m$,"Macro","Cmd"+Str(ctr))
del=Val(FN_ReadINI(m$,"Macro","Del"+Str(ctr)))
tit$=FN_ReadINI(m$,"Macro","Tit"+Str(ctr))
Delay(del)

If (tit$): SendKeys(0,tit$, cmd$): Else: SendKeys(0,t$,cmd$): EndIf
Next

Else: Alert("Couldnt start "+x$)

EndIf


EndProcedure



Dim SPCL.s(40)

SPCL(01)="ALTDOWN"
SPCL(02)="ALTUP"
SPCL(03)="BACKSPACE"
SPCL(04)="CONTROLDOWN"
SPCL(05)="CONTROLUP"
SPCL(06)="DELETE"
SPCL(07)="DOWN"
SPCL(08)="END"
SPCL(09)="ENTER"
SPCL(10)="F1"
SPCL(11)="F2"
SPCL(12)="F3"
SPCL(13)="F4"
SPCL(14)="F5"
SPCL(15)="F6"
SPCL(16)="F7"
SPCL(17)="F8"
SPCL(18)="F9"
SPCL(19)="F10"
SPCL(20)="F11"
SPCL(21)="F12"
SPCL(22)="ESCAPE"
SPCL(23)="HOME"
SPCL(24)="INSERT"
SPCL(25)="LEFT"
SPCL(26)="PAGEDOWN"
SPCL(27)="PAGEUP"
SPCL(28)="PRINTSCREEN"
SPCL(29)="RETURN"
SPCL(30)="RIGHT"
SPCL(31)="SHIFTDOWN"
SPCL(32)="SHIFTUP"
SPCL(33)="TAB"
SPCL(34)="UP"


WID=OpenWindow(1, 100, 100, 400, 600, #PB_Window_SizeGadget|#PB_Window_MinimizeGadget|#PB_Window_MaximizeGadget, "MACRO CONTROL")
CreateGadgetList(WindowID())
TextGadget(1,10,10,200,16,"List of *Special Keys*"): ComboBoxGadget(2,10,30,200,800)
For x=1 To 40: If SPCL(x): AddGadgetItem(2,-1,SPCL(x)): EndIf: Next: SetGadgetState(1,2)
;TextGadget(3,220,10,200,16,"Open *Special Key* char"): StringGadget(4,360,10,16,16,"{")
;TextGadget(5,220,30,200,16,"Close *Special Key* char"): StringGadget(6,360,30,16,16,"}")
ButtonGadget(7,10,70,100,26,"Launch Program"): StringGadget(8,10,100,170,18,"")
TextGadget(9,10,130,100,16,"Titlebar Text"): StringGadget(10,10,150,170,18,"")
ButtonGadget(11,220,70,100,26,"Open Macro File"): StringGadget(12,220,100,170,18,"")
ButtonGadget(20,220,130,170,46,"Run Macro Against Program"):

TextGadget(13,10,190,380,80,"[url]mailto:Nigel_Wale@uk.ibm.com[/url]"+Chr(13)+Chr(13)+"nawMacro.exe - simple Macro Program for windows - good for benchmarking or automating certain tasks"+Chr(13)+Chr(13)+"example:")
TextGadget(14,20,270,380,400,Chr(13)+"[Global]"+Chr(13)+"Items=6"+Chr(13)+"Launch=C:\WINNT\NOTEPAD.EXE"+Chr(13)+"Title=Untitled - Notepad"+Chr(13)+Chr(13)+"[Macro]"+Chr(13)+"cmd1=This is a Text Entry{RETURN}"+Chr(13)+"del1=1000"+Chr(13)+"cmd2=This is another Text Entry{RETURN}"+Chr(13)+"del2=1000"+Chr(13)+"cmd3={CONTROLDOWN}h"+Chr(13)+"del3=1000"+Chr(13)+"tit4=Replace"+Chr(13)+"cmd4=another{TAB}"+Chr(13)+"del4=1000"+Chr(13)+"tit5=Replace"+Chr(13)+"cmd5=yet another{ALTDOWN}a"+Chr(13)+"del5=1000"+Chr(13)+"cmd6={RETURN}{RETURN}Hello World{RETURN}"+Chr(13)+"del6=1000")

QUIT=0

Repeat: wevent=WaitWindowEvent()
Select wevent
Case #WM_DROPFILES:
Case #WM_CLOSE : QUIT=1
Case #PB_EventCloseWindow: QUIT=1
Case #PB_EventGadget:
Select EventGadgetID()
Case 7: SetGadgetText(8,OpenFileRequester("Program To Launch","*.exe","*.exe",1))
Case 11: SetGadgetText(12,OpenFileRequester("Macro File","macro.naw","*.naw",1)):
SetGadgetText(10,FN_ReadINI(GetGadgetText(10)+GetGadgetText(12),"Global","Title"))
SetGadgetText(8,FN_ReadINI(GetGadgetText(8)+GetGadgetText(12),"Global","Launch"))
Case 20:
If (GetGadgetText(8) And GetGadgetText(10) And GetGadgetText(12)):
GoMacro(GetGadgetText(8),GetGadgetText(10),GetGadgetText(12)):
Else: Alert("Must Specify:"+Chr(13)+" Open / Close *Special Character"+Chr(13)+"Launch Program & Macro File"):
EndIf
Default:
EndSelect
Case #PB_EventMenu:
Select EventMenuID():
Case 1:
Default:
EndSelect
EndSelect
Until QUIT=1

Great thanks for this code! THX THX THX! I was on search for something like this, but not able to do the work myself (API-newbie).

I will use it in a script interpreter without changes.

Great code PB

But i have a problem, when i write the "\ " character, your code write "8"



Result


They are probably a problem with the shift, but i don't found

It outputs \\\ here for me. Are you using an English keyboard? Shift + \ on
an English keyboard results in | and not 8, so I don't think you are?

I bet he uses a French Keyboard...

@Caine
is the \ located on shift-8 ?

I am using an OmniKey / PLUS US English keyboard... Shift + 8 = * here,

Shift + \ = |

I think you can buy a good ALPS IBM Keyboard on eBay Caine! It is worth it. Once you get used to the keypressure your typing speed will increase rapidly!

I was asking Caine for the Layout of the French Keyboard, thought this causes the problem.

on a german Keyboard, "\" is on [AlternateGraphics]+ß <- see the "sz" properly? it's Chr($DF)

on Shift-8 is "(", btw "[" is [AlternateGraphics]+8

oh, and "*" is on shift-"+", it's the key next to [RETURN] in the second row...

anyhow, I don't think he is interested in buying an english or US keyboard.
how should he access the accents there?

On a french keyboard, the '\' is 'AltGr + 8'.

The '8' key on a french keyboard :

8
_\

Yes exactly, my friend GNOZAL as right

I'm french then, i have a french keyboard.
Fortunetaly, because i speak english like spanish cow, then if i have a US keyboard.....not useful i explain to you the mess

ah, I get the problem.

the routine here has problems sending the [AltGr] press.
iirc the English/US keyboard does not have such a key...?

so, sending "@" sould result in "q", sending "€" in "e", "µ" in "m", etc...
(at least on a german keyboard)

Yes i found a solution on a german forum

http://www.purebasic.fr/german/viewtopi ... 551#149551

Apparently this code works for the "\" french

I have modified this one too

Hello DJES, glad i talk to you
Thanks for your modification
That's right, this code works fine.

But it's funny, it's works so fine that he never stop now
I say that, it's for move the "SCHMILBLICK" because i use the deutch code, but it's strange no, whar are you think about that




Thank to your help and all the friend of this post

Yes, there was a "missing feature" if you include "{" in your text that are not to specify special tags.