How to detect keys pressed if program not current/active?

[vwidmer]

How can I detect if a key or key combo is pressed if my program is running in the background and not the active program or window?

Thanks

[RASHAD]

Windows OS
You can use Keyboard Low Level Hook(Global Hook)
You will detect any key pressed no matter which application is active
You may need Thread for that

[vwidmer]

You know how to do it on linux?

Thanks

[RASHAD]

You know how to do it on linux?

No
Next is for windows maybe Shardik or any other guy can do it for Linux

Code: Select all

Global Hook.i, Dim Key.s(256)

Procedure KeyboardHook(nCode, wParam,*k.KBDLLHOOKSTRUCT)
  If nCode < 0 
    ProcedureReturn CallNextHookEx_(hook, nCode, wParam,*k.KBDLLHOOKSTRUCT)
  EndIf
  If wParam=#WM_KEYDOWN
    GetKeyboardState_(@Key())
    ToAscii_(*k\vkCode,*k\scanCode, @Key(), @Ascii.w,0)
    
    If Ascii = 0
      ProcedureReturn CallNextHookEx_(hook, nCode, wParam,*k.KBDLLHOOKSTRUCT)
    ElseIf Ascii = 27
      UnhookWindowsHookEx_(hook)
      End
    Else    
     Debug  Str(Ascii) + " = " + Chr(Ascii)
    EndIf
  EndIf
  ProcedureReturn CallNextHookEx_(hook, nCode, wParam,*k.KBDLLHOOKSTRUCT)
EndProcedure


flags = #PB_Window_Invisible
OpenWindow(0,0,0,100,100,"Test",Flags)

hook=SetWindowsHookEx_(#WH_KEYBOARD_LL, @KeyboardHook(), GetModuleHandle_(0), 0)

Repeat           
  Select WaitWindowEvent(10)
  EndSelect 
ForEver
UnhookWindowsHookEx_(hook)
End

[jack]

please tell me why you want to do this, because I am thinking key logger.

[vwidmer]

I am trying to make a notification type window thats hidden then when I press what ever key combo I choose it will pop in from the edge of the screen and show me the info I have in the window when ever I want.

Kinda like how Guake terminal is or I guess like the doom hud or whatever. where they have the ~ key so when u press it terminal shows up.

Thanks

[vwidmer]

Something like this I was playing with using the mouse to top right of screen but would like to have key to do it as well.

Excuse the bad coding any one is free to make it better

Code: Select all

ExamineDesktops()

OpenWindow(0, DesktopWidth(0)-300, 0, 300, DesktopHeight(0), "Info Window", #PB_Window_BorderLess)
;HideWindow(0,#True)
AddWindowTimer(0, 1, 1000)

Exit = #False
Repeat
  
  Event = WaitWindowEvent()
  
  Select Event
    Case #PB_Event_Timer
      If EventTimer() = 1
        Debug DesktopMouseX()
        Debug DesktopMouseY()
        If DesktopMouseX() = 0
          SetWindowState(0,#PB_Window_Minimize)
        EndIf
        If DesktopMouseX() = DesktopWidth(0) - 1
          HideWindow(0,#False)
          SetWindowState(0,#PB_Window_Maximize)
          ResizeWindow(0,DesktopWidth(0)-WindowWidth(0),#PB_Ignore,#PB_Ignore,DesktopHeight(0))
        EndIf
        If DesktopMouseX() < (DesktopWidth(0)-WindowWidth(0))
          SetWindowState(0,#PB_Window_Minimize)
        EndIf
      EndIf
    Case #PB_Event_Gadget
    Case #PB_Event_CloseWindow
      Exit = #True
  EndSelect
  
Until Exit

[Dude]

please tell me why you want to do this, because I am thinking key logger.

You need a better imagination. There's LOTS of valid reasons to detect key states.

[netmaestro]

For the usage you describe you shouldn't need to do anything fancier than setting a global hotkey for your program. Look up implementation of RegisterHotkey on MSDN.

[vwidmer]

Thanks but need a linux solution.

[netmaestro]

If I'm not mistaken your Linux equivalent would be XGrabKey. But I know nothing of Linux programming for the most part so I'm really just inviting ridicule on myself.

[vwidmer]

Yes I seen that https://tronche.com/gui/x/xlib/input/XGrabKey.html

Though I am not a good enough programmer to implement it.