Redirecting Keypress in C#?

Question

0.00/5 (No votes)

See more:

Hello there, i want to write an application like hotkey helpers for games, for example, in Warcraft 3, i use numpad keys for some reason. Is it possible to send a "Numpad 1 key pressed" message to the OS by pressing the "X" key? I've been trying to do this using hooks but i couldnt figure out. I hope i was clear.

I've used this class for hooks : Global System Hooks in .NET[^]

Simply my code is like this :

C#

globalKeyboardHook hook = new globalKeyboardHook(); // A Global Hook
       private void btnHook_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
       {
           hook.hook(); // Set the hook
           hook.HookedKeys.Add(Keys.X); // Hook the X key
           // i removed other hooks purify the code, six hooks total.
           hook.KeyDown += new KeyEventHandler(hook_KeyDown); // add eventhandler
           Program.hookActive = true; // inform the program that hook is active.
           Guncelle(); // update form components (buttons enabling/disabling according to hook status etc.)
       }

       private void hook_KeyDown(object sender, KeyEventArgs e)
       {
           KeyEventArgs k = new KeyEventArgs(Keys.NoName);
           switch (e.KeyCode)
           {
               case Keys.X:
                   k = new KeyEventArgs(Keys.NumPad1);
                   OnKeyDown(k);
                   break;
               // i removed other cases to purify the code, six cases total.

           }
       }

Thanks,
Seckin.

Posted 30-Jun-11 2:07am

Mehmet Seçkin

Updated 30-Jun-11 2:29am

v2

Add a Solution

Comments

Prerak Patel 30-Jun-11 8:10am

What you have tried so far?

4 solutions

Solution 2

Sure it is possible. But instead of using hook in .NET, i would prefer using some good APIs instead.

The two APIs you want to use are GetASyncKeyState to catch key presses and keybd_event function to simulate key press. With the first API set up a thread with 1ms sleep and check for each key you want to check then simulate a keypress event by second API for each key catched.

However the key which pressed will NOT be ignored. I mean when you press X, it will be pressed and for example numlock 1 will be pressed too. Also the program have to be started as admin. Its a long and unrelated story dont ask why :)

Another way of doing this is low level keyboard hooking which is quite harder and for a small application this is not really necessary. But it allows the program to block key press events and to send another key instead. BTW it will also need admin privileges.

So google this APIs for further info. I am not available for example codes ATM sorry bout that :(

Regards
Gun Deniz AKKOC

Posted 2-Jul-11 20:27pm

Gun Deniz Akkoc

Updated 2-Jul-11 20:30pm

Solution 1

Your main problem is going to be finding un-assigned keys, that is, keys not already used by the game. beyond that, how is pressing the X key going to be any better or less confusing than pressing the actual key that the X key simulates? That's just a bizarre train of thought as far as I'm concerned.

Posted 30-Jun-11 2:09am

#realJSOP

Comments

Mehmet Seçkin 30-Jun-11 8:17am

I just want to make the game think "numpad 1 is pressed!" by pressing another button just like X or ENTER or else. I've hooked the X key and told it "when its pressed go fire an event numpad1 pressed", my program fires the event but this only affects my program, not the game.

johannesnestler 30-Jun-11 8:19am

Try with a GLOBAL Hook: maybe this helps http://www.codeproject.com/KB/system/globalsystemhook.aspx

Mehmet Seçkin 30-Jun-11 8:21am

Thank you but i'm already using this class, downloaded from the link you've just given.

Solution 4

the same problem that i have... but i used globalhook so that even though i have no form i only have the notific...

i even have suspend and resume keys.. its simple just register unregister vice versa...

still i got a problem cause when user presses ALT + Q = i cant use the SendKeys.Send("{NUMPAD7}"),

so the only solution that i would used would be keybd_event or SendKeys.Send("{HOME}"); or something the same as that... ill test this later...

Posted 6-Nov-12 16:14pm

zavide

Add a Solution

Add your solution here

Treat my content as plain text, not as HTML

Preview 0

…

Existing Members

Sign in to your account

...or Join us

Download, Vote, Comment, Publish.

Your Email
Password
Forgot your password?

Your Email
This email is in use. Do you need your password?
Optional Password

I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Please subscribe me to the CodeProject newsletters

When answering a question please:

Read the question carefully.
Understand that English isn't everyone's first language so be lenient of bad spelling and grammar.
If a question is poorly phrased then either ask for clarification, ignore it, or edit the question and fix the problem. Insults are not welcome.
Don't tell someone to read the manual. Chances are they have and don't get it. Provide an answer or move on to the next question.

Let's work to help developers, not make them feel stupid.

This content, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

VallarasuS · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-02T21:45:00

Get a handle to the windows where the event needs to be fired, and register this handle with the hot key. That's it you don't have to do listen to key press, the window will be notified when the hot key is pressed.

You might find the hot key function used in this article helpful.

OneNote Style Screen Capture Utility - with Preview and Auto Save options[^]

Hope this helps! Mark this as answer if this helps!

Vallarasu S.