Keyboard Listener

[Kbalz]

I have an application that minimizes itself, and I want it to listen
for certain key commands, and when they are pressed, my program can
react to them.

So far I've gotten my application to react as I intend while the
program has focus, but when the application loses focus, the listening
stops.

I am using VS 2008 beta 2, with .net 3.5.
A great example of what I'm after is Google's desktop search, where
you hit control twice, the program appears and you interact with it.

If anyone can provide a place to start or some classes to check out I
would appreciate it.

I started to look at Global Keyboard Hooking last night but it looked
very confusing, but if that is what I need then I will read more
articles. Thanks, KB

[=?Utf-8?B?cnViZW4=?=]

try GetAsyncKeyStat e api from user32,
code on top of my mind (not tested):

using System.Runtime. InteropServices ;

[DllImport("User 32.dll")]
public static extern short GetAsyncKeyStat e(int vKey);

....
if (GetAsyncKeySta te(System.Windo ws.Forms.Keys.P ause) != 0)
{
//Break-Pause key was pressed
}
....

"Kbalz" wrote:

I have an application that minimizes itself, and I want it to listen
for certain key commands, and when they are pressed, my program can
react to them.

So far I've gotten my application to react as I intend while the
program has focus, but when the application loses focus, the listening
stops.

I am using VS 2008 beta 2, with .net 3.5.
A great example of what I'm after is Google's desktop search, where
you hit control twice, the program appears and you interact with it.

If anyone can provide a place to start or some classes to check out I
would appreciate it.

I started to look at Global Keyboard Hooking last night but it looked
very confusing, but if that is what I need then I will read more
articles. Thanks, KB

[Kbalz]

On Nov 16, 3:10 pm, ruben <ru...@discussi ons.microsoft.c omwrote:

try GetAsyncKeyStat e api from user32,
code on top of my mind (not tested):

using System.Runtime. InteropServices ;

[DllImport("User 32.dll")]
public static extern short GetAsyncKeyStat e(int vKey);

...
if (GetAsyncKeySta te(System.Windo ws.Forms.Keys.P ause) != 0)
{
//Break-Pause key was pressed}

...

"Kbalz" wrote:

I have an application that minimizes itself, and I want it to listen
for certain key commands, and when they are pressed, my program can
react to them.

So far I've gotten my application to react as I intend while the
program has focus, but when the application loses focus, the listening
stops.

I am using VS 2008 beta 2, with .net 3.5.

A great example of what I'm after is Google's desktop search, where
you hit control twice, the program appears and you interact with it.

If anyone can provide a place to start or some classes to check out I
would appreciate it.

I started to look at Global Keyboard Hooking last night but it looked
very confusing, but if that is what I need then I will read more
articles. Thanks, KB- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I had to use this instead: public static extern short
GetAsyncKeyStat e(System.Window s.Forms.Keys vKey);

But how do I run that IF statement..? In a seperate thread that waits
in an infinite loop !?

[Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]]

That's still not going to work for you, as you would have to poll
constantly to see what the keyboard state was, and that's going to put a
drain on your system.

You were on the right track in your original post. You have to create a
global keyboard hook. This will allow your application to monitor keyboard
events even when your app doesn't have focus.
--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- mv*@spam.guard. caspershouse.co m

"Kbalz" <Ku************ @gmail.comwrote in message
news:c6******** *************** ***********@y5g 2000hsf.googleg roups.com...

On Nov 16, 3:10 pm, ruben <ru...@discussi ons.microsoft.c omwrote:

>try GetAsyncKeyStat e api from user32,
code on top of my mind (not tested):

using System.Runtime. InteropServices ;

[DllImport("User 32.dll")]
public static extern short GetAsyncKeyStat e(int vKey);

...
if (GetAsyncKeySta te(System.Windo ws.Forms.Keys.P ause) != 0)
{
//Break-Pause key was pressed}

...

"Kbalz" wrote:

I have an application that minimizes itself, and I want it to listen
for certain key commands, and when they are pressed, my program can
react to them.

So far I've gotten my application to react as I intend while the
program has focus, but when the application loses focus, the listening
stops.

I am using VS 2008 beta 2, with .net 3.5.

A great example of what I'm after is Google's desktop search, where
you hit control twice, the program appears and you interact with it.

If anyone can provide a place to start or some classes to check out I
would appreciate it.

I started to look at Global Keyboard Hooking last night but it looked
very confusing, but if that is what I need then I will read more
articles. Thanks, KB- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I had to use this instead: public static extern short
GetAsyncKeyStat e(System.Window s.Forms.Keys vKey);

But how do I run that IF statement..? In a seperate thread that waits
in an infinite loop !?

[Christoph Hausner]

As far as I know hooks are not supported in .Net. You'll always need an
external unmanaged DLL written in C or any other non-.net language. I've
found two articles which explain it very well:

http://www.codeproject.com/csharp/globalsystemhook.asp
http://www.codeproject.com/cs/system...lobalHooks.asp

Hope that helps.

"Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]" <mv*@spam.guard .caspershouse.c omschrieb
im Newsbeitrag news:28******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...

That's still not going to work for you, as you would have to poll
constantly to see what the keyboard state was, and that's going to put a
drain on your system.

You were on the right track in your original post. You have to create
a global keyboard hook. This will allow your application to monitor
keyboard events even when your app doesn't have focus.
--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- mv*@spam.guard. caspershouse.co m

"Kbalz" <Ku************ @gmail.comwrote in message
news:c6******** *************** ***********@y5g 2000hsf.googleg roups.com...

>On Nov 16, 3:10 pm, ruben <ru...@discussi ons.microsoft.c omwrote:

>>try GetAsyncKeyStat e api from user32,
code on top of my mind (not tested):

using System.Runtime. InteropServices ;

[DllImport("User 32.dll")]
public static extern short GetAsyncKeyStat e(int vKey);

...
if (GetAsyncKeySta te(System.Windo ws.Forms.Keys.P ause) != 0)
{
//Break-Pause key was pressed}

...

"Kbalz" wrote:
I have an application that minimizes itself, and I want it to listen
for certain key commands, and when they are pressed, my program can
react to them.

So far I've gotten my application to react as I intend while the
program has focus, but when the application loses focus, the listening
stops.

I am using VS 2008 beta 2, with .net 3.5.

A great example of what I'm after is Google's desktop search, where
you hit control twice, the program appears and you interact with it.

If anyone can provide a place to start or some classes to check out I
would appreciate it.

I started to look at Global Keyboard Hooking last night but it looked
very confusing, but if that is what I need then I will read more
articles. Thanks, KB- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I had to use this instead: public static extern short
GetAsyncKeySta te(System.Windo ws.Forms.Keys vKey);

But how do I run that IF statement..? In a seperate thread that waits
in an infinite loop !?

[Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]]

Christoph,

Most are not, but keyboard hooks (which is what the OP is looking for)
are, as specified in the following knowledge base article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318804/

And elaborated upon in:

http://blogs.msdn.com/toub/archive/2...14/481082.aspx
--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- mv*@spam.guard. caspershouse.co m
"Christoph Hausner" <ch************ ***@hotmail.dew rote in message
news:ei******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP02.phx.gbl...

As far as I know hooks are not supported in .Net. You'll always need an
external unmanaged DLL written in C or any other non-.net language. I've
found two articles which explain it very well:

http://www.codeproject.com/csharp/globalsystemhook.asp
http://www.codeproject.com/cs/system...lobalHooks.asp

Hope that helps.

"Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]" <mv*@spam.guard .caspershouse.c omschrieb
im Newsbeitrag news:28******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...

> That's still not going to work for you, as you would have to poll
constantly to see what the keyboard state was, and that's going to put a
drain on your system.

You were on the right track in your original post. You have to create
a global keyboard hook. This will allow your application to monitor
keyboard events even when your app doesn't have focus.
--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- mv*@spam.guard. caspershouse.co m

"Kbalz" <Ku************ @gmail.comwrote in message
news:c6******* *************** ************@y5 g2000hsf.google groups.com...

>>On Nov 16, 3:10 pm, ruben <ru...@discussi ons.microsoft.c omwrote:
try GetAsyncKeyStat e api from user32,
code on top of my mind (not tested):

using System.Runtime. InteropServices ;

[DllImport("User 32.dll")]
public static extern short GetAsyncKeyStat e(int vKey);

...
if (GetAsyncKeySta te(System.Windo ws.Forms.Keys.P ause) != 0)
{
//Break-Pause key was pressed}

...

"Kbalz" wrote:
I have an application that minimizes itself, and I want it to listen
for certain key commands, and when they are pressed, my program can
react to them.

So far I've gotten my application to react as I intend while the
program has focus, but when the application loses focus, the
listening
stops.

I am using VS 2008 beta 2, with .net 3.5.

A great example of what I'm after is Google's desktop search, where
you hit control twice, the program appears and you interact with it.

If anyone can provide a place to start or some classes to check out I
would appreciate it.

I started to look at Global Keyboard Hooking last night but it looked
very confusing, but if that is what I need then I will read more
articles. Thanks, KB- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I had to use this instead: public static extern short
GetAsyncKeySt ate(System.Wind ows.Forms.Keys vKey);

But how do I run that IF statement..? In a seperate thread that waits
in an infinite loop !?

[Kbalz]

On Nov 17, 11:21 am, "Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]"
<[e-mail] d.caspershouse. comwrote:

Christoph,

Most are not, but keyboard hooks (which is what the OP is looking for)
are, as specified in the following knowledge base article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318804/

And elaborated upon in:

http://blogs.msdn.com/toub/archive/2...14/481082.aspx

--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- [e-mail] .caspershouse.c om

"Christoph Hausner" <christoph_haus [e-mail] rote in message

news:ei******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP02.phx.gbl...

As far as I know hooks are not supported in .Net. You'll always need an
external unmanaged DLL written in C or any other non-.net language. I've
found two articles which explain it very well:

http://www.codeproject.com/csharp/globalsystemhook.asp
http://www.codeproject.com/cs/system...lobalHooks.asp

Hope that helps.

"Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]" <[e-mail] d.caspershouse. comschrieb
im Newsbeitragnews :28************ *************** *******@microso ft.com...

That's still not going to work for you, as you would have to poll
constantly to see what the keyboard state was, and that's going to put a
drain on your system.

You were on the right track in your original post. You have to create
a global keyboard hook. This will allow your application to monitor
keyboard events even when your app doesn't have focus.

--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- [e-mail] .caspershouse.c om

"Kbalz" <Kurtas.Balc... @gmail.comwrote in message
news:c6******* *************** ************@y5 g2000hsf.google groups.com...
On Nov 16, 3:10 pm, ruben <ru...@discussi ons.microsoft.c omwrote:
try GetAsyncKeyStat e api from user32,
code on top of my mind (not tested):

>>using System.Runtime. InteropServices ;

>>[DllImport("User 32.dll")]
public static extern short GetAsyncKeyStat e(int vKey);

>>...
if (GetAsyncKeySta te(System.Windo ws.Forms.Keys.P ause) != 0)
{
//Break-Pause key was pressed}

>>...

>>"Kbalz" wrote:
I have an application that minimizes itself, and I want it to listen
for certain key commands, and when they are pressed, my program can
react to them.

>So far I've gotten my application to react as I intend while the
program has focus, but when the application loses focus, the
listening
stops.

>I am using VS 2008 beta 2, with .net 3.5.

>A great example of what I'm after is Google's desktop search, where
you hit control twice, the program appears and you interact with it.

>If anyone can provide a place to start or some classes to check out I
would appreciate it.

>I started to look at Global Keyboard Hooking last night but it looked
very confusing, but if that is what I need then I will read more
articles. Thanks, KB- Hide quoted text -

>>- Show quoted text -

>I had to use this instead: public static extern short
GetAsyncKeySta te(System.Windo ws.Forms.Keys vKey);

>But how do I run that IF statement..? In a seperate thread that waits
in an infinite loop !?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Do you know why .NET doesn't support it yet? Having something like
this built in to the arch. would be super helpful I would think!

[Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]]

Kbalz,

It is because you need the ability to export a function from a DLL,
which .NET does not support (one of the links goes into it in more detail,
the second, I believe).
--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- mv*@spam.guard. caspershouse.co m

"Kbalz" <Ku************ @gmail.comwrote in message
news:5b******** *************** ***********@e4g 2000hsg.googleg roups.com...

On Nov 17, 11:21 am, "Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]"
<[e-mail] d.caspershouse. comwrote:

>Christoph,

Most are not, but keyboard hooks (which is what the OP is looking
for)
are, as specified in the following knowledge base article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318804/

And elaborated upon in:

http://blogs.msdn.com/toub/archive/2...14/481082.aspx

--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- [e-mail] .caspershouse.c om

"Christoph Hausner" <christoph_haus [e-mail] rote in message

news:ei******* *******@TK2MSFT NGP02.phx.gbl.. .

As far as I know hooks are not supported in .Net. You'll always need an
external unmanaged DLL written in C or any other non-.net language.
I've
found two articles which explain it very well:

>http://www.codeproject.com/csharp/globalsystemhook.asp
http://www.codeproject.com/cs/system...lobalHooks.asp

Hope that helps.

"Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]" <[e-mail] d.caspershouse. com>
schrieb
im
Newsbeitragnews :28************ *************** *******@microso ft.com...
That's still not going to work for you, as you would have to poll
constantly to see what the keyboard state was, and that's going to put
a
drain on your system.

> You were on the right track in your original post. You have to
create
a global keyboard hook. This will allow your application to monitor
keyboard events even when your app doesn't have focus.

>--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- [e-mail] .caspershouse.c om

>"Kbalz" <Kurtas.Balc... @gmail.comwrote in message
news:c6****** *************** *************@y 5g2000hsf.googl egroups.com...
On Nov 16, 3:10 pm, ruben <ru...@discussi ons.microsoft.c omwrote:
try GetAsyncKeyStat e api from user32,
code on top of my mind (not tested):

>>>using System.Runtime. InteropServices ;

>>>[DllImport("User 32.dll")]
public static extern short GetAsyncKeyStat e(int vKey);

>>>...
if (GetAsyncKeySta te(System.Windo ws.Forms.Keys.P ause) != 0)
{
//Break-Pause key was pressed}

>>>...

>>>"Kbalz" wrote:
I have an application that minimizes itself, and I want it to
listen
for certain key commands, and when they are pressed, my program
can
react to them.

>>So far I've gotten my application to react as I intend while the
program has focus, but when the application loses focus, the
listening
stops.

>>I am using VS 2008 beta 2, with .net 3.5.

>>A great example of what I'm after is Google's desktop search,
where
you hit control twice, the program appears and you interact with
it.

>>If anyone can provide a place to start or some classes to check
out I
would appreciate it.

>>I started to look at Global Keyboard Hooking last night but it
looked
very confusing, but if that is what I need then I will read more
articles. Thanks, KB- Hide quoted text -

>>>- Show quoted text -

>>I had to use this instead: public static extern short
GetAsyncKeySt ate(System.Wind ows.Forms.Keys vKey);

>>But how do I run that IF statement..? In a seperate thread that waits
in an infinite loop !?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Do you know why .NET doesn't support it yet? Having something like
this built in to the arch. would be super helpful I would think!

[Rajkiran R.B.]

Im trying to design an .NET application which is similar to notepad except
for which it supports multiple languages..

The Application consists of a rich textbox and a combo box

The system will have multiple keyboard languages installed.. And the
application when loading searches for the installed keyboard languages and
shows it in a combo box..

InputLanguage[] lang = new
InputLanguage[InputLanguage.I nstalledInputLa nguages.Count];

private void Form1_Load(obje ct sender, EventArgs e)
{
InputLanguage.I nstalledInputLa nguages.CopyTo( lang, 0);
foreach (InputLanguage l in lang)
{
comboBox1.Items .Add(l.Culture. EnglishName);
}
comboBox1.Selec tedIndex =
comboBox1.Items .IndexOf(InputL anguage.Default InputLanguage.C ulture.EnglishN ame);
comboBox1.Selec tedItem =
InputLanguage.D efaultInputLang uage.Culture.En glishName;
}
Whenever the user changes the language then the current language is also
changed through the following code,,
private void comboBox1_Selec tedIndexChanged (object sender, EventArgs e)
{
InputLanguage.C urrentInputLang uage =
lang[comboBox1.Selec tedIndex];
richTextBox1.Fo cus();

}

Though the input language is changed the content of the rich text box
remains unaltered...

For Example

when the Input Language Is selected as English(United States) when I press
the keys 1,2,3,4,5,6
I get in the textbox as 123456

when the input language Is selected as French (France) when I press the keys
1,2,3,4,5,6
I get in the textbox as &é"'(-

What I need is that when I change the language from English(United States)
to French (France) the text should also change from 12346 to &é"'(-

Reagrds
Rajkiran

[Kbalz]

On Dec 12, 12:36 am, "Rajkiran R.B." <rajkiran...@ho tmail.comwrote:

Im trying to design an .NET application which is similar to notepad except
for which it supports multiple languages..

The Application consists of a rich textbox and a combo box

The system will have multiple keyboard languages installed.. And the
application when loading searches for the installed keyboard languages and
shows it in a combo box..

InputLanguage[] lang = new
InputLanguage[InputLanguage.I nstalledInputLa nguages.Count];

private void Form1_Load(obje ct sender, EventArgs e)
{
InputLanguage.I nstalledInputLa nguages.CopyTo( lang, 0);
foreach (InputLanguage l in lang)
{
comboBox1.Items .Add(l.Culture. EnglishName);
}
comboBox1.Selec tedIndex =
comboBox1.Items .IndexOf(InputL anguage.Default InputLanguage.C ulture.EnglishN-ame);
comboBox1.Selec tedItem =
InputLanguage.D efaultInputLang uage.Culture.En glishName;
}

Whenever the user changes the language then the current language is also
changed through the following code,,
private void comboBox1_Selec tedIndexChanged (object sender, EventArgs e)
{
InputLanguage.C urrentInputLang uage =
lang[comboBox1.Selec tedIndex];
richTextBox1.Fo cus();

}

Though the input language is changed the content of the rich text box
remains unaltered...

For Example

when the Input Language Is selected as English(United States) when I press
the keys 1,2,3,4,5,6
I get in the textbox as 123456

when the input language Is selected as French (France) when I press the keys
1,2,3,4,5,6
I get in the textbox as &é"'(-

What I need is that when I change the language from English(United States)
to French (France) the text should also change from 12346 to &é"'(-

Reagrds
Rajkiran

Well when I get my code working, I'll post it, and you can build your
project from my skeleton methods. I haven't had time, but I've done
lots of reading and hope to get at it this week