Make application buttons assign to keys up, down, left, right...

[ImpactMan]

Need help to create an windows mobile application with a few buttons that when they are pressed/clicked they assign keys, like up, down, left, right.

It is just like to create a "virtual d-pad", or "software emulated d-pad".

I'm newbie in programming, and I'm using Visual Studio 2008.
Some one can help me with that?

Tanks.

My effort for it only result in this simple code lines:

Public Class Form1
 
    Private Sub ExitButton_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles ExitButton.Click
 
        'Bye!
 
        Application.Exit()
 
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub UpButton_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles UpButton.Click
 
        'Up
 
   *****my tries:      System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys.Send("{UP}") \\\\\\\\\ LeftButton_Click(Keys.Down, Keys.Down)     *******
 
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub LeftButton_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles LeftButton.Click
 
        'Left
 
 
 
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub DownButton_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles DownButton.Click
 
        'Down
 
 
 
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub RightButton_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles RightButton.Click
 
        'Right
 
 
 
    End Sub
End Class

[markmcgookin]

Hi,

Welcome to Bytes! Can I just clarify what you are after here?

So you have a device/emulator and you want 4 buttons on the screen to emulate what the "dpad" directional buttons already do? or do you simply want to create four buttons from scratch?

Either way in VS2008 this is nice and easy. Just drag four buttons onto the form, then click properties on each button, then if you already have an action on the "dpad" or softkeys as we call them you can just click the little lightning symbol at the top and find the on click event and use the drop down menu to select the same action that your soft key has... so binding the "on press" event to the same thing.

Otherwise if you just want this to be a function in it's own right, just double click on the button, and enter your code.

I'm not sure if this is what you are after, but if you have any more questions, please be a bit more specific.

Thanks,

Mark

[ImpactMan]

Hi,

Welcome to Bytes! Can I just clarify what you are after here?

So you have a device/emulator and you want 4 buttons on the screen to emulate what the "dpad" directional buttons already do? or do you simply want to create four buttons from scratch?

Either way in VS2008 this is nice and easy. Just drag four buttons onto the form, then click properties on each button, then if you already have an action on the "dpad" or softkeys as we call them you can just click the little lightning symbol at the top and find the on click event and use the drop down menu to select the same action that your soft key has... so binding the "on press" event to the same thing.

Otherwise if you just want this to be a function in it's own right, just double click on the button, and enter your code.

I'm not sure if this is what you are after, but if you have any more questions, please be a bit more specific.

Thanks,

Mark

Hello.

Tanks for the answer and sorry about my english, maybe not much specific. I'm Portuguese.

I try to explain specifically what I want.

I have a Pocket PC device each don't have a dpad.

So, I'm trying to emulate/replicate the normal pocket pc dpad hardware.

I want to do one application with 4 buttons on the screen to emulate what the "dpad" directional buttons do.

I've already create those buttons with visual studio (I've placed 4 images to work as buttons. I think this is possible.)

Now, my problem is to assign functions/acctions to this buttons each makes the same as the dpad. Not getting any results. :(

If you can tell me some tips or If you can show me an example for one button, I will be tankful.

Kind regards.

[markmcgookin]

Hello.

Tanks for the answer and sorry about my english, maybe not much specific. I'm Portuguese.

I try to explain specifically what I want.

I have a Pocket PC device each don't have a dpad.

So, I'm trying to emulate/replicate the normal pocket pc dpad hardware.

I want to do one application with 4 buttons on the screen to emulate what the "dpad" directional buttons do.

I've already create those buttons with visual studio (I've placed 4 images to work as buttons. I think this is possible.)

Now, my problem is to assign functions/acctions to this buttons each makes the same as the dpad. Not getting any results. :(

If you can tell me some tips or If you can show me an example for one button, I will be tankful.

Kind regards.

Right, so you have dragged a .Net Picture box onto the form?

Unfortunatley I dont think there is any automatic way to replace all the functions of the soft keys, but you can code them yourself (to move inbetween items, it's selecteditemind ex ++ or -- etc. Have you managed to get anything to happen when you click the image? or is that your problem? or is your problem that you have it doing things, you just can't replicate the functions of the soft keys?

To make an image clickable, you need to select it, right click > properties > click on the little lightning icon in the properties tab > then double click in the box beside "Click" and this will create an event handler (and should take you to it in the code) for the click event on the button.

Mark

[ImpactMan]

Right, so you have dragged a .Net Picture box onto the form?

Unfortunatley I dont think there is any automatic way to replace all the functions of the soft keys, but you can code them yourself (to move inbetween items, it's selecteditemind ex ++ or -- etc. Have you managed to get anything to happen when you click the image? or is that your problem? or is your problem that you have it doing things, you just can't replicate the functions of the soft keys?

To make an image clickable, you need to select it, right click > properties > click on the little lightning icon in the properties tab > then double click in the box beside "Click" and this will create an event handler (and should take you to it in the code) for the click event on the button.

Mark

Tanks.
I think I've already make images clickable.
But, maybe it will get me some more troubles. Do you think is better to start with simple buttons?

Doing this with simple buttons, the same way, I can't add an action to button that replicates/simulates the dpad (keys up, down....).

"Unfortunat ley I dont think there is any automatic way to replace all the functions of the soft keys, but you can code them yourself (to move inbetween items, it's selecteditemind ex ++ or -- etc."

I would like to try it now, but I'm on my PC with VS only Monday.
Anyway, if you can show-me some code lines example to do this, it will make me understanding the program structure and the basics for doing that.

Tanks for all your availability.

Best regardes.

Filipe



Kind regards.

[ImpactMan]

Hi!

I've been trying to make this work, but, not getting any results. :(

I don't know more what to do or how to proceed!

The only button (which is an image) that I can make work is the one to close the application. Not a progress at all!

I tink I have to see some examples do perform my program.

If you have time, and if you can, you could show me some code lines.
I will appreciate that.

Tanks.

Filipe

[Mokbol]

I dont think there is any automatic way to replace all the functions of the soft keys, but you can code them yourself (to move inbetween items, it's selecteditemind ex ++ or -- etc. Have you managed to get anything to happen when you click the image? or is that your problem? or is your problem that you have it doing things, you just can't replicate the functions of the soft keys?

[rahulsengar]

hey already explained you dude i think it will help you out

[markmcgookin]

Rahul Says:

You can do something like this to make it work.

Add the dll - System.runtime. IneropServices
then add this code where you initialize all the global variables
[DllImport("Core dll.dll", SetLastError = true)]
static extern int keybd_event(byt e b, byte b1, int dwflags, int dwExtraInfo);

1) On menuclick1-
add this set of code when u want the display to move up
keybd_event(38, 0, 0, 0); //
keybd_event(38, 0, 2, 0); //this code Works similarly when u press up
2) On menuclick2 -
add this set of code when u want the display to move down
keybd_event(40, 0, 0, 0);
keybd_event(40, 0, 2, 0);

I have posted the above quote as it was in another thread... IMPACTMAN ... You have been warned before about this DO NOT DOUBLE POST, this is your last warning.

I will remove the other thread.

Mark

[ImpactMan]

I have posted the above quote as it was in another thread... IMPACTMAN ... You have been warned before about this DO NOT DOUBLE POST, this is your last warning.

I will remove the other thread.

Mark

Hi there!

Sorry about it. I don't was't seen this post, and today I make the same mistake!! Posting again other topic with the same subject.
If you can remove it to me, I will be glad. Tanks for the info and for the help.

Regards.

Filipe