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Delphi command to control another application?

Hi,

There's a VB command (I think it's SendKey) that allows you to control another application by sending hotkeys to it (like you open TMPGEnc and your VB program can set the Video Source sending an "ALT-V" to TMPGEnc).

Does anybody knows how to do the same thing with Delphi? I thougth of getting the handler of the application and putting a message in the Windows message queue using the Windows API, but that would be much easier with a single command like in VB :)

Thanks.

hI GFR.. pal..

I broke these out into TWO parts (cause they are)
Also, if some of the CODE start to break-off onto other line, try and
MAXimize your browser. I tried to clean up the code as much as
possible, but my eyes are going cookoo.. you know 8O

Note, I was SURE that Delphi had sendkey support built-in,
but looks like it doesn't, though their is special D/L that does have
a sendkeys unit, but I don't like registering all the time.

I hope this code snipplet helps some in YOUR coding.. Well, have
a look and see if it helps any, else good luck anyways.. hehe.. :)

-vhelp
--- ---- --- ---- --- ---- --- ---- --- ---- --- ----

Part 1 of 2

These functions may be useful. They always send keys to the ACTIVE
window.

Code:

{

 ************************************************************

 * Procedure PostKeyEx32

 *

 * Parameters:

 *  key    : virtual keycode of the key to send. For printable

 *           keys this is simply the ANSI code (Ord(character)).

 *  shift  : state of the modifier keys. This is a set, so you

 *           can set several of these keys (shift, control, alt,

 *           mouse buttons) in tandem. The TShiftState type is 

 *           declared in the Classes Unit.

 *  specialkey: normally this should be False. Set it to True to 

 *           specify a key on the numeric keypad, for example. 

 * Description:

 *  Uses keybd_event to manufacture a series of key events matching 

 *  the passed parameters. The events go to the control with focus.

 *  Note that for characters key is always the upper-case version of

 *  the character. Sending without any modifier keys will result in

 *  a lower-case character, sending it with [ssShift] will result

 *  in an upper-case character!

 * Created: 17.7.98 by P. Below

 ************************************************************

}



Procedure PostKeyEx32( key: Word; Const shift: TShiftState;

                     specialkey: Boolean );

  Type

    TShiftKeyInfo = Record

                      shift: Byte;

                      vkey : Byte;

                    End;

    byteset = Set of 0..7;

  Const

    shiftkeys: Array [1..3] of TShiftKeyInfo =

      ((shift: Ord(ssCtrl); vkey: VK_CONTROL ),

       (shift: Ord(ssShift); vkey: VK_SHIFT ),

       (shift: Ord(ssAlt); vkey: VK_MENU ));

  Var

    flag: DWORD;

    bShift: ByteSet absolute shift;

    i: Integer;

  Begin

    For i := 1 To 3 Do Begin

      If shiftkeys[i].shift In bShift Then 

        keybd_event( shiftkeys[i].vkey, 

                     MapVirtualKey(shiftkeys[i].vkey, 0),

                     0, 0);

    End; { For }

    If specialkey Then 

      flag := KEYEVENTF_EXTENDEDKEY

    Else

      flag := 0;



    keybd_event( key, MapvirtualKey( key, 0 ), flag, 0 );

    flag := flag or KEYEVENTF_KEYUP;

    keybd_event( key, MapvirtualKey( key, 0 ), flag, 0 );



    For i := 3 DownTo 1 Do Begin

      If shiftkeys[i].shift In bShift Then 

        keybd_event( shiftkeys[i].vkey, 

                     MapVirtualKey(shiftkeys[i].vkey, 0),

                     KEYEVENTF_KEYUP, 0);

    End; { For }

  End; { PostKeyEx32 }



Procedure SendText( S: String );



  Procedure SendRawCharacter( ch : Char );

    Var

      i: Integer;

      numStr: String;



    Begin



      numStr := Format('%4.4d',[Ord(ch)]);



      keybd_event( VK_MENU, MapVirtualKey(VK_MENU, 0),

                   0, 0);

      for i:= 1 to Length(numStr) do

        PostKeyEx32( VK_NUMPAD0 + Ord(numstr[i])-Ord('0'), [],

                     false );

        keybd_event( VK_MENU, MapVirtualKey(VK_MENU, 0),

                     KEYEVENTF_KEYUP, 0);

    End;



  Var

    flags: TShiftState;

    vcode: word;

    ret  : word;

    i, n : Integer;

    mask : word;



  Begin { SendText }

    For i := 1  To Length(S) Do Begin

      ret := VkKeyScan( S[i] );

      If ret = $FFFF Then

        SendRawCharacter( S[i] )

      Else Begin

        vcode := Lobyte( ret );

        flags := [];

        mask  := $100;

        For n := 1 To 3 Do Begin

          If (ret and mask) <> 0 Then Begin

            Case mask Of

              $100: Include( flags, ssShift );

              $200: Include( flags, ssCtrl );

              $400: Include( flags, ssAlt );

            End; { Case }

          End; { If }

          mask := mask shl 1;

        End; { For }

        PostKeyEx32( vcode, flags, false );

      End; { Else }

    End; { For }

  End; { SendText }

{
Peter Below (TeamB) 100113.1101@compuserve.com)
No replies in private e-mail, please, unless explicitly
requested!

End of Part 1 of 2
}

.
.
and don't forget Part 2 of 2 here..

Note, I'm gonna include a "definition" file I got on the net on the
different codes for each key and so on and so forth.. I think it's
important to have this close by for your "key" referencing :wink:

Remember to MAXimize your browser, in case source CODE gets
snipped to other line.

I know I've done this in Delphi 3. I'm sure that IT had sendkey
support built-in, but my memory is slowly fading away.. Too much
coding i guess..

If this is not what you are looking for (in a project) just keep on
looking. I'll keep my eye out too 8O

-vhelp

PART 2 of 2

{
The following unit is what I use, example:

PostKeyEx (GetWindowsHandle("THE_CAPTION_OF_THE_WINDOW")

for instructions on the rest look later on before the
PostKeyEx32 procedure.

There are other ways to get the window handle, but I
worked this out for what I needed it. One problem
could arise if you have to windows with the same caption
then this will post the key to the first window with
the CAPTION hope this helps
}

Code:

unit MyUtilsUnt;



interface



uses

  Windows, Messages, SysUtils, Classes, Graphics, Controls, Forms, Dialogs,

  StdCtrls;



type

  TMyUtils = class(TForm)

    function GetWindowHandle (WindowName:string):integer;

  Procedure PostKeyEx( hWindow: HWnd; key: Word; Const shift:

                                  TShiftState;specialkey: Boolean );

  Procedure PostKeyEx32( key: Word; Const shift: TShiftState;

                     specialkey: Boolean );

  Procedure SendText( S: String );

  function FileSizeMy (jsFile:string):integer;

  private

    { Private declarations }

  public

    { Public declarations }



  end;



var

  MyUtils: TMyUtils;

  StrListHand,StrListName:TStringList;

implementation



{$R *.DFM}





type

  EnumWindowsProc = function (Hwnd: THandle;

    Param: Pointer): boolean; stdcall;



function GetTitle (Hwnd: THandle; Param: Pointer): Boolean; stdcall;

var

  Text,tmp: string;

begin

   SetLength (Text, 100);

   GetWindowText (Hwnd, PChar (Text), 100);

     StrListHand.Add (IntToStr (HWND));

     tmp := StrListHand.Strings[StrListHand.count-1];

     StrListName.Insert (StrListHand.Count-1,Text);

  file://MyUtils.ListBox1.Items.Add (IntToStr (Hwnd) + ': ' + Text);

  Result := True;

end;



procedure FOrmerBtn;

var

  EWProc: EnumWindowsProc;

begin

 // ListBox1.Items.Clear;

  EWProc := GetTitle;

  EnumWindows (@EWProc, 0);

end;



function TMyUtils.GetWindowHandle (WindowName:string):integer;

var tmpResult:integer;

begin

 result := 0;

 try file://exception

 try file://finally

   StrListHand := TStringList.Create;

   StrListName := TStringList.Create;

 FOrmerBtn;

  tmpResult := StrToInt (StrListHand.Strings[StrListName.IndexOf

                        (WindowName)]);

    if tmpResult > 0 then

     Result := tmpResult;

         finally

     StrListHand.free;

     StrListName.Free;

    end;

 except

   result := 0;

 end;

end;



Procedure TMyUtils.PostKeyEx( hWindow: HWnd; key: Word; Const shift:

                              TShiftState; specialkey: Boolean );

Type

  TBuffers = Array [0..1] of TKeyboardState;

Var

  pKeyBuffers : ^TBuffers;

  lparam: LongInt;



Begin

(* check if the target window exists *)



 If IsWindow(hWindow) Then Begin



(* set local variables to default values *)



 pKeyBuffers := Nil;

 lparam := MakeLong(0, MapVirtualKey(key, 0));



(* modify lparam if special key requested *)



 If specialkey Then

 lparam := lparam or $1000000;



(* allocate space for the key state buffers *)



 New(pKeyBuffers);

 try



(* Fill buffer 1 with current state so we can later restore it.

   Null out buffer 0 to get a "no key pressed" state. *)



 GetKeyboardState( pKeyBuffers^[1] );

 FillChar(pKeyBuffers^[0], Sizeof(TKeyboardState), 0);



(* set the requested modifier keys to "down" state in the buffer *)



 If ssShift In shift Then pKeyBuffers^[0][VK_SHIFT] := $80;



 (* Alt needs special treatment since a bit in lparam needs also be set *)

 If ssAlt In shift Then Begin

   pKeyBuffers^[0][VK_MENU] := $80;

   lparam := lparam or $20000000;

 End;



If ssCtrl In shift Then pKeyBuffers^[0][VK_CONTROL] := $80;

If ssLeft In shift Then pKeyBuffers^[0][VK_LBUTTON] := $80;

If ssRight In shift Then pKeyBuffers^[0][VK_RBUTTON] := $80;

If ssMiddle In shift Then pKeyBuffers^[0][VK_MBUTTON] := $80;



(* make out new key state array the active key state map *)



 SetKeyboardState( pKeyBuffers^[0] );



(* post the key messages *)



If ssAlt In Shift Then Begin

 PostMessage( hWindow, WM_SYSKEYDOWN, key, lparam);

 PostMessage( hWindow, WM_SYSKEYUP, key, lparam or $C0000000);

End

Else Begin

 PostMessage( hWindow, WM_KEYDOWN, key, lparam);

 PostMessage( hWindow, WM_KEYUP, key, lparam or $C0000000);

End;



(* process the messages *)

Application.ProcessMessages;



(* restore the old key state map *)

 SetKeyboardState( pKeyBuffers^[1] );

 finally



(* free the memory for the key state buffers *)

 If pKeyBuffers <> Nil Then

 Dispose( pKeyBuffers );

End; { If }

End;

End; { PostKeyEx }



{************************************************************

 * Procedure PostKeyEx32

 *

 * Parameters:

 *  key    : virtual keycode of the key to send.

 *  shift  : state of the modifier keys. This is a set, so you

 *           can set several of these keys (shift, control, alt,

 *           mouse buttons) in tandem. The TShiftState type is

 *           declared in the Classes Unit.

 *  specialkey: normally this should be False. Set it to True to

 *           specify a key on the numeric keypad, for example.

 * Description:

 *  Uses keybd_event to manufacture a series of key events matching

 *  the passed parameters. The events go to the control with focus.

 *  Note that for characters key is always the upper-case version of

 *  the character. Sending without any modifier keys will result in

 *  a lower-case character, sending it with [ssShift] will result

 *  in an upper-case character!

 * Created: 17.7.98 by P. Below

 ************************************************************}



Procedure TMyutils.PostKeyEx32( key: Word; Const shift: TShiftState;

                     specialkey: Boolean );

  Type

    TShiftKeyInfo = Record

                      shift: Byte;

                      vkey : Byte;

                    End;

    byteset = Set of 0..7;

  Const

    shiftkeys: Array [1..3] of TShiftKeyInfo =

      ((shift: Ord(ssCtrl); vkey: VK_CONTROL ),

       (shift: Ord(ssShift); vkey: VK_SHIFT ),

       (shift: Ord(ssAlt); vkey: VK_MENU ));

  Var

    flag: DWORD;

    bShift: ByteSet absolute shift;

    i: Integer;

  Begin

    For i := 1 To 3 Do Begin

      If shiftkeys[i].shift In bShift Then

        keybd_event( shiftkeys[i].vkey,

                     MapVirtualKey(shiftkeys[i].vkey, 0),

                     0, 0);

    End; { For }

    If specialkey Then

      flag := KEYEVENTF_EXTENDEDKEY

    Else

      flag := 0;



    keybd_event( key, MapvirtualKey( key, 0 ), flag, 0 );

    flag := flag or KEYEVENTF_KEYUP;

    keybd_event( key, MapvirtualKey( key, 0 ), flag, 0 );



    For i := 3 DownTo 1 Do Begin

      If shiftkeys[i].shift In bShift Then

        keybd_event( shiftkeys[i].vkey,

                     MapVirtualKey(shiftkeys[i].vkey, 0),

                     KEYEVENTF_KEYUP, 0);

    End; { For }

  End; { PostKeyEx32 }





Procedure TMyUtils.SendText( S: String );

  Procedure SendRawCharacter( ch : Char );

    Var

      i: Integer;

      numStr: String;

    Begin

      numStr := Format('%4.4d',[Ord(ch)]);

      keybd_event( VK_MENU, MapVirtualKey(VK_MENU, 0),

                   0, 0);

      for i:= 1 to Length(numStr) do

        PostKeyEx32( VK_NUMPAD0 + Ord(numstr[i])-Ord('0'), [], false );

      keybd_event( VK_MENU, MapVirtualKey(VK_MENU, 0),

                   KEYEVENTF_KEYUP, 0);

    End;



  Var

    flags: TShiftState;

    vcode: word;

    ret  : word;

    i, n : Integer;

    mask : word;

  Begin { SendText }

    For i := 1  To Length(S) Do Begin

      ret := VkKeyScan( S[i] );

      If ret = $FFFF Then

        SendRawCharacter( S[i] )

      Else Begin

        vcode := Lobyte( ret );

        flags := [];

        mask  := $100;

        For n := 1 To 3 Do Begin

          If (ret and mask) <> 0 Then Begin

            Case mask Of

              $100: Include( flags, ssShift );

              $200: Include( flags, ssCtrl );

              $400: Include( flags, ssAlt );

            End; { Case }

          End; { If }

          mask := mask shl 1;

        End; { For }

        PostKeyEx32( vcode, flags, false );

      End; { Else }

    End; { For }

  End; { SendText }







function TMyUtils.FileSizeMy (jsFile:string):integer;

 var

 tmpFile :file;

begin

 AssignFile (tmpFile,jsFile);

 Reset (tmpFile);

 Result := FileSize (tmpFile);

 CloseFile (tmpFile);

end;



end.

{
"Chris" <chris@lycos.ltd.uk> wrote in message news:3b2fac1b_1@dnews...
> Can anyone give some code does a SendKey to another application assuming
> you've got the hWnd for that app.
>
> I've tried a few PostMessage / WM_CHAR variants but really sure what all
> those parameters should be.
>
> Thanks
>
> Chris
>

End of Part 2 of 2
}

@ GFR..

Weather or not you can use these key codes in the list provided below,
it may serve to help you w/ keys and things in other projects.

This list is based on the Visual Basic list, which is what you want anyways.

Good luck :!:

-vhelp

Code:

Supports the Visual Basic SendKeys syntax, as documented below.



Supported modifiers:



+ = Shift

^ = Control

% = Alt



Surround sequences of characters or key names with parenthesis in

order to modify them as a group.  For example, '+abc' shifts only 'a',

while '+(abc)' shifts all three characters.



Supported special characters



~ = Enter

( = Begin modifier group (see above)

) = End modifier group (see above)

{ = Begin key name text (see below)

} = End key name text (see below)



Supported characters:



Any character than can be typed is supported.  Surround the modifier keys

listed above with braces in order to send as normal text.



Supported key names (surround these with braces):



BKSP, BS, BACKSPACE

BREAK

CAPSLOCK

CLEAR

DEL

DELETE

DOWN

END

ENTER

ESC

ESCAPE

F1

F2

F3

F4

F5

F6

F7

F8

F9

F10

F11

F12

F13

F14

F15

F16

HELP

HOME

INS

LEFT

NUMLOCK

PGDN

PGUP

PRTSC

RIGHT

SCROLLLOCK

TAB

UP



Follow the keyname with a space and a number to send the specified key a

given number of times (e.g., {left 6}).

*)

Thanks, vhelp.

I'm saving this and will try to get it working.

Hay GFR.. :P

It's ben a long time since I last heard from you on this sendkey post.

Have you gotten it working yet. If not, I do have code, ..tested and works
fine, if you need it. Let me know :P

Code works in my Delphi 6 projects.

Other news. . .
At the moment, I'm coding a front-end GUI, and just got over a bug w/ a component
that allows me to drag-n drop files in my apps - fun stuff. Anyways.. I've
fixed THAT bug for sure hehe..
The GUI is something I was working on for over a year now, for vcdhelp
on an MPEG-2 cutter.. and up to now, I've procrastinated (other fun projects
in Delphi and encoding projects) But, I basically stopped because the .exe
apps and shell apps just didn't give me what I was looking for, or I just did
not have the energy to complete them (many versions, sheesh)
Anyways.. thanks to kvcd (strikes again) and the links here, I was able to
give this project yet another go this evening.. thanks to mencoder that has
ben floating around here and other forums, I think I am making some
headway. I don't know.. we'll see :P

-vhelp

Quote:

Originally Posted by vhelp

:oops: Sorry... It worked, many thanks. I just forgot to reply... :oops: