Visual Basic 6 & Access 2000

[Demon]

Luciano, The whole reason for this application is to send keystrokes to an application.

Keith, That's how the Help file does it, I had shrunk it down a bit for testing.


I was hoping there was a sort of 'list' feature of running applications that I could scroll through; something like ALT-TAB. But now that I think more about it, similar applications make the user select the executable (like the Profiler for the Logitech wheel). By forcing focus on a selected executable, I reduce that danger that Luciano brought up.

Robert

[Demon]

I ended up storing the executable, at least it works.


Any idea why this is seen by a game:

SendKeys "{F3}", False

But this is not:

SendKeys "{LEFT}", False


The Help file lists the Left Arrow as a special character just like F3, but it doesn't work for some reason.

Robert

[Luciano]

Hi,

Games use DirectInput. (DirectX).

Best regards,

Luciano

[Demon]

Yes, but games also use keyboard input.

I found several good tutorial links on a gaming site:
http://www.vbtutor.net/vbtutor.html
http://cuinl.tripod.com/tutorials.htm
http://www.vbcode.com/
http://www.planet-source-code.com/

Not sure if they were mentionned above.

One guy in those tutorials recommended using the SendInput feature instead of the "basically broken" SendKeys.

Robert

[Demon]

I'm starting to see what people have moaned about MS products. Most of the links I've read relating with SendKeys says that it is not reliable, if it works at all.

This place describes using a more flexible keyboard API:
http://www.vbaccelerator.com/home/VB...PI/article.asp

Still reading, how it's understandable.

Robert

[Luciano]

Hi,

Normal windows programs

When a key is pressed, the keyboard driver passes the keystroke
to Windows and the message is saved in the system message queue.
Windows then transfers the message from the system queue to the
queue of the program with the "input focus" where the keystroke
is then processed.

* * *

Games using DirecX

DirectInput (see DirectX) works directly with the keyboard driver.
So when you play, the game does not get keystrokes as a normal
Windows message.

* * *

Be aware that posts in forums can be very old. (Not about VB6 SP6).
Also most of these post are written by people like me and you.

Best regards,

Luciano

[Demon]

I'm still not sure how DirectInput games will come into play with my machine. I guess I'll have to cross that bridge when I fall in the water. I suppose I can learn about DirectInput later and add in code to deal with those games at that point. I'll add a flag right away in my database; Input Type (DirectInput or Keyboard Input).

I tried that guy's demo, pasted the Class Module directly in my project, I called his version of SendKeys with "{LEFT}" and the Left Arrow worked like a charm in my game.

WOOHOO! I'm back on track.

Robert