Tracking number of keystrokes

If been searching here and the MSDN for a few hours now, and I have a question. If I want to track just the number of keystrokes and not what keys were actually pressed, do I have to go the route of a dll, or is there a easier way.

dlls may actually seem the easy way to some of you, but I have no idea about using/creating them. If this is the only way, does anyone have a suggestion for a good dll tutorial?

Just to clarify, I am not trying to build a keystroke logger - I am just wanting to keep track of the number of keystrokes.

Bump a counter everytime a WM_KEYDOWN message comes in?

I tried that, but I want to count all keystrokes (like figuring avg words per minute etc.). That function only works when my app has focus, and I want to count the keystrokes in a different app.

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Originally posted by thecow
I tried that, but I want to count all keystrokes (like figuring avg words per minute etc.). That function only works when my app has focus, and I want to count the keystrokes in a different app.

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To that you should use a global hook.......but for that you need to understand dlls.....

DO a search on the site for dll tutorials....it's a pretty common question and your sure to turn something up

Well, I searched a long time here and at msdn - but the only examples I found were full of uncommented nasty code. Finally, I decide to search google for 'keyboard hook programs', and the 3rd page down has a very simple example, without any extra code. I will never forsake Google again, lol. Thanks for posting. Sorry for the bother.