Thread: Sending a String to a Window

Im working on a program that sends a string to the specified window, like an auto-typer.

So far ive finished the code to actually find the HWND of the window i want to send the string to.

Ive tried it out using notepad and it works fine:

Code:

SendMessage(hWnd, WM_CHAR, 65, 0);

Notepad seems to work fine with this, but when i try using:

Code:

SendMessage(hWnd, WM_KEYUP, 45, 0);
SendMessage(hWnd, WM_KEYDOWN, 45, 0);

nothing happens...

I think it might be a problem with the lParam, but i have no idea what value to set it to, i checked MSDN and my Win32 API Documentation, and they give me this table that i really didnt understand.

Also, i do not want to use keybd_event or SendInput since they require the program to be in focus.

Ive used Spy++ to see what messages get sent while normally using the program, and it sends WM_KEYDOWN then WM_CHAR then WM_KEYUP, ive tried doing that in the same order, but it doesnt show up.

Notepad only received input when i sent the WM_CHAR message, so im trying to find out what value i have to pass into lParam to make it work.

(I know its only a notification message, but i really dont know any other way, if theres a way to actually send the input to the program without it being in focus, then could someone please post it)

Thanks,

PaYnE

in openscript's IDE, i use sendmessage with a WM_CHAR message to set the tab spacing, and i do this:

Code:

SendMessage(EditBox,WM_CHAR,VK_TAB,NULL);

and that seems to work fine. WM_CHAR from what i've read is basically the same thing as pressin up/down at once, except it basically tells the edit box that you went through the whole motion.....methinks....msdn search might help....

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...es/wm_char.asp
wheee! ^^

That works fine in notepad, but in the program im trying to send the string to, it doesnt do a thing.

As i said Spy++ shows that it receives 3 messages (keydown, char, and keyup) when u type sumthing manually, ive tried doing that programmatically and nothing happens.

Maybe its due to the fact that its just a notification message, or that Im not using the right values, because it doesnt work in notepad either (except for WM_CHAR).

But thanks for the reply anyways.

And about the MSDN thing:

lParam
Specifies the repeat count, scan code, extended-key flag, context code, previous key-state flag, and transition-state flag, as shown in the following table.
0-15
Specifies the repeat count for the current message. The value is the number of times the keystroke is autorepeated as a result of the user holding down the key. If the keystroke is held long enough, multiple messages are sent. However, the repeat count is not cumulative.
16-23
Specifies the scan code. The value depends on the OEM.
24
Specifies whether the key is an extended key, such as the right-hand ALT and CTRL keys that appear on an enhanced 101- or 102-key keyboard. The value is 1 if it is an extended key; otherwise, it is 0.
25-28
Reserved; do not use.
29
Specifies the context code. The value is 1 if the ALT key is held down while the key is pressed; otherwise, the value is 0.
30
Specifies the previous key state. The value is 1 if the key is down before the message is sent, or it is 0 if the key is up.
31
Specifies the transition state. The value is 1 if the key is being released, or it is 0 if the key is being pressed.

I dont understand a THING that says: does it mean if u use one of those values? or do u need a structure or sumthing and u have to use all of those values? could someone please explain?

hmm to make a long question short:
what value do i use for the lParam, and why?