Sending hotkeys via SendMessage

[Sweetve13]

I'm using sendmessage in vb.net to send keystrokes to another application that is not active (application runs in background thus not active). This part works just great. But I am not able to send hotkeys. Say for example. I'm sending keystrokes to notepad and I want the date. One can do this by clicking Edit>Time/Date or sending Alt then E then D. How could I achieve this? Thanks!

p.s. I've tried using WM_KEYDOWN, WM_KEYUP, WM_COMMAND to no avail. I'm sent the commands both to the handle for the specific control and the application itself (hwnd and x) and still no success.

This is what I'm using to send the keys so far (sending keys works, just not hotkeys):

Private Declare Ansi Function SendMessage Lib "user32.dll" Alias "SendMessageA" (ByVal hwnd As Integer, ByVal wMsg As Integer, ByVal wParam As Integer, ByVal lParam As String) As Integer 
Private Declare Function FindWindowEx Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowExA" (ByVal hWnd1 As Integer, ByVal hWnd2 As Integer, ByVal lpsz1 As String, ByVal lpsz2 As String) As Integer 
Private Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32.dll" Alias "FindWindowA" (ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Integer 
 
Public Const WM_CHAR = &H102 
 
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("C:WINNTsystem32notepad.exe") 
Dim hwnd As Integer = FindWindow(vbNullString, "Untitled - NotePad") 
Dim x As Integer = FindWindowEx(hwnd, 0, "Edit", vbNullString) 
SendMessage(x, WM_CHAR, Keys.C, 0) 
SendMessage(x, WM_CHAR, Keys.L, 0)

 

[JohnH]

You could bring the window to front with SetForegroundWindow API and use the SendKeys class:

[SIZE=2]SetForegroundWindow(hwnd)
SendKeys.Send("{F5}")
[/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#008000]'or
[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2]SendKeys.Send("%ed")

[/SIZE]

 

[Sweetve13]

I'll try that. Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[Sweetve13]

You could bring the window to front with SetForegroundWindow API and use the SendKeys class:

[SIZE=2]SetForegroundWindow(hwnd)
SendKeys.Send("{F5}")
[/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#008000]'or
[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2]SendKeys.Send("%ed")
[/SIZE]

This works perfect if the window is active. However, the application I'm working on will be running while the user is logged off. Is there a way to send a hotkey to a specific window that is NOT in the foreground/active state? I resorted to using sendmessage because I could grab the handle and send keystrokes but I'm unable to send Hotkeys such as ALT+E+D or ALT+F+S. Thanks again!

 

[JohnH]

Only services can run when no user is logged in, there is no "desktop" state in services, and usually also no interacting between any user desktop and a service, so messaging is not relevant in such scenario.

 

[Sweetve13]

I was able to get to the menu's by using GetMenu, GetSubMenu, and GetMenuItemID. For those interested, here is the code:

[SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Private[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Declare[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Ansi[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Function[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] SendMessage [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Lib[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#800000]"user32.dll"[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Alias[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#800000]"SendMessageA"[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] ([/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]ByVal[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] hwnd [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]As[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Integer[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2], [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]ByVal[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] wMsg [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]As[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Integer[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2], [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]ByVal[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] wParam [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]As[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Integer[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2], [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]ByVal[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] lParam [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]As[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]String[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2]) [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]As[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Integer
[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Private[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Declare[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Function[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] FindWindow [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Lib[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#800000]"user32.dll"[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Alias[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#800000]"FindWindowA"[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] ([/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]ByVal[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] lpClassName [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]As[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]String[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2], [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]ByVal[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] lpWindowName [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]As[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]String[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2]) [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]As[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Integer
[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Private[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Declare[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Function[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] FindWindowEx [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Lib[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#800000]"user32"[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Alias[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#800000]"FindWindowExA"[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] ([/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]ByVal[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] hWnd1 [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]As[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Integer[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2], [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]ByVal[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] hWnd2 [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]As[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Integer[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2], [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]ByVal[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] lpsz1 [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]As[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]String[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2], [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]ByVal[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] lpsz2 [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]As[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]String[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2]) [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]As[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Integer
[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Private[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Declare[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Function[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] GetMenu [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Lib[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#800000]"user32"[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Alias[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#800000]"GetMenu"[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] ([/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]ByVal[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] hwnd [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]As[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Integer[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2]) [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]As[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Integer
[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Private[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Declare[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Function[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] GetSubMenu [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Lib[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#800000]"user32"[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Alias[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#800000]"GetSubMenu"[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] ([/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]ByVal[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] hMenu [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]As[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Integer[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2], [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]ByVal[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] nPos [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]As[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Integer[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2]) [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]As[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Integer
[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Private[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Declare[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Function[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] GetMenuItemID [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Lib[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#800000]"user32"[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Alias[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#800000]"GetMenuItemID"[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] ([/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]ByVal[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] hMenu [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]As[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Integer[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2], [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]ByVal[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] nPos [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]As[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Integer[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2]) [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]As[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Integer
[/COLOR][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Private[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Const[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] WM_COMMAND = &H111[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]
[/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Dim[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2] hwnd, hWndMenu, hWndSubMenu, MenuItem [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]As[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Integer
[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2]hwnd = FindWindow(vbNullString, [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#800000]"Untitled - Notepad"[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2])
hWndMenu = GetMenu(hwnd) [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#008000]' Get handle to Menu Items
[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2]hWndSubMenu = GetSubMenu(hWndMenu, 0) [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#008000]' Get handle to ‘File’ submenu
[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2]MenuItem = GetMenuItemID(hWndSubMenu, 1) [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#008000]' Get menuID for the ‘Open’
[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2]SendMessage(hwnd, WM_COMMAND, MenuItem, vbNullString) [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=#008000]' Click ‘Open’ menuitem
[/COLOR][/SIZE]