2614.aspx

SendKeys on .NET Compact Framework

I needed SendKeys in .NET CF when I implemented the AutoType feature in poSecrets. I found a SendKeys  implementation on OpenNetCF. It implements the SendKeys logic for handling repetitions and special keys like shift, alt, ctrl, etc but it does not support upper case/lower case and some special characters.  I thought I had to implement my own key map until I found PostKeybdMessage. It is perfect as it manages all the shift states.

I modified the SendChar routine like this and now it works like a charm:

private static void SendChar(byte k, byte [] mods)
{            
    // Use the PostKeybdMessage() api instead of keybd_event
    // as it correctly manages upper case, lower case
    // and special characters
    //keybd_event(k, 0, 0, 0);
    //keybd_event(k, 0, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP, 0);
    uint KeyStateDownFlag= 0x0080;
    uint KeyShiftDeadFlag= 0x20000;
    uint[] buf1 = new uint[1];
    uint[] DownStates = new uint[1];
    DownStates[0]=KeyStateDownFlag;
    buf1[0]=(uint)k; 
    uint[] DeadStates = {KeyShiftDeadFlag};

    int hwnd = -1;
    PostKeybdMessage(hwnd,0,KeyStateDownFlag,(uint)buf1.Length, DownStates, buf1);
    PostKeybdMessage(hwnd,0,KeyShiftDeadFlag,1, DeadStates, buf1);

    CancelMods(mods, 4);
}

I will send the updated code to opennetcf so I guess the code will make it into the main branch soon. In the mean time you can download the source code for SendKeys in the downloads section.