Send Windows key keypress into application [duplicate]

Answer 1

If you want full operating system intergration, you can hook into the kernel input functions by using PInvoke.

What you are looking for is the explorer.exe Windows API function, described in detail here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms646309%28v=vs.85%29.aspx

Using PInvoke, you can invoke this C++ function

[DllImport("user32.dll")]
private static extern bool RegisterHotKey(IntPtr hWnd, int id, int fsModifiers, int vlc);
[DllImport("user32.dll")]
private static extern bool UnregisterHotKey(IntPtr hWnd, int id);

public const int MOD_WIN = 0x00000008;
public const int KEY_W = 0x00000057

public static void RegisterKeys()
{
    RegisterHotKey((IntPtr)this.Handle, 1, MOD_WIN, KEY_W);
}

protected override void WndProc(ref Message m)
{
    base.WndProc(ref m);

    if (m.Msg == 0x0312)
        this.Visible = !this.Visible;
}

Answer 2

I would also suggest looking at Auto Hotkey: http://www.autohotkey.com/. If all you're after is sending a window to front on key-press then you may find it faster to learn AHK and write a script to do so (be only 1 or 2 lines) than writing something in C# or VB.

*edit*As regards pressing a button automatically, if it's set as the default button then you can just send the enter keystroke to it. Otherwise you may need to send a mouse click even to the window. Neither is particularly difficult once you have the first part done.

#W::MsgBox "This is a message box. You just need to use something like send to send keystrokes and other commands to the window you want to control, instead of the this message box."

Answer 3

You can use Windows SendKeys. If you look at that link it shows the codes and syntax for applying a ctrl, alt or shift key. I imagine you can send these keys to your application to simulate a shortcut press.