"Jack" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> I know about using sendkeys to simulate typing on the keyboard,
> but how can I simulate holding down a key for several seconds?
I think you need to use ctypes or pythonwin to send a
key_down/key_up sequence using the Windows
Post/SendMessage API function.
I don't know of any other way. The help info below might be useful.
Alan G
############ From the Win32 help file #############
The SendMessage function sends the specified message to a window or
windows. The function calls the window procedure for the specified
window and does not return until the window procedure has processed
the message. The PostMessage function, in contrast, posts a message to
a thread's message queue and returns immediately.
LRESULT SendMessage(
HWND hwnd, // handle of destination window
UINT uMsg, // message to send
WPARAM wParam, // first message parameter
LPARAM lParam // second message parameter
);
Parameters
hwnd
Identifies the window whose window procedure will receive the message.
If this parameter is HWND_BROADCAST, the message is sent to all
top-level windows in the system, including disabled or invisible
unowned windows, overlapped windows, and pop-up windows; but the
message is not sent to child windows.
uMsg
Specifies the message to be sent.
wParam
Specifies additional message-specific information.
lParam
Specifies additional message-specific information.
Return Value
The return value specifies the result of the message processing and
depends on the message sent.
########################
WM_KEYDOWN
nVirtKey = (int) wParam; // virtual-key code
lKeyData = lParam; // key data
The WM_KEYDOWN message is posted to the window with the keyboard focus
when a nonsystem key is pressed. A nonsystem key is a key that is
pressed when the ALT key is not pressed.
Parameters
nVirtKey
Value of wParam. Specifies the virtual-key code of the nonsystem key.
lKeyData
Value of 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:
Value Description
0-15 Specifies the repeat count. The value is the number of times the
keystroke is repeated as a result of the user holding down the key.
16-23 Specifies the scan code. The value depends on the original
equipment manufacturer (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 always 0 for a WM_KEYDOWN
message.
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 always 0 for a
WM_KEYDOWN message.
Return Value
An application should return zero if it processes this message.
###################################
WM_KEYUP
nVirtKey = (int) wParam; // virtual-key code
lKeyData = lParam; // key data
The WM_KEYUP message is posted to the window with the keyboard focus
when a nonsystem key is released. A nonsystem key is a key that is
pressed when the ALT key is not pressed, or a keyboard key that is
pressed when a window has the keyboard focus.
Parameters
nVirtKey
Value of wParam. Specifies the virtual-key code of the nonsystem key.
lKeyData
Value of 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:
Value Description
0-15 Specifies the repeat count. The value is the number of times the
keystroke is repeated as a result of the user holding down the key.
The repeat count is always one for a WM_KEYUP message.
16-23 Specifies the scan code. The value depends on the original
equipment manufacturer (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 always 0 for a WM_KEYUP
message.
30 Specifies the previous key state. The value is always 1 for a
WM_KEYUP message.
31 Specifies the transition state. The value is always 1 for a
WM_KEYUP message.
Return Value
An application should return zero if it processes this message.
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