How do I use the keydown function on a winform through other windows?

Question

I have this piece of code

private void Form1_KeyDown(object sender, KeyEventArgs e)
    {
        if(e.KeyCode== Keys.Z)
        {
            BarTimer.Value = 0;
            timer1.Start();
            timer1.Interval = 500;
            BarTimer.Minimum = 0;
            BarTimer.Maximum = 80;
        }
    }

And it works just fine, but I want to be able to press it when in a fullscreen application, so I can see the progress bar on my second monitor. Is there a property or something i can change to make it work like that?

Do you mean to respond to the key, when the typing focus isn't in your form, but is in another screen? — Stuart Whitehouse, Mar 31 '16 at 13:53
Is the other screen within your application, or can it be in any other application? — Stuart Whitehouse, Mar 31 '16 at 13:54

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 10:28

If it's a single key you can use RegisterHotKey. There is sample code in this answer: how to use RegisterHotKey and the one linked in it. The Microsoft C++ documentation is here.

If you want to intercept all keyboard input you would need a keyhook. I suggest you google WH_KEYBOARD_LL and SetWindowsHookEx. But I don't think you can do this in c#; I've only ever seen key hooks written in C/C++. They will also cause some firewalls to take an interest - intercepting all keyboard input can be considered potentially hostile.

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 31 '16 at 14:10

1

Hi I know of a nice tutorial I found On code project. It worked for me when i needed something like this.

http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/19004/A-Simple-C-Global-Low-Level-Keyboard-Hook

Regards,

answered Mar 31 '16 at 14:10

Cohenry

21
5

How do I use the keydown function on a winform through other windows?

2 Answers2