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Onscreen Keyboard

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4.71/5 (34 votes)
21 Mar 2000 666.3K   16.9K   102   92
An onscreen keyboard for pen computing and touchscreens
  • Download source files - 143 Kb

    Sample Image - OnscreenKeyboard.gif

    I needed a simple onscreen keyboard to interface with a touch / pen based computer that I bought through an online auction. Although Microsoft supplies one with its Pen Extensions 2.0 it only works win Win95 and I wanted to use NT.

    All of the available onscreen keyboards I found were either too expensive, or they were only designed to operate with 3.1 and 9x so (of course) I decided to see if I could make one. Along the way I learned a little about how the keyboard is handled, and the thread keyboard maps.

    Included with this article is a working, but simple, onscreen keyboard. I submitted it mostly as an example of the methods:

    • AttachThreadInput
    • keybd_event
    • VkKeyScan
    • GetKeyState

    This program has one nasty limitation, and that is that it "flashes" since it does not prevent the changing of focus to itself when clicked, and then back to the target window when the keystroke is generated. If someone wants to tackle that one please feel free ;-)

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    This article has no explicit license attached to it but may contain usage terms in the article text or the download files themselves. If in doubt please contact the author via the discussion board below.

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    Comments and Discussions

     
    GeneralRe: Kill keyboard from another app Pin
    Dirk Moshage21-Feb-05 6:26
    Dirk Moshage21-Feb-05 6:26 
    GeneralRe: Kill keyboard from another app Pin
    Member 133159425-Feb-05 6:45
    Member 133159425-Feb-05 6:45 
    GeneralUsing the Windows OSK Pin
    Alex Evans29-Jan-05 18:35
    Alex Evans29-Jan-05 18:35 
    GeneralRe: Using the Windows OSK Pin
    EjayBoy1-Aug-06 12:04
    EjayBoy1-Aug-06 12:04 
    GeneralRe: Using the Windows OSK Pin
    EjayBoy1-Aug-06 13:10
    EjayBoy1-Aug-06 13:10 
    GeneralDon't work on remote desktop logon window Pin
    yoslee20-Jan-05 21:11
    yoslee20-Jan-05 21:11 
    GeneralOnscreen Keyboard Internationalization Matter ... Pin
    loretto11-Jan-05 2:04
    loretto11-Jan-05 2:04 
    Generalabt OnScreen Keyboard Pin
    Tripura.K3-Dec-04 0:06
    Tripura.K3-Dec-04 0:06 
    Generalabt OnScreen Keyboard Pin
    Anonymous2-Dec-04 22:31
    Anonymous2-Dec-04 22:31 
    GeneralCan't Compile Pin
    Member 15195161-Dec-04 23:57
    Member 15195161-Dec-04 23:57 
    GeneralRe: Can't Compile Pin
    User 10706397-Dec-04 1:47
    User 10706397-Dec-04 1:47 
    Generalhelp Pin
    davidorff16-Sep-04 22:37
    davidorff16-Sep-04 22:37 
    GeneralRe: help Pin
    Member 153990417-Apr-05 6:29
    Member 153990417-Apr-05 6:29 
    GeneralRe: help Pin
    cfo5ter5-Sep-06 12:24
    cfo5ter5-Sep-06 12:24 
    Generalenquiry Pin
    davidorff12-Sep-04 20:46
    davidorff12-Sep-04 20:46 
    GeneralRe: enquiry Pin
    Dirk Moshage14-Sep-04 5:20
    Dirk Moshage14-Sep-04 5:20 
    GeneralRe: enquiry Pin
    davidorff14-Sep-04 21:15
    davidorff14-Sep-04 21:15 
    GeneralI want to use on-screen keyboard for touch screen Pin
    misaaeshow29-Aug-04 23:56
    misaaeshow29-Aug-04 23:56 
    Generalvery slow when sending textt to MSN messenger text box Pin
    Anonymous11-Aug-04 19:59
    Anonymous11-Aug-04 19:59 
    GeneralRe: very slow when sending textt to MSN messenger text box Pin
    Anonymous28-Aug-04 11:22
    Anonymous28-Aug-04 11:22 
    GeneralESC get error! Pin
    Junee6-Apr-04 17:05
    Junee6-Apr-04 17:05 
    GeneralRe: ESC get error! Pin
    Jinsuk Kim5-Oct-04 23:17
    Jinsuk Kim5-Oct-04 23:17 
    GeneralSuperficial Question.... Pin
    TeddyGraham6-Mar-04 14:51
    TeddyGraham6-Mar-04 14:51 
    GeneralAltGr Pin
    simcon24-Feb-04 20:28
    simcon24-Feb-04 20:28 
    GeneralRe: AltGr Pin
    altarribage7-Dec-05 4:17
    altarribage7-Dec-05 4:17 

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