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Using Raw Input from C# to handle multiple keyboards

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9 Mar 2015LGPL318 min read 2.4M   69K   249  
Windows XP supports multiple keyboards, but by default, the .Net Framework will treat them all as one. This article explains how to use the Windows API Raw Input methods to support multiple keyboards from a C# application.
 
namespace Keyboard
{
    partial class Keyboard
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// Required designer variable.
        /// </summary>
        private System.ComponentModel.IContainer components = null;

        /// <summary>
        /// Clean up any resources being used.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="disposing">true if managed resources should be disposed; otherwise, false.</param>
        protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
        {
            if (disposing && (components != null))
            {
                components.Dispose();
            }
            base.Dispose(disposing);
        }

        #region Windows Form Designer generated code

        /// <summary>
        /// Required method for Designer support - do not modify
        /// the contents of this method with the code editor.
        /// </summary>
        private void InitializeComponent()
        {
            System.ComponentModel.ComponentResourceManager resources = new System.ComponentModel.ComponentResourceManager(typeof(Keyboard));
            this.groupBox1 = new System.Windows.Forms.GroupBox();
            this.lbMessage = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.label9 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.label10 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.label5 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.lbKeyPressState = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.lbCode = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.label7 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.lbVKey = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.lbKey = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.lbCaption = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.gbDetails = new System.Windows.Forms.GroupBox();
            this.lbSource = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.label8 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.lbDescription = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.lbName = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.label6 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.label1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.lbType = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.label2 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.lbNumKeyboards = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.label4 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.label3 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.lbHandle = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.groupBox1.SuspendLayout();
            this.gbDetails.SuspendLayout();
            this.SuspendLayout();
            // 
            // groupBox1
            // 
            this.groupBox1.Anchor = ((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)(((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Top | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left) 
            | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right)));
            this.groupBox1.Controls.Add(this.lbMessage);
            this.groupBox1.Controls.Add(this.label9);
            this.groupBox1.Controls.Add(this.label10);
            this.groupBox1.Controls.Add(this.label5);
            this.groupBox1.Controls.Add(this.lbKeyPressState);
            this.groupBox1.Controls.Add(this.lbCode);
            this.groupBox1.Controls.Add(this.label7);
            this.groupBox1.Controls.Add(this.lbVKey);
            this.groupBox1.Controls.Add(this.lbKey);
            this.groupBox1.FlatStyle = System.Windows.Forms.FlatStyle.Flat;
            this.groupBox1.ForeColor = System.Drawing.Color.Blue;
            this.groupBox1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(20, 65);
            this.groupBox1.Name = "groupBox1";
            this.groupBox1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(780, 40);
            this.groupBox1.TabIndex = 26;
            this.groupBox1.TabStop = false;
            this.groupBox1.Text = "Keystroke";
            // 
            // lbMessage
            // 
            this.lbMessage.AutoSize = true;
            this.lbMessage.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Microsoft Sans Serif", 8.25F, System.Drawing.FontStyle.Bold, System.Drawing.GraphicsUnit.Point, ((byte)(0)));
            this.lbMessage.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(486, 20);
            this.lbMessage.Name = "lbMessage";
            this.lbMessage.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(0, 13);
            this.lbMessage.TabIndex = 26;
            // 
            // label9
            // 
            this.label9.AutoSize = true;
            this.label9.ForeColor = System.Drawing.SystemColors.ControlText;
            this.label9.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(434, 20);
            this.label9.Name = "label9";
            this.label9.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(53, 13);
            this.label9.TabIndex = 24;
            this.label9.Text = "Message:";
            // 
            // label10
            // 
            this.label10.AutoSize = true;
            this.label10.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Microsoft Sans Serif", 8.25F, System.Drawing.FontStyle.Bold, System.Drawing.GraphicsUnit.Point, ((byte)(0)));
            this.label10.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(509, 20);
            this.label10.Name = "label10";
            this.label10.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(0, 13);
            this.label10.TabIndex = 25;
            // 
            // label5
            // 
            this.label5.AutoSize = true;
            this.label5.ForeColor = System.Drawing.SystemColors.ControlText;
            this.label5.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(255, 20);
            this.label5.Name = "label5";
            this.label5.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(91, 13);
            this.label5.TabIndex = 22;
            this.label5.Text = "Key Press State : ";
            // 
            // lbKeyPressState
            // 
            this.lbKeyPressState.AutoSize = true;
            this.lbKeyPressState.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Microsoft Sans Serif", 8.25F, System.Drawing.FontStyle.Bold, System.Drawing.GraphicsUnit.Point, ((byte)(0)));
            this.lbKeyPressState.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(346, 20);
            this.lbKeyPressState.Name = "lbKeyPressState";
            this.lbKeyPressState.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(0, 13);
            this.lbKeyPressState.TabIndex = 23;
            // 
            // lbCode
            // 
            this.lbCode.AutoSize = true;
            this.lbCode.ForeColor = System.Drawing.SystemColors.ControlText;
            this.lbCode.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(10, 20);
            this.lbCode.Name = "lbCode";
            this.lbCode.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(35, 13);
            this.lbCode.TabIndex = 8;
            this.lbCode.Text = "Code:";
            // 
            // label7
            // 
            this.label7.AutoSize = true;
            this.label7.ForeColor = System.Drawing.SystemColors.ControlText;
            this.label7.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(97, 20);
            this.label7.Name = "label7";
            this.label7.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(60, 13);
            this.label7.TabIndex = 12;
            this.label7.Text = "Virtual Key:";
            // 
            // lbVKey
            // 
            this.lbVKey.AutoSize = true;
            this.lbVKey.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Microsoft Sans Serif", 8.25F, System.Drawing.FontStyle.Bold, System.Drawing.GraphicsUnit.Point, ((byte)(0)));
            this.lbVKey.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(153, 20);
            this.lbVKey.Name = "lbVKey";
            this.lbVKey.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(0, 13);
            this.lbVKey.TabIndex = 21;
            // 
            // lbKey
            // 
            this.lbKey.AutoSize = true;
            this.lbKey.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Microsoft Sans Serif", 8.25F, System.Drawing.FontStyle.Bold, System.Drawing.GraphicsUnit.Point, ((byte)(0)));
            this.lbKey.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(51, 20);
            this.lbKey.Name = "lbKey";
            this.lbKey.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(0, 13);
            this.lbKey.TabIndex = 19;
            // 
            // lbCaption
            // 
            this.lbCaption.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(18, 19);
            this.lbCaption.Name = "lbCaption";
            this.lbCaption.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(652, 30);
            this.lbCaption.TabIndex = 23;
            this.lbCaption.Text = "Press any key on an attached keyboard to see details of the input device and the " +
    "key(s) you pressed.";
            // 
            // gbDetails
            // 
            this.gbDetails.Anchor = ((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)(((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Top | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left) 
            | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right)));
            this.gbDetails.Controls.Add(this.lbSource);
            this.gbDetails.Controls.Add(this.label8);
            this.gbDetails.Controls.Add(this.lbDescription);
            this.gbDetails.Controls.Add(this.lbName);
            this.gbDetails.Controls.Add(this.label6);
            this.gbDetails.Controls.Add(this.label1);
            this.gbDetails.Controls.Add(this.lbType);
            this.gbDetails.Controls.Add(this.label2);
            this.gbDetails.Controls.Add(this.lbNumKeyboards);
            this.gbDetails.Controls.Add(this.label4);
            this.gbDetails.Controls.Add(this.label3);
            this.gbDetails.Controls.Add(this.lbHandle);
            this.gbDetails.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(17, 109);
            this.gbDetails.Name = "gbDetails";
            this.gbDetails.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(783, 140);
            this.gbDetails.TabIndex = 25;
            this.gbDetails.TabStop = false;
            this.gbDetails.Text = "Device details";
            // 
            // lbSource
            // 
            this.lbSource.AutoSize = true;
            this.lbSource.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Microsoft Sans Serif", 8.25F, System.Drawing.FontStyle.Bold, System.Drawing.GraphicsUnit.Point, ((byte)(0)));
            this.lbSource.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(55, 108);
            this.lbSource.Name = "lbSource";
            this.lbSource.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(0, 13);
            this.lbSource.TabIndex = 24;
            // 
            // label8
            // 
            this.label8.AutoSize = true;
            this.label8.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(9, 108);
            this.label8.Name = "label8";
            this.label8.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(44, 13);
            this.label8.TabIndex = 23;
            this.label8.Text = "Source:";
            // 
            // lbDescription
            // 
            this.lbDescription.AutoSize = true;
            this.lbDescription.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Microsoft Sans Serif", 8.25F, System.Drawing.FontStyle.Bold, System.Drawing.GraphicsUnit.Point, ((byte)(0)));
            this.lbDescription.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(85, 84);
            this.lbDescription.Name = "lbDescription";
            this.lbDescription.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(0, 13);
            this.lbDescription.TabIndex = 22;
            // 
            // lbName
            // 
            this.lbName.AutoSize = true;
            this.lbName.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Microsoft Sans Serif", 8.25F, System.Drawing.FontStyle.Bold, System.Drawing.GraphicsUnit.Point, ((byte)(0)));
            this.lbName.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(85, 60);
            this.lbName.Name = "lbName";
            this.lbName.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(0, 13);
            this.lbName.TabIndex = 20;
            // 
            // label6
            // 
            this.label6.AutoSize = true;
            this.label6.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(10, 39);
            this.label6.Margin = new System.Windows.Forms.Padding(2, 0, 2, 0);
            this.label6.Name = "label6";
            this.label6.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(70, 13);
            this.label6.TabIndex = 10;
            this.label6.Text = "# Keyboards:";
            // 
            // label1
            // 
            this.label1.AutoSize = true;
            this.label1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(10, 18);
            this.label1.Name = "label1";
            this.label1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(44, 13);
            this.label1.TabIndex = 0;
            this.label1.Text = "Handle:";
            // 
            // lbType
            // 
            this.lbType.AutoSize = true;
            this.lbType.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Microsoft Sans Serif", 8.25F, System.Drawing.FontStyle.Bold, System.Drawing.GraphicsUnit.Point, ((byte)(0)));
            this.lbType.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(379, 18);
            this.lbType.Name = "lbType";
            this.lbType.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(0, 13);
            this.lbType.TabIndex = 18;
            // 
            // label2
            // 
            this.label2.AutoSize = true;
            this.label2.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(338, 18);
            this.label2.Name = "label2";
            this.label2.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(34, 13);
            this.label2.TabIndex = 1;
            this.label2.Text = "Type:";
            // 
            // lbNumKeyboards
            // 
            this.lbNumKeyboards.AutoSize = true;
            this.lbNumKeyboards.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Microsoft Sans Serif", 8.25F, System.Drawing.FontStyle.Bold, System.Drawing.GraphicsUnit.Point, ((byte)(0)));
            this.lbNumKeyboards.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(83, 39);
            this.lbNumKeyboards.Name = "lbNumKeyboards";
            this.lbNumKeyboards.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(0, 13);
            this.lbNumKeyboards.TabIndex = 17;
            // 
            // label4
            // 
            this.label4.AutoSize = true;
            this.label4.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(10, 84);
            this.label4.Name = "label4";
            this.label4.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(72, 13);
            this.label4.TabIndex = 3;
            this.label4.Text = "Device Desc:";
            // 
            // label3
            // 
            this.label3.AutoSize = true;
            this.label3.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(10, 60);
            this.label3.Name = "label3";
            this.label3.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(38, 13);
            this.label3.TabIndex = 2;
            this.label3.Text = "Name:";
            // 
            // lbHandle
            // 
            this.lbHandle.AutoSize = true;
            this.lbHandle.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Microsoft Sans Serif", 8.25F, System.Drawing.FontStyle.Bold, System.Drawing.GraphicsUnit.Point, ((byte)(0)));
            this.lbHandle.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(83, 18);
            this.lbHandle.Name = "lbHandle";
            this.lbHandle.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(0, 13);
            this.lbHandle.TabIndex = 16;
            // 
            // Keyboard
            // 
            this.AutoScaleDimensions = new System.Drawing.SizeF(6F, 13F);
            this.AutoScaleMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font;
            this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(817, 260);
            this.Controls.Add(this.lbCaption);
            this.Controls.Add(this.gbDetails);
            this.Controls.Add(this.groupBox1);
            this.Icon = ((System.Drawing.Icon)(resources.GetObject("$this.Icon")));
            this.Name = "Keyboard";
            this.Text = "Raw Keyboard Input";
            this.FormClosing += new System.Windows.Forms.FormClosingEventHandler(this.Keyboard_FormClosing);
            this.groupBox1.ResumeLayout(false);
            this.groupBox1.PerformLayout();
            this.gbDetails.ResumeLayout(false);
            this.gbDetails.PerformLayout();
            this.ResumeLayout(false);

        }

        #endregion

        private System.Windows.Forms.GroupBox groupBox1;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label lbCode;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label label7;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label lbVKey;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label lbKey;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label lbCaption;
        private System.Windows.Forms.GroupBox gbDetails;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label lbDescription;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label lbName;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label label6;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label label1;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label lbType;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label label2;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label lbNumKeyboards;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label label4;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label label3;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label lbHandle;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label lbSource;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label label8;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label label5;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label lbKeyPressState;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label label9;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label label10;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label lbMessage;

    }
}

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Written By
Emma Burrows
Software Developer
United Kingdom United Kingdom
Emma's first steps in programming took place at primary school over thirty years ago, thanks to a TI-99/4A and the LOGO language. Following a Master's degree in English Studies (obtained, strangely enough, with a paper on the birth of the microcomputer), Emma started her career in IT.

Over the last ten years, she has worked as a localiser, technical writer, editor, web designer, systems administrator, team leader and support engineer, before finally making the move into software development a few years ago. She is now thrilled on a daily basis that she is getting paid for writing code after doing it for free half her life!

Written By
Steve Messer
Software Developer (Senior)
United States United States
This member has not yet provided a Biography. Assume it's interesting and varied, and probably something to do with programming.

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Posted 12 Jan 2007

Article Copyright 2007 by Emma Burrows, Steve Messer
Everything else Copyright © CodeProject, 1999-2024

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