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C#

How do I open the start menu in C#? Please help me

Posted 8-Dec-09 8:08am

ZAHEDI_HOSSEIN

Updated 8-Dec-09 10:25am

Sean Ewington

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This content, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

Abhishek Sur · Answer 1 · 2009-12-08T09:10:00

Add this in your header:

using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

Place the variable declarations on the class level :

[DllImport("User32")]
private static extern int keybd_event(Byte bVk, Byte bScan, long dwFlags, long dwExtraInfo);
private const byte UP = 2;
private const byte CTRL = 17;
private const byte ESC = 27;

Finally on the event where you want to open start menu use :

// Press Ctrl-Esc key to open Start menu
keybd_event(CTRL, 0, 0, 0);
keybd_event(ESC, 0, 0, 0);

// Need to Release those two keys
keybd_event(CTRL, 0, UP, 0);
keybd_event(ESC, 0, UP, 0);

The start menu will open.

vtchris-peterson · Answer 2 · 2009-12-08T09:09:00

This can be done by sending "Ctrl+Esc" to the system as if it was generated on the keyboard by pressing the Windows key (or Ctrl+Esc on legacy keyboards).

private static void ShowStartMenu()
{
   // key down event:
   const byte keyControl = 0x11;
   const byte keyEscape = 0x1B;
   keybd_event(keyControl, 0, 0, UIntPtr.Zero);
   keybd_event(keyEscape, 0, 0, UIntPtr.Zero);

   // key up event:
   const uint KEYEVENTF_KEYUP = 0x02;
   keybd_event(keyControl, 0, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP, UIntPtr.Zero);
   keybd_event(keyEscape, 0, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP, UIntPtr.Zero);
}

[DllImport("user32.dll")]
static extern void keybd_event(byte bVk, byte bScan, uint dwFlags,
   UIntPtr dwExtraInfo);

This solution was developed using the documentation found at:
Keyboard Events Simulation using keybd_event() function[^].

The PInvoke signature was otained from www.pinvoke.net.

Jakjoe · Answer 3 · 2012-08-22T07:10:00

Solution 3

Thanks for referencing your code. It was really helpful. Now i can do for other keys too.

Posted 22-Aug-12 7:10am

Jakjoe

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[no name] 22-Aug-12 14:26pm

You should never bring threads back from the dead!

The last post from this was in '09!!! Nearly 3 years ago!

If you want to thank the ones that answered it you could have either left a comment or sent them a message (if they have it enabled). Or give them a 5 as that is what it is for.

In no circumstance does it make sense for you to add a solution thus reincarnating this question from the dead.

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