Press Any Key Automatically Using Batch Program by Opening Existing User Running Application

Introduction

In Windows operating system, any program can run through a batch program. Also, it is very hard to press any key through a batch program. But it is possible indirectly by a batch program using VBScript.

Background

VBScript has a library to press any key such as "WshShell".

Using the Code

Suppose a user opens Notepad and writes something. Now the user wants to save the file automatically through a batch program. In this situation, the following procedure can be followed:

1. Create a VB script file named program.vbs. Write the following code and save it:

   Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
   WshShell.AppActivate "notepad"
   WshShell.SendKeys "{ENTER}"
   WshShell.SendKeys "^s"

   where “notepad” is the Notepad application which is already running. WshShell.SendKeys is using the keypress dynamically. ^s means "Ctrl+s".

2. Create a batch file named auto.bat and write the following code and save it:

   wscript "F:\Ict_Backup\Desktop\program.vbs"

3. Run the batch file. It will ask to save the file.
4. Another Example: Launch Firefox browser full screen automatically (sleep is used for wait until application is running on the system.)

   Set oShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
   oShell.Run("""C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe""")
   WScript.Sleep 3000
   oShell.AppActivate "firefox"
   WScript.Sleep 3000
   oShell.SendKeys "~"
   oShell.SendKeys "{F11}"

List of key codes for VBScript:

Key	Code
Break	{BREAK}
Backspace	{Backspace}, {BKSP} or {BS}
Delete	{DELETE} or {DEL}
Down Arrow	{DOWN}
End	{END}
Enter	{ENTER} or ~
Escape	{ESC}
Help	{HELP}
Home	{HOME}
Insert	{INSERT} or {INS}
Left Arrow	{LEFT}
Num Lock	{NUMLOCK}
Page Down	{PGDN}
Page Up	{PGUP}
Print Screen	{PRTSC}
Right Arrow	{RIGHT}
Scroll Lock	{SCROLLLOCK}
Tab	{TAB}
Up Arrow	{UP}
F1	{F1}
F2	{F2}
F3	{F3}
F4	{F4}
F5	{F5}
F6	{F6}
F7	{F7}
F8	{F8}
F9	{F9}
F10	{F10}
F11	{F11}
F12	{F12}
F13	{F13}
F14	{F14}
F15	{F15}
F16	{F16}
Alt	{%}
Ctrl	{^}
Shift Lock	{+}