After searching for several hours i´m wondering if its possible to simulate a keydown press on the keyboard. For example I want my program to hold the x key down for five seconds so when I run it in notepad it would look like to see something like this: xxxxxxxxxxxxx. I tried around with different pieces of code on the internet, the best thing I could find so far is this:
import ctypes
import time
user32 = ctypes.windll.user32
inputhex = raw_input(\"Please enter your desired key\'s code (HEX): \")
keycode = int(inputhex, 16)
time.sleep(1)
#VOID keybd_event(BYTE bVk, BYTE bScan, DWORD dwFlags, PTR dwExtraInfo);
user32.keybd_event(keycode,0,2,0) #is the code for KEYDOWN
time.sleep(5)
#user32.keybd_event(keycode,0,0,0) #is the code for KEYDUP[/code]
The Sendkey module doesn\'t solve my problem either becuase it only allows you to send a single keypress and not a hold key down event. I know about autoit, used it in the past, but I just really want to know if this is possible with python and how.
P.S. i\'m using python for windows
This code should get you started. ctypes is used heavily. At the bottom, you will see example code.
import ctypes
LONG = ctypes.c_long
DWORD = ctypes.c_ulong
ULONG_PTR = ctypes.POINTER(DWORD)
WORD = ctypes.c_ushort
class MOUSEINPUT(ctypes.Structure):
_fields_ = ((\'dx\', LONG),
(\'dy\', LONG),
(\'mouseData\', DWORD),
(\'dwFlags\', DWORD),
(\'time\', DWORD),
(\'dwExtraInfo\', ULONG_PTR))
class KEYBDINPUT(ctypes.Structure):
_fields_ = ((\'wVk\', WORD),
(\'wScan\', WORD),
(\'dwFlags\', DWORD),
(\'time\', DWORD),
(\'dwExtraInfo\', ULONG_PTR))
class HARDWAREINPUT(ctypes.Structure):
_fields_ = ((\'uMsg\', DWORD),
(\'wParamL\', WORD),
(\'wParamH\', WORD))
class _INPUTunion(ctypes.Union):
_fields_ = ((\'mi\', MOUSEINPUT),
(\'ki\', KEYBDINPUT),
(\'hi\', HARDWAREINPUT))
class INPUT(ctypes.Structure):
_fields_ = ((\'type\', DWORD),
(\'union\', _INPUTunion))
def SendInput(*inputs):
nInputs = len(inputs)
LPINPUT = INPUT * nInputs
pInputs = LPINPUT(*inputs)
cbSize = ctypes.c_int(ctypes.sizeof(INPUT))
return ctypes.windll.user32.SendInput(nInputs, pInputs, cbSize)
INPUT_MOUSE = 0
INPUT_KEYBOARD = 1
INPUT_HARDWARD = 2
def Input(structure):
if isinstance(structure, MOUSEINPUT):
return INPUT(INPUT_MOUSE, _INPUTunion(mi=structure))
if isinstance(structure, KEYBDINPUT):
return INPUT(INPUT_KEYBOARD, _INPUTunion(ki=structure))
if isinstance(structure, HARDWAREINPUT):
return INPUT(INPUT_HARDWARE, _INPUTunion(hi=structure))
raise TypeError(\'Cannot create INPUT structure!\')
WHEEL_DELTA = 120
XBUTTON1 = 0x0001
XBUTTON2 = 0x0002
MOUSEEVENTF_ABSOLUTE = 0x8000
MOUSEEVENTF_HWHEEL = 0x01000
MOUSEEVENTF_MOVE = 0x0001
MOUSEEVENTF_MOVE_NOCOALESCE = 0x2000
MOUSEEVENTF_LEFTDOWN = 0x0002
MOUSEEVENTF_LEFTUP = 0x0004
MOUSEEVENTF_RIGHTDOWN = 0x0008
MOUSEEVENTF_RIGHTUP = 0x0010
MOUSEEVENTF_MIDDLEDOWN = 0x0020
MOUSEEVENTF_MIDDLEUP = 0x0040
MOUSEEVENTF_VIRTUALDESK = 0x4000
MOUSEEVENTF_WHEEL = 0x0800
MOUSEEVENTF_XDOWN = 0x0080
MOUSEEVENTF_XUP = 0x0100
def MouseInput(flags, x, y, data):
return MOUSEINPUT(x, y, data, flags, 0, None)
VK_LBUTTON = 0x01 # Left mouse button
VK_RBUTTON = 0x02 # Right mouse button
VK_CANCEL = 0x03 # Control-break processing
VK_MBUTTON = 0x04 # Middle mouse button (three-button mouse)
VK_XBUTTON1 = 0x05 # X1 mouse button
VK_XBUTTON2 = 0x06 # X2 mouse button
VK_BACK = 0x08 # BACKSPACE key
VK_TAB = 0x09 # TAB key
VK_CLEAR = 0x0C # CLEAR key
VK_RETURN = 0x0D # ENTER key
VK_SHIFT = 0x10 # SHIFT key
VK_CONTROL = 0x11 # CTRL key
VK_MENU = 0x12 # ALT key
VK_PAUSE = 0x13 # PAUSE key
VK_CAPITAL = 0x14 # CAPS LOCK key
VK_KANA = 0x15 # IME Kana mode
VK_HANGUL = 0x15 # IME Hangul mode
VK_JUNJA = 0x17 # IME Junja mode
VK_FINAL = 0x18 # IME final mode
VK_HANJA = 0x19 # IME Hanja mode
VK_KANJI = 0x19 # IME Kanji mode
VK_ESCAPE = 0x1B # ESC key
VK_CONVERT = 0x1C # IME convert
VK_NONCONVERT = 0x1D # IME nonconvert
VK_ACCEPT = 0x1E # IME accept
VK_MODECHANGE = 0x1F # IME mode change request
VK_SPACE = 0x20 # SPACEBAR
VK_PRIOR = 0x21 # PAGE UP key
VK_NEXT = 0x22 # PAGE DOWN key
VK_END = 0x23 # END key
VK_HOME = 0x24 # HOME key
VK_LEFT = 0x25 # LEFT ARROW key
VK_UP = 0x26 # UP ARROW key
VK_RIGHT = 0x27 # RIGHT ARROW key
VK_DOWN = 0x28 # DOWN ARROW key
VK_SELECT = 0x29 # SELECT key
VK_PRINT = 0x2A # PRINT key
VK_EXECUTE = 0x2B # EXECUTE key
VK_SNAPSHOT = 0x2C # PRINT SCREEN key
VK_INSERT = 0x2D # INS key
VK_DELETE = 0x2E # DEL key
VK_HELP = 0x2F # HELP key
VK_LWIN = 0x5B # Left Windows key (Natural keyboard)
VK_RWIN = 0x5C # Right Windows key (Natural keyboard)
VK_APPS = 0x5D # Applications key (Natural keyboard)
VK_SLEEP = 0x5F # Computer Sleep key
VK_NUMPAD0 = 0x60 # Numeric keypad 0 key
VK_NUMPAD1 = 0x61 # Numeric keypad 1 key
VK_NUMPAD2 = 0x62 # Numeric keypad 2 key
VK_NUMPAD3 = 0x63 # Numeric keypad 3 key
VK_NUMPAD4 = 0x64 # Numeric keypad 4 key
VK_NUMPAD5 = 0x65 # Numeric keypad 5 key
VK_NUMPAD6 = 0x66 # Numeric keypad 6 key
VK_NUMPAD7 = 0x67 # Numeric keypad 7 key
VK_NUMPAD8 = 0x68 # Numeric keypad 8 key
VK_NUMPAD9 = 0x69 # Numeric keypad 9 key
VK_MULTIPLY = 0x6A # Multiply key
VK_ADD = 0x6B # Add key
VK_SEPARATOR = 0x6C # Separator key
VK_SUBTRACT = 0x6D # Subtract key
VK_DECIMAL = 0x6E # Decimal key
VK_DIVIDE = 0x6F # Divide key
VK_F1 = 0x70 # F1 key
VK_F2 = 0x71 # F2 key
VK_F3 = 0x72 # F3 key
VK_F4 = 0x73 # F4 key
VK_F5 = 0x74 # F5 key
VK_F6 = 0x75 # F6 key
VK_F7 = 0x76 # F7 key
VK_F8 = 0x77 # F8 key
VK_F9 = 0x78 # F9 key
VK_F10 = 0x79 # F10 key
VK_F11 = 0x7A # F11 key
VK_F12 = 0x7B # F12 key
VK_F13 = 0x7C # F13 key
VK_F14 = 0x7D # F14 key
VK_F15 = 0x7E # F15 key
VK_F16 = 0x7F # F16 key
VK_F17 = 0x80 # F17 key
VK_F18 = 0x81 # F18 key
VK_F19 = 0x82 # F19 key
VK_F20 = 0x83 # F20 key
VK_F21 = 0x84 # F21 key
VK_F22 = 0x85 # F22 key
VK_F23 = 0x86 # F23 key
VK_F24 = 0x87 # F24 key
VK_NUMLOCK = 0x90 # NUM LOCK key
VK_SCROLL = 0x91 # SCROLL LOCK key
VK_LSHIFT = 0xA0 # Left SHIFT key
VK_RSHIFT = 0xA1 # Right SHIFT key
VK_LCONTROL = 0xA2 # Left CONTROL key
VK_RCONTROL = 0xA3 # Right CONTROL key
VK_LMENU = 0xA4 # Left MENU key
VK_RMENU = 0xA5 # Right MENU key
VK_BROWSER_BACK = 0xA6 # Browser Back key
VK_BROWSER_FORWARD = 0xA7 # Browser Forward key
VK_BROWSER_REFRESH = 0xA8 # Browser Refresh key
VK_BROWSER_STOP = 0xA9 # Browser Stop key
VK_BROWSER_SEARCH = 0xAA # Browser Search key
VK_BROWSER_FAVORITES = 0xAB # Browser Favorites key
VK_BROWSER_HOME = 0xAC # Browser Start and Home key
VK_VOLUME_MUTE = 0xAD # Volume Mute key
VK_VOLUME_DOWN = 0xAE # Volume Down key
VK_VOLUME_UP = 0xAF # Volume Up key
VK_MEDIA_NEXT_TRACK = 0xB0 # Next Track key
VK_MEDIA_PREV_TRACK = 0xB1 # Previous Track key
VK_MEDIA_STOP = 0xB2 # Stop Media key
VK_MEDIA_PLAY_PAUSE = 0xB3 # Play/Pause Media key
VK_LAUNCH_MAIL = 0xB4 # Start Mail key
VK_LAUNCH_MEDIA_SELECT = 0xB5 # Select Media key
VK_LAUNCH_APP1 = 0xB6 # Start Application 1 key
VK_LAUNCH_APP2 = 0xB7 # Start Application 2 key
VK_OEM_1 = 0xBA # Used for miscellaneous characters; it can vary by keyboard.
# For the US standard keyboard, the \';:\' key
VK_OEM_PLUS = 0xBB # For any country/region, the \'+\' key
VK_OEM_COMMA = 0xBC # For any country/region, the \',\' key
VK_OEM_MINUS = 0xBD # For any country/region, the \'-\' key
VK_OEM_PERIOD = 0xBE # For any country/region, the \'.\' key
VK_OEM_2 = 0xBF # Used for miscellaneous characters; it can vary by keyboard.
# For the US standard keyboard, the \'/?\' key
VK_OEM_3 = 0xC0 # Used for miscellaneous characters; it can vary by keyboard.
# For the US standard keyboard, the \'`~\' key
VK_OEM_4 = 0xDB # Used for miscellaneous characters; it can vary by keyboard.
# For the US standard keyboard, the \'[{\' key
VK_OEM_5 = 0xDC # Used for miscellaneous characters; it can vary by keyboard.
# For the US standard keyboard, the \'\\|\' key
VK_OEM_6 = 0xDD # Used for miscellaneous characters; it can vary by keyboard.
# For the US standard keyboard, the \']}\' key
VK_OEM_7 = 0xDE # Used for miscellaneous characters; it can vary by keyboard.
# For the US standard keyboard, the \'single-quote/double-quote\' key
VK_OEM_8 = 0xDF # Used for miscellaneous characters; it can vary by keyboard.
VK_OEM_102 = 0xE2 # Either the angle bracket key or the backslash key on the RT 102-key keyboard
VK_PROCESSKEY = 0xE5 # IME PROCESS key
VK_PACKET = 0xE7 # Used to pass Unicode characters as if they were keystrokes. The VK_PACKET key is the low word of a 32-bit Virtual Key value used for non-keyboard input methods. For more information, see Remark in KEYBDINPUT, SendInput, WM_KEYDOWN, and WM_KEYUP
VK_ATTN = 0xF6 # Attn key
VK_CRSEL = 0xF7 # CrSel key
VK_EXSEL = 0xF8 # ExSel key
VK_EREOF = 0xF9 # Erase EOF key
VK_PLAY = 0xFA # Play key
VK_ZOOM = 0xFB # Zoom key
VK_PA1 = 0xFD # PA1 key
VK_OEM_CLEAR = 0xFE # Clear key
KEYEVENTF_EXTENDEDKEY = 0x0001
KEYEVENTF_KEYUP = 0x0002
KEYEVENTF_SCANCODE = 0x0008
KEYEVENTF_UNICODE = 0x0004
KEY_0 = 0x30
KEY_1 = 0x31
KEY_2 = 0x32
KEY_3 = 0x33
KEY_4 = 0x34
KEY_5 = 0x35
KEY_6 = 0x36
KEY_7 = 0x37
KEY_8 = 0x38
KEY_9 = 0x39
KEY_A = 0x41
KEY_B = 0x42
KEY_C = 0x43
KEY_D = 0x44
KEY_E = 0x45
KEY_F = 0x46
KEY_G = 0x47
KEY_H = 0x48
KEY_I = 0x49
KEY_J = 0x4A
KEY_K = 0x4B
KEY_L = 0x4C
KEY_M = 0x4D
KEY_N = 0x4E
KEY_O = 0x4F
KEY_P = 0x50
KEY_Q = 0x51
KEY_R = 0x52
KEY_S = 0x53
KEY_T = 0x54
KEY_U = 0x55
KEY_V = 0x56
KEY_W = 0x57
KEY_X = 0x58
KEY_Y = 0x59
KEY_Z = 0x5A
def KeybdInput(code, flags):
return KEYBDINPUT(code, code, flags, 0, None)
def HardwareInput(message, parameter):
return HARDWAREINPUT(message & 0xFFFFFFFF,
parameter & 0xFFFF,
parameter >> 16 & 0xFFFF)
def Mouse(flags, x=0, y=0, data=0):
return Input(MouseInput(flags, x, y, data))
def Keyboard(code, flags=0):
return Input(KeybdInput(code, flags))
def Hardware(message, parameter=0):
return Input(HardwareInput(message, parameter))
################################################################################
import string
UPPER = frozenset(\'~!@#$%^&*()_+QWERTYUIOP{}|ASDFGHJKL:\"ZXCVBNM<>?\')
LOWER = frozenset(\"`1234567890-=qwertyuiop[]\\\\asdfghjkl;\'zxcvbnm,./\")
ORDER = string.ascii_letters + string.digits + \' \\b\\r\\t\'
ALTER = dict(zip(\'!@#$%^&*()\', \'1234567890\'))
OTHER = {\'`\': VK_OEM_3,
\'~\': VK_OEM_3,
\'-\': VK_OEM_MINUS,
\'_\': VK_OEM_MINUS,
\'=\': VK_OEM_PLUS,
\'+\': VK_OEM_PLUS,
\'[\': VK_OEM_4,
\'{\': VK_OEM_4,
\']\': VK_OEM_6,
\'}\': VK_OEM_6,
\'\\\\\': VK_OEM_5,
\'|\': VK_OEM_5,
\';\': VK_OEM_1,
\':\': VK_OEM_1,
\"\'\": VK_OEM_7,
\'\"\': VK_OEM_7,
\',\': VK_OEM_COMMA,
\'<\': VK_OEM_COMMA,
\'.\': VK_OEM_PERIOD,
\'>\': VK_OEM_PERIOD,
\'/\': VK_OEM_2,
\'?\': VK_OEM_2}
def keyboard_stream(string):
mode = False
for character in string.replace(\'\\r\\n\', \'\\r\').replace(\'\\n\', \'\\r\'):
if mode and character in LOWER or not mode and character in UPPER:
yield Keyboard(VK_SHIFT, mode and KEYEVENTF_KEYUP)
mode = not mode
character = ALTER.get(character, character)
if character in ORDER:
code = ord(character.upper())
elif character in OTHER:
code = OTHER[character]
else:
continue
raise ValueError(\'String is not understood!\')
yield Keyboard(code)
yield Keyboard(code, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP)
if mode:
yield Keyboard(VK_SHIFT, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP)
################################################################################
import time, sys
def main():
time.sleep(5)
for event in keyboard_stream(\'o2E^uXh#:SHn&HQ+t]YF\'):
SendInput(event)
time.sleep(0.1)
##if __name__ == \'__main__\':
## main()
def switch_program():
SendInput(Keyboard(VK_MENU), Keyboard(VK_TAB))
time.sleep(0.2)
SendInput(Keyboard(VK_TAB, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP),
Keyboard(VK_MENU, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP))
time.sleep(0.2)
def select_line():
SendInput(Keyboard(VK_SHIFT, KEYEVENTF_EXTENDEDKEY),
Keyboard(VK_END, KEYEVENTF_EXTENDEDKEY))
time.sleep(0.2)
SendInput(Keyboard(VK_SHIFT, KEYEVENTF_EXTENDEDKEY | KEYEVENTF_KEYUP),
Keyboard(VK_END, KEYEVENTF_EXTENDEDKEY | KEYEVENTF_KEYUP))
time.sleep(0.2)
def copy_line():
SendInput(Keyboard(VK_CONTROL), Keyboard(KEY_C))
time.sleep(0.2)
SendInput(Keyboard(VK_CONTROL, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP),
Keyboard(KEY_C, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP))
time.sleep(0.2)
def next_line():
SendInput(Keyboard(VK_HOME), Keyboard(VK_DOWN))
time.sleep(0.2)
SendInput(Keyboard(VK_HOME, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP),
Keyboard(VK_DOWN, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP))
time.sleep(0.2)
def prepare_text():
# Open Text
SendInput(Keyboard(KEY_M))
time.sleep(0.2)
SendInput(Keyboard(KEY_M, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP))
time.sleep(0.2)
# Goto Area
SendInput(Keyboard(VK_TAB))
time.sleep(0.2)
SendInput(Keyboard(VK_TAB, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP))
time.sleep(0.2)
# Paste Message
SendInput(Keyboard(VK_CONTROL), Keyboard(KEY_V))
time.sleep(0.2)
SendInput(Keyboard(VK_CONTROL, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP),
Keyboard(KEY_V, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP))
time.sleep(0.2)
# Goto Button
SendInput(Keyboard(VK_TAB))
time.sleep(0.2)
SendInput(Keyboard(VK_TAB, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP))
time.sleep(0.2)
def send_one_message():
select_line()
copy_line()
next_line()
switch_program()
prepare_text()
# Send Message
SendInput(Keyboard(VK_RETURN))
time.sleep(0.2)
SendInput(Keyboard(VK_RETURN, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP))
time.sleep(10)
switch_program()
def send_messages(total):
time.sleep(10)
for _ in range(total):
send_one_message()
If you\'re using Python for Windows then there\'s a very good chance that you have the win32api module, which handles hooking into the API for you...
>>> import win32api
>>> import win32con
>>> win32api.keybd_event(win32con.SHIFT_PRESSED, 0, win32con.KEYEVENTF_EXTENDEDKEY, 0)
>>> HELLO
Does that help? (p.s. you should install IPython if at all possible, it\'s massively helpful for experimenting)
I know that this question is really old, but I found a nice library: PyUserInput.
I am not sure how to download it in windows(I haven\'t downloaded libraries for windows since long time ago). In linux is easy just download pip(if you haven\'t):sudo apt-get install pip and then sudo pip install pyuserinput.
And then the code is realy simple:
#imports the library
from pykeyboard import PyKeyboard
#import the sleep function
from time import sleep
#initialize the keyboard simulator
keyboard = PyKeyboard()
#presses the key
keyboard.press_key(\'x\')
#waits five seconds before releasing the key
sleep(5)
#releases the key
keyboard.release_key(\'x\')
I\'ve modified the Noctis answer to work with Unicode characters.
\"Simple unicode keyboard automation for windows\"
https://gist.github.com/ubershmekel/4b414a66037feaea595b5f4e78220aad
The above link has a gist, this is the code from that gist today:
# coding: utf-8
\"\"\"
Simple unicode keyboard automation for windows
Based off of http://stackoverflow.com/questions/11906925/python-simulate-keydown
\"\"\"
import ctypes
import time
import sys
LONG = ctypes.c_long
DWORD = ctypes.c_ulong
ULONG_PTR = ctypes.POINTER(DWORD)
WORD = ctypes.c_ushort
INPUT_MOUSE = 0
INPUT_KEYBOARD = 1
INPUT_HARDWARE = 2
KEYEVENTF_EXTENDEDKEY = 0x0001
KEYEVENTF_KEYUP = 0x0002
KEYEVENTF_SCANCODE = 0x0008
KEYEVENTF_UNICODE = 0x0004
class MOUSEINPUT(ctypes.Structure):
_fields_ = ((\'dx\', LONG),
(\'dy\', LONG),
(\'mouseData\', DWORD),
(\'dwFlags\', DWORD),
(\'time\', DWORD),
(\'dwExtraInfo\', ULONG_PTR))
class KEYBDINPUT(ctypes.Structure):
_fields_ = ((\'wVk\', WORD),
(\'wScan\', WORD),
(\'dwFlags\', DWORD),
(\'time\', DWORD),
(\'dwExtraInfo\', ULONG_PTR))
class HARDWAREINPUT(ctypes.Structure):
_fields_ = ((\'uMsg\', DWORD),
(\'wParamL\', WORD),
(\'wParamH\', WORD))
class _INPUTunion(ctypes.Union):
_fields_ = ((\'mi\', MOUSEINPUT),
(\'ki\', KEYBDINPUT),
(\'hi\', HARDWAREINPUT))
class INPUT(ctypes.Structure):
_fields_ = ((\'type\', DWORD),
(\'union\', _INPUTunion))
def send_input(*inputs):
nInputs = len(inputs)
LPINPUT = INPUT * nInputs
pInputs = LPINPUT(*inputs)
cbSize = ctypes.c_int(ctypes.sizeof(INPUT))
return ctypes.windll.user32.SendInput(nInputs, pInputs, cbSize)
def input_structure(structure):
if isinstance(structure, MOUSEINPUT):
return INPUT(INPUT_MOUSE, _INPUTunion(mi=structure))
if isinstance(structure, KEYBDINPUT):
return INPUT(INPUT_KEYBOARD, _INPUTunion(ki=structure))
if isinstance(structure, HARDWAREINPUT):
return INPUT(INPUT_HARDWARE, _INPUTunion(hi=structure))
raise TypeError(\'Cannot create INPUT structure!\')
def keyboard_input(code, flags):
return KEYBDINPUT(0, code, flags, 0, None)
def keyboard_event(code, flags=KEYEVENTF_UNICODE):
return input_structure(keyboard_input(code, flags))
def press(character):
code = ord(character)
send_input(keyboard_event(code))
send_input(keyboard_event(code, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP))
def main():
time.sleep(3)
for char in u\'O\\nשש2E6UXoשש2E^uXh#:SHn&HQ\':
press(char)
time.sleep(0.5)
if __name__ == \'__main__\':
main()
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