Capturing keystrokes from other programs

Hi,
I'm looking for away to to capture mouse and keyboard events from programs other than my java program. I want my program to log and analyse mouse and keyboard events from any program that is open in windows. I'm designing a user interface analyser. Can anyone help?
Cheers!
Jacques

Thanks for all your input, but I am sadly no closer to
an answer :-( It looks like its going to have to be VB
unless someone can save my life and help me out in
Java. Please keep posting and hopefully someone might
give me that elusive solution.VB won't do this either. What you are asking about is injecting a system wide hook into the operating system. I can pretty much guarantee that this will not be possible without resorting to native code.
If you are on a Win32 box, the system hook you are looking for is (duh) the keyboard hook. To get it to work across processes, you have to prepare a DLL that contains the hook procedure, then register the hook procedure (and the DLL hmodule) with the Windows hooking system. After that, every time an application is loaded, Windows will also load your DLL, and will forward key press events through your hook procedure.
Setting global hooks like this is a tricky business, and I wouldn't recommend it as a first program.
You can do a Google search on "Windows Global Keyboard Hook" and find info on how to do this. If you want to do it using only Java, then you are out of luck.
- K

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Line Breaks missing in captions from other programs...

I've spent the last few hours searching around, and I've been unable to find any solution to a weird thing I noticed.
I've recently purchased LR 3.4.1 and when I imported a handful of older pics that had had the captions set using Bridge, the line breaks were now gone.
I then went to Bridge and tested it, and sure enough, it can read line breaks from LR, but the opposite doesn't seem to be true. As part of my work, I get a bunch of photos that other photogs have shot and added captions to via Bridge, but I can't seem to find any check box or setting on how to get LR to read the line breaks.
Any one have any advice on how to get LR to read line breaks from other programs? I'd hate to have to go through and re-caption each and every single photo, especially when adding the older ones into LR to use it as a DAM.
Thanks!

This is a long-standing, annoying bug in Windows LR that has been acknowledged by Adobe:
http://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/newline_bug_in_caption_text
Please go to the feedback site and vote for that issue to get fixed.
It is just a display problem in LR -- the line breaks in the metadata are preserved, and if you enter line breaks in the metadata, they are preserved too.

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HT5958 This new closed Library system stinks. Now you can't access media from other programs. Any work around?

Let me start by saying I have been using FCP X for a year now and really love it. We produce a half hour weekly TV series so I put it through its paces on a weekly bases.
I was horrified to return from the holidays to find out that an automatic update yielded a whole new file system. By packaging all of the Final Cut Event and Project folders into a single library file you can no longer access the original media from other programs such as Photoshop and After Effects without making two copies of all of the media. This really cuts into the pipeline. In the past we were able to recreate new show opens and transitions quickly from within After Effects by linking to the original media in the event folders to use them as source files in compositions. The same was true of grabbing frames from Original movies for use in Photoshop for promotional materials. With the use of the Libraries, ALL OF THE LINKS ARE BROKEN. Yes I know you can right click on a library and still view the files, yes they are still there, but you can't do that from within another program.
This Library system doesn't make any sense. Its a step back from the old system. It was much easier, quicker, and efficient to move large event libraries and projects off and on the system and backup using Finder. Now you have to open up Final Cut to do everything and its a lot slower.
I want to appeal to any Apple developers who monitor this to return to the old system of file management.

Media does not have to be stored inside the library. Use the Consolidate library or event to move it to an external location.

I can't print in Adobe 11.0, I can print from other programs?

I have confirmed that I can print from other programs.
I have uninstalled Adobe and reinstalled to make sure the programs was the most up todate.
I have installed a new printer just today and confirmed the drivers are up todate.
I have confirmed there are no security issues with the document - documents.
I have tried printing the document as an image and it still will not print.
I don't get any errors, just nothing happens. It doesn't even go into the print que
Help!

I tried printing a simple PDF.
We couldn't print PDF's prior to the replacment of the printer, but I thought replacing the printer might help.
I have pulled some tech people here at the office to see if there is a common denominator between the computers and or the issues arising and nothing is coming up.
This is just so odd.

I can't paste text from other programs

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What happens when you try? Any error message?

Can I share files from other programs or just Adobe apps files. I work with Final Cut and Premiere X

Can I share files from other programs or just Adobe apps files. I work with Final Cut and Premiere X.? Need to share files up to 6GB.
I need to know if the 20 gb limit is about all that I share, or if it's just about whatis in the clouds. If I take, recover my limit?
The speed of upload e download is good?

The Creative Cloud file storage could be used for video assets but speed and performance might vary based on location. I would suggest you testing it out yourself using your Adobe ID before subscribing. Performance would not change after you joined.
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Outlook 2010 paste from other programs not working.

Hi,
Win 7 SP1 x86 w latest patches. Win lang. ENG
Outlook 2010 SP1 x86 w latest patches. Office lang. ENG
Regional (date/time and so on) settings EE (Estonia)
I have about 6 users with same conditions.
When I'm trying to copy - paste from other programs like IE9, Word, Excel I'm unable to paste into Outlook message body.
It just wont paste.
Typically, Outlook shows me "thniking circle" for a millisecond or rarely just hangs.
There are some exceptions:
1. I'm able to paste into To: field
2. I'm able to paste into Subject: field
3. I'm able to paste even into body if I copied text from Notepad.
4. I'm able to paste into body when I copied text from another email.
Additional information:
Outlook default message format "Plain text" (Rich text, HTML - does'nt matter)
What I'v tried so far and results:
1. Repair Office installation trough "Programs and features" - NO LUCK
2. Changed default paste behaviour from other programs to "keep text only" - NO LUCK
3. Used SAFE MODE - this helps, paste SEEMS WORKING correctly. Based on my knowledge, SAFE mode mainly disables Add-ins. OK.
Disabled all Add-ins in normal mode so Outlook shows that "No Active Application Add-Ins" - NO LUCK
So, I'm out of ideas. I think that this problem starts after installing Office 2010 SP1
I don't want to uninstall SP1 because for me it's not a solution (SP1 won't dissapear from the list of updates), ok.. agree, it may be
temporary solution but at the end of the day, there must be something else.
Any ideas?
rgds Sven

Rename normailemail.dotm to .old when Outlook is closed and see if it works now.
You can find the file here;
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates
Robert Sparnaaij
[MVP-Outlook]
Outlook guides and more: HowTo-Outlook.com
Outlook Quick Tips: MSOutlook.info
Thanx, NormalEmail.dotm did not do anything for me but the renaming the Normal.dotm in the same folder did the trick for me. I can paste links again into outlook :)
Win7 SP1 and Outlook 2010 32bit

How to capture graphical outputs from other programs

Does anyone know how we capture the graphical outputs from the other programs and show them
on the swing?
I'd like to use a java program to run gnuplot, capture the outputs, and show them using swing.

Depends on what you mean by "graphic outputs".
Taking a quick glance at the gnuplot homepage, it looks as if you can output to PNG files, so just run the app, and load the png file.

How to capture keystrokes from LIRC dongle

Hello,
Newbe here so be gentle.
I want to capture keystrokes send out by the LIRC dongle. I made a script file which runs correctly when I run it from the command line. But it doesn't seem to work when ir runs as a service.
Basically, what I've done is this:
#!/bin/bash
while true
do
read -n 1 ir_code
case $ir_code in
"W")
echo "... inschakelen"
echo 1 > /sys/class/gpio/gpio200/value
sleep 2
echo 1 > /sys/class/gpio/gpio91/value
"Z")
echo "Uitschakelen ..."
echo 0 > /sys/class/gpio/gpio91/value
sleep 2
echo 0 > /sys/class/gpio/gpio200/value
esac
done
Is there a reason why this won't work as a service?

1. Read the section of the Swing tutorial (linked from the topic listing page for this forum) that deals with Key Bindings.
2. If you still need an application-wide listener, go through camickr's [Global Event Listeners|http://tips4java.wordpress.com/2009/08/30/global-event-listeners/].
db

Capture keystroke from the SAP Business One Desktop

Does anyone know how I can capture a keystroke from the SAP Business One “Desktop” with the UI API?
Basically, open the B1 Client, then click the mouse in the back ground beside the main menu so that the cursor is “nowhere” (not in the search field). Now set some code In the KeyDown event to catch any keystrokes. Nothing happens. The event is not called. I even tried using SetWindowsHookEx API function but never got it to work with an SDK project since there is no form hHandle. Woudlnd even work once I gave the hhandle of the B1 Client

Hi Marc,
what is your exact requirement ?
I don't think you can specificly catch a key down in the background - but only because it is not possible to "lose" main menu as active form ( only if you close it -> then search field is active ).
So basically you have to find a logic where you can catch *your* keydown on any form.
Be aware of the fact, that keydown won't let you catch all keys / key combinations.
I had an equal requirement some time ago and after a lot of experimenting ( windows global hook wouldn't work reliable ) I ended up using SBO key shortcuts ( F2-F12 ) and their menu events.
regards,
Maik

How open images from other programs & convert to tiff?

I am new to digital photography. I usually take 2 to 3 MB images with my Canon Rebel XT and use iPhoto as my basic program to organize images, create albums, and do very basic editing. I'm running on a G4 Powerbook with OS10.3. I expect to upgrade to iPhoto6 soon. I also use Canon's Image Browser (because it does a better job of compression for emailing that my present iPhoto) and an abbreviated version of ArcSoft PhotoStudio which came bundled with my Canon and has editing tools similar to Adobe Photoshop Elements.
So far I usually use iPhoto's "Preferences/Open in Other" command when I want to open one or more selected images in one of the other programs. I have not found any easy way to locate an image while working in ImageBrowser or PhotoStudio, because iPhoto assigns folder numbers by date, so I'd have to know in which of many numbered folders to look. Placing images into iPhoto albums does not help because while the album names appear in these program's tree view they appear unable to link to them. Canon refuses to answer questions relating to iPhoto and referred me to ArcSoft for any questions about PhotoStudio. ArcSoft says they provide no support for programs bundled with hardware. Typical. What I'd like to know is:
1. Is there any easy way to locate iPhoto images while I'm in one of these other programs?
2. Is there any way to copy an entire album from iPhoto to one of these other programs?
3. I've attended two different digital photo classes in which instructors felt it desirable to convert jpegs to tiffs. One felt it was necessary to reduce the loss of pixels during editing, and the other does it for any image he plans to print, claiming it improves print quality. They recommended getting a special conversion program. Based on responses here to the topic: "Want to save jpeg file as tiff before making edits to photos", others feel that for most amateurs like me this is a minor issue, especially with iPhoto. Testing this I have found, as Kevin Wolfe1 says Feb 12, that compression of a jpeg appears to occur primarily on the first edit and does not sognificantly degrade the image. The programs I mention above appear able to save an edited jpeg as a tiff if desired, but I've noticed also that iPhoto's Export command includes the option to export a jpeg (to desktop or another folder) as a tiff. When I tried this, it did create a file identified as .tif, and I can drag that file back into the iPhoto Library where it remains named as a .tif, and according to iPhoto, this file contains about 5 times the MBs the original jpeg had. What I'm curious to know is, is that a true tiff file or is iPhoto kidding me?
Powerbook G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Typical. What I'd like to know is:
1. Is there any easy way to locate iPhoto images
while I'm in one of these other programs?
In iPhoto 06 you have the option to NOT move imported image file in to the iPhoto library. So they images stay in the place where you put them. With this option the iPhoto library only contains "pointers".
2. Is there any way to copy an entire album from
iPhoto to one of these other programs?
Can't you open an album, select all the images then then use "export"
3. I've attended two different digital photo classes
in which instructors felt it desirable to convert
jpegs to tiffs.
If you are worried about this then you should be shooting RAW format. In your case the camera is doing the JPG conversion and the "damage" is unrecoverable.
iPhoto 6 and Tigeer (10.4.x) has a little bit better supportfor raw format images i yu are worried about something that makes such a small difference then you should be woried about the stuf that makes a large difference first.
You might want to concider this workflow:
1) use Canon software to download files from camera
2) use Canon software to convert to TIFF
3) Import TIFF to iPhoto (using option to NOT consolidate library
4) specify arcedit, PS or Gimp as your external editor
Others might want to lt iPhoto do the import and raw conversion but you said you wanted thr photos to be stored outside of iPhoto's library system you you can find them with out having to do an export.

Opening pictures in iPhoto from other programs

I'm wanting to use pictures from my iPhoto library in other programs-- i.e. Photoshop Elements or to upload to a website. When working from Photoshop Elements, when I go to File>Open>Pictures>iPhotoLibrary I get an error message. The only way I seem to be able to USE any of my photos stored in iPhoto is if I copy them to my "pictures" folder in the Finder and then use them. Of course, this means I am using double the space on my hard drive. There must be an easier way. What am I doing wrong?

So if I use Photoshop as an external editor, the Save function is only saving a copy? Does the copy go back into the original event this way?
When you set Photoshop (or an Image Editor) as an external and then go to edit the pic here's what happens:
1. iPhoto makes a copy of the file and sends the copy to Photoshop
2. Make your edits
3. Save.
4. The Edited version is returned to iPhoto and saved in the Modified Folder.
5. A new thumbnail is made and replaces the thumbnail in the iPhoto Window
Thereafter if you want to get to the Original you have several options:
a: Photos -> Revert to Original - this destroys the modified version
b: Export using the File -> Export command, set the *Kind: Original*
c. Any other form of export yields the edited version.
In Windows if one chooses save when editing in Photoshop, the original is overwritten,
This is true in Photoshop on the Mac too, the difference is you're using iPhoto, and it's +iPhoto making the copy+. Hence the 'Save As' to preserve your original is unnecessary.
which i can't seem to access in Finder browse mode or from iPhoto
There are many, many ways to access your files in iPhoto:
*For Users of 10.5 and later*
You can use any Open / Attach / Browse dialogue. On the left there's a Media heading, your pics can be accessed there. Command-Click for selecting multiple pics.
Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!
(Note the above illustration is not a Finder Window. It's the dialogue you get when you go File -> Open)
You can access the Library from the New Message Window in Mail:
Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!
*For users of 10.4 and later* ...
Many internet sites such as Flickr and SmugMug have plug-ins for accessing the iPhoto Library. If the site you want to use doesn’t then some, one or any of these will also work:
To upload to a site that does not have an iPhoto Export Plug-in the recommended way is to Select the Pic in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export and export the pic to the desktop, then upload from there. After the upload you can trash the pic on the desktop. It's only a copy and your original is safe in iPhoto.
This is also true for emailing with Web-based services. However, if you're using Gmail you can use iPhoto2GMail
If you use Apple's Mail, Entourage, AOL or Eudora you can email from within iPhoto.
If you use a Cocoa-based Browser such as Safari, you can drag the pics from the iPhoto Window to the Attach window in the browser.
*If you want to access the files with iPhoto not running*:
For users of 10.6 and later:
You can download a free Services component from MacOSXAutomation which will give you access to the iPhoto Library from your Services Menu. Using the Services Preference Pane you can even create a keyboard shortcut for it.
For Users of 10.4 and later:
Create a Media Browser using Automator (takes about 10 seconds) or use this free utility Karelia iMedia Browser
Other options include:
1. *Drag and Drop*: Drag a photo from the iPhoto Window to the desktop, there iPhoto will make a full-sized copy of the pic.
2. *File -> Export*: Select the files in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export. The dialogue will give you various options, including altering the format, naming the files and changing the size. Again, producing a copy.
3. *Show File*: Right- (or Control-) Click on a pic and in the resulting dialogue choose 'Show File'. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected.
Regards
TD

Pulling data from other programs...

Howdy, I have a bit of a question...
in order for a program i'm building to work without a lot of excess calculations, I need to pull a number from another program, its in a field at the top of the screen something like this:
|$12345678|
---------Is java capable of pulling that number? if so, how would i go about it?

Howdy, I have a bit of a question...
in order for a program i'm building to work without a
lot of excess calculations, I need to pull a number
from another program, its in a field at the top of the
screen something like this:
|$12345678|
---------Is java capable of pulling that number? if so, how
would i go about it?Sorry, you are probably out of luck unless you want to jump into using native code

Capturing keystrokes from other programs

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