Auto Invoke on-screen keyboard

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Hi,

Is there any way to invoke an on-screen keyboard in win7? Something like touch input, the virtual keyboard will be visible as demand. Applicable for whole win7 instead of specific application.

Thanks

Posted 28-Apr-11 0:54am

Pdaus

Updated 28-Apr-11 1:29am

Slacker007

v2

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Kim Togo · Answer 1 · 2011-04-28T01:40:00

Solution 1

You can start On-screen keyboard via Process.Start("osk"); - Start -> Run -> "osk"

And and perhaps use some WM_XX message to show and hide?

Posted 28-Apr-11 1:40am

Kim Togo

Updated 28-Apr-11 1:41am

v2

Comments

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 28-Apr-11 13:17pm

It works, my 5.
For some advanced things, please see my answer and references.
--SA

Pdaus 28-Apr-11 22:17pm

yup, u r correct..but the problem is how system know when to hide or show? coz i want it to be automated. Something like a notification in order to use the WM_XX message to show and hide.

Kim Togo 29-Apr-11 3:15am

Okay, I think I get your point. You what to:

1. If focus is in a TextBox/ComboBox/Something that what text input, then virtual keyboard have to show.
2. When focus leaves, then virtual keyboard have to hide.
3. All automated.

Pdaus 29-Apr-11 3:38am

yup..exactly...how do check for related WM_xx. Once again for system wide. Not for specific application only

Kim Togo 2-May-11 7:32am

Sorry Pdaus. I cannot answer this. I have never had the need to do anything like this.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov · Answer 2 · 2011-04-28T07:17:00

What Kim says is the right way.

However, if you really need to use touch input, it can be not suitable. Usually, touch input requires larger controls, for example, and the interests of the users using touch are largely ignored by design of Windows including the latest versions. If this is the problem, you may want to create your custom Virtual Keyboard.

It should be system-wide as well, of course.
You can find the key recipe on how to do it; please see my past answers and this discussions:
Application focus getting and losing[^],
Programming on BACKSPACE button[^].

See also this CodeProject article:
A software Virtual Keyboard for your WPF apps[^].

—SA