Capturing the windows key in c# (wpf)

Question

I have written a small program displaying sounds and images on the screen when pushing any button. I always start it when one of my little kids crawls onto my lap and start hitting the keys, of course, randomly.

It works fine except for 2 keys, one of them being the ON/OFF switch, the other being the Windows-key. (the CTRL-ESC equivalent I believe) I can intercept it as it is pressed, but only after the startmenu is showing.

The event I use is the UIElement.KeyDown and all I could came up with so far is : (the e being KeyEventArgs)

            if (e.Key == Key.LWin) e.Handled = true;

but than the start window is already showing I'm afraid.

I have already 1 answer but would very much like to know if there's any wpf-support?

I suspect programming the main on/off switch might not be possible? Otherwise, any help there would be welcome too..

JP Hellemons · Accepted Answer · 2016-05-04 10:37:17Z

18

You'll need a keyboard hook. Unfortunately, this has to be done with P/Invoke; it can't be done with managed code.

Check out Baby Smash! by Scott Hanselman. It's hosted on ~~code plex at http://www.codeplex.com/babysmash~~ Github at https://github.com/shanselman/babysmash

Alternatively, check out ShapeShow on CodeProject, which is similar.

edited May 4, 2016 at 10:37

JP Hellemons

6,04212 gold badges68 silver badges136 bronze badges

answered Apr 20, 2009 at 9:19

abhilash

5,6753 gold badges38 silver badges59 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

5 Comments

Peter Over a year ago

That's definitely an answer, tx. But it requires interop, no native wpf support you're aware of?

Roger Lipscombe Over a year ago

Yep. Needs interop. Updated AB's answer to explain that, and added link to ShapeShow.

Peter Over a year ago

Ok, If you guys are sure, thanks for answering! (I alreaydy have installed babysmash in the meantime)

Roy T. Over a year ago

Note: the answer by merrick (below) works perfectly. Though I'm not sure if that API was already available when this answer was written. (Just adding this here as I completely missed that answer the first time I read this page).

Bidder Over a year ago

e.Key == Key.LWin is all you need. See answer by merrick

merrick · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-31 16:14:34Z

4

See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.input.key(v=VS.90).aspx

At the bottom you'll see a simple example, I think what you're looking for is something along these lines:

left windows key: System.Windows.Input.Key.LWin

right windows key: System.Windows.Input.Key.RWin

example:

private void OnKeyDownHandler(object sender, KeyEventArgs e)
{
    if (e.Key == Key.LWin) {
        textBlock1.Text = "You Entered: " + textBox1.Text;
    }
}

answered Oct 31, 2011 at 16:14

merrick

4044 silver badges6 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Capturing the windows key in c# (wpf)

2 Answers 2

5 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

5 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related