pythonwindowskeypresskeydownsimulate

Python simulate keydown


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


Solution

  • 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_HARDWARE = 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
                #Or, to abort on unavailable character
                #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()