Virtual Thai Keyboard

No need to reinvent the wheel:

On XP/Vista install Thai Keyboard support (Thai Kedmanee) via control panel, Regional Settings, Keyboards.
Select Thai keyboard in system tray (Thai Kedmanee, for example).

For XP:
Go to Start Menu --> All Programs --> Accessories --> Accessiblity --> On-Screen Keyboard

For Vista:
Go to Start Menu --> All Programs --> Accessories --> Ease of Access --> On-Screen Keyboard

You can set Keyboard IME programatically:
  http://www.xtremevbtalk.com/showthread.php?t=267909

You can call On-Screen Keyboard programatically using API ShellExecute:
  Osk.exe (Microsoft On-Screen Keyboard) located in Windows\System32 folder?

Ooh that looks good.

But how do I find the constant for Thai and programatically close te OSK when needed ?

Try this constant to select Thai keyboard:
  Private Const LANG_THAI As String = "0000041E"

To startup On-Screen Keyboard:
  Shell "osk.exe"

To Shutdown On-Screen Keyboard:
  Safely Shut Down a Running Application
  http://www.thescarms.com/vbasic/stopprocess.aspx

Would I be best hiding it rather than shutting it down ?  How could I do that ?

At

strRet = String(9, 0)

I get String is a class type and cannot  be used in an expression !?

Sample code to Start, Close, Hide, Show On-Screen Keyboard:

Option Explicit
 
Private Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA" (ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
Private Declare Function PostMessage Lib "user32" Alias "PostMessageA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, ByVal lParam As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function ShowWindow Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal nCmdShow As Long) As Long
 
Private Const WM_CLOSE = &H10
Private Const WM_DESTROY = &H2
Private Const SW_HIDE = 0
Private Const SW_SHOW = 5
 
Private Sub cmdHide_Click()
   ShowWindow OSKhWnd, SW_HIDE
End Sub
 
Private Sub cmdShow_Click()
   ShowWindow OSKhWnd, SW_SHOW
End Sub
 
Private Sub cmdStart_Click()
   Shell "osk.exe"
End Sub
 
Private Sub cmdStop_Click()
   PostMessage OSKhWnd, WM_CLOSE, 0, 0
   PostMessage OSKhWnd, WM_DESTROY, 0, 0
End Sub
 
Private Function OSKhWnd() As Long
   OSKhWnd = FindWindow("OSKMainClass", "On-Screen Keyboard")
End Function
                                              

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My version of VB.net doesn't like the following line...


strRet = String(9, 0)

Dunno what this line does so I can't replace it !?

Try strRet = "         "
make sure there are 9 spaces.

Is there a way to change the size of the OSK?  The thai characters are virtually illegible !

In Menu item 'Settings' of On-Screen Keyboard, change Font to larger size.
Default FontSize appears to be 8.
Setting will be remembered for subsequent popups.

Ok almost there apart from the showing and hiding.  Any ideas?

Did you try the code in post:
08/27/09 10:05 AM, ID: 25197533
Sample code to Start, Close, Hide, Show On-Screen Keyboard]

You will also need to change the API declares for .Net

Private Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA" (ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
Private Declare Function PostMessage Lib "user32" Alias "PostMessageA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, ByVal lParam As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function ShowWindow Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal nCmdShow As Long) As Long


Change Long to Int32

Hmm Nothing. No errors either ?

Does Debug.Print OSKhWnd return a handle?

yes..1649267776872?

How about Shell "osk.exe"
Does that work?

Code in post 08/27/09 10:05 AM, ID: 25197533 works OK in Vb6

Yes I get the OSK but it won't hide.

Private Declare Function ShowWindow Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Int32, ByVal nCmdShow As Int32) As Int32

Private Sub cmdHide_Click()
  ShowWindow OSKhWnd, SW_HIDE
End Sub

That gives me an arthimetic overflow !

Did you change FindWindow also to Int32?
Vb6 Long is Int32 in .Net
Private Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA" (ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Int32

No error just not hiding again!

Out of ideas. Maybe:
ShowWindow OSKhWnd, 0

Does it work for you?

Yes. Start, Stop, Hide, Show all work but I am testing with Vb6-SP6 and Vista.

Could it be a .net issue?

I can start it and change the language but can't hide or stop it (dunno about show as I can't hide!!)

Oh so close.. Please help.