asked on

disable print screen

I am trying to find a way within VB to disable the print screen key within my application. I have secure information displayed and I don't want users to be able use the print screen key and then go into another application and paste and print information. I only want this to be for this application and I don't want to disable the cut and paste for other applications they may have running. Any ideas?

ChrisLewis

You cannot disable the printscreen key in VB, but here's the start of a work around.

You can try this to start.

In a form with Keypreview set to TRUE...

Private Sub Form_KeyUp(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)
Debug.Print "UP:" & KeyCode
If KeyCode = vbKeyPrint Or vbKeySnapshot Then
Clipboard.Clear
MsgBox "No Print Screens!"
End If

End Sub

This doesn't eliminate the printScreen, just immediately clears the copy buffer. This, however, has some problems. It only works if your form has focus. If it's visible in the background, PrintScreen will still work.

Ways around this include minimizing the form when it looses forcus, and also setting the form on top always.

To minimize on non use, try this.

Set a timer in the form, with the following code. (interval real low - 2 or 3 based on processing needs)

Private Sub Timer1_Timer()
DoEvents
Select Case apiGetFocus()
Case Me.hWnd
Case Text1.hWnd
Case Text2.hWnd
Case Command1.hWnd
Case Else
Me.WindowState = vbMinimized
End Select
End Sub
You will have to put a line for each control on your form!

Ad a declare in a module:
Declare Function apiGetFocus Lib "user32" Alias "GetFocus" () As Long

This should work, even though it's kinda clunky

Hope this helps

Chris

lilaudrey

ASKER

The first part works great, however the part on minimizing when it looses focus does not work. Could this have something to do with the fact that we are using 16 bit VB instead of 32. It bombs using your method on some DLL file. I need both parts to work if I am to use this solution. Thanks

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ChrisLewis

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lilaudrey

ASKER

Thanks, I will try that and let you know if it works. I agree it is sort of a weird solution but if it works it will be a great help in solving my security problem and will allow us to implement.

lilaudrey

ASKER

Chris,
This doesn't seem to work either. I do not have a user.dll. Is this my problem and if so could you send me one at acampbell @ppg.com