asked on

How to enter autotext into a selected control using a HotKey.

Hello Experts.

I am using a timer and key combination to use hotkeys, however I can't figure out how to enter the text into a control without first using a button or some kind of reference. Any ideas on how to get the controls "address" without having a static button?

The code is below.

I though of having a variable be set every time a control is selected but that would require a lot of redundant code.

Mike

Private Declare Function GetAsyncKeyState Lib "user32" (ByVal vkey As Long) As Integer
 
    Private Sub Timer1_Tick(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Timer1.Tick
 
        '// Timer interval is set to 1
 
        Dim D As Boolean = GetAsyncKeyState(Keys.D)
        Dim Ctrl As Boolean = GetAsyncKeyState(Keys.ControlKey)
 
 
        If D And Ctrl = True Then
 
            '// I am only using the clipboard as I though it would paste correctly
            Clipboard.SetText(Now)
 
            '// This works, but only because I have "hard coded" the controls address
            'TextBox1.Text = Clipboard.GetText()
 
            '// I would like this to work by "pasting" the GetText at the cursor position
            Clipboard.GetText()
 
        End If
 
    End Sub

Open in new window

Mike Tomlinson

Are you trying to get this to work while:
(a) Your app is in Focus?
(b) Your app is NOT in Focus?

Do you want the value to be pasted:
(c) Into a control in YOUR app?
(d) Into the currently focused app?

Omego2K

Whether it's in focus or not you can add this to your timer tick event:

foreach (Control ctrl in this.Controls)
{
Point screenPos = MousePosition;
screenPos = this.PointToClient(screenPos);
if (screenPos.X >= ctrl.Location.X && screenPos.Y >= ctrl.Location.Y && screenPos.X <= (ctrl.Width + ctrl.Location.X) && screenPos.Y <= (ctrl.Height + ctrl.Location.Y))
ctrl.Text = Clipboard.GetText();
}

missionarymike

ASKER

I am trying to do something like:
Ctrl + D enters the current date into the selected textbox. The issue is that I only want place the cursor in the box and the initiate the hotkey.

missionarymike

ASKER

Omega2K, what is the Vb code.

Omego2K

To get the hovered control use this method

public Control GetHoveredControl()
{
foreach (Control ctrl in this.Controls)
{
Point screenPos = MousePosition;
screenPos = this.PointToClient(screenPos);
if (screenPos.X >= ctrl.Location.X && screenPos.Y >= ctrl.Location.Y && screenPos.X <= (ctrl.Width + ctrl.Location.X) && screenPos.Y <= (ctrl.Height + ctrl.Location.Y))
return ctrl;
}
}

Omego2K

er I mean this method:

public Control GetHoveredControl()
{
foreach (Control ctrl in this.Controls)
{
Point screenPos = MousePosition;
screenPos = this.PointToClient(screenPos);
if (screenPos.X >= ctrl.Location.X && screenPos.Y >= ctrl.Location.Y && screenPos.X <= (ctrl.Width + ctrl.Location.X) && screenPos.Y <= (ctrl.Height + ctrl.Location.Y))
return ctrl;
}
return null;
}

Omego2K

VB.NET code is:

Public Function GetHoveredControl() As Control
For Each ctrl As Control In Me.Controls
Dim screenPos As Point = MousePosition
screenPos = Me.PointToClient(screenPos)
If screenPos.X >= ctrl.Location.X AndAlso screenPos.Y >= ctrl.Location.Y AndAlso screenPos.X <= (ctrl.Width + ctrl.Location.X) AndAlso screenPos.Y <= (ctrl.Height + ctrl.Location.Y) Then
Return ctrl
End If
Next
Return Nothing
End Function

SOLUTION

Mike Tomlinson

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

missionarymike

ASKER

All my controls witll be contained in the form. However, the GetHoveredControl doesn't work with the cursor or selected textbox, only where the mouse is. If the mouse isn't over a textbox or control, it throws an error.
Any way to make it work with the selected control?

missionarymike

ASKER

I forgot to mention, that it also lets you change the .Text property of buttons and labels.

Omego2K

Public Function GetHoveredControl() As Control
For Each ctrl As Control In Me.Controls
Dim screenPos As Point = MousePosition
screenPos = Me.PointToClient(screenPos)
If screenPos.X >= ctrl.Location.X AndAlso screenPos.Y >= ctrl.Location.Y AndAlso screenPos.X <= (ctrl.Width + ctrl.Location.X) AndAlso screenPos.Y <= (ctrl.Height + ctrl.Location.Y) Then
Return ctrl
End If
Next
Return Me.ActiveControl
End Function

missionarymike

ASKER

That works better. But if your mouse is over a control, but a textbox is selected, the the control.text is changed and not the textbox. If you are not hovering over a control, but have selected a textbox, then it works great.
Mike

missionarymike

ASKER

Okay, I commented out everything except the Return ActiveControl and it works great except for when the button is selected. Any way to exclude controls other that input boxes?

Omego2K

what controls do you want to change then? You would need to validate for each control then. Every single form control has a Text property.

missionarymike

ASKER

Okay, on a completely different wavelength, this works. I didn't realize the active control object.
I label all my controls btnName for buttons, txtName for textboxes, lblName for lables.

Private Sub Timer1_Tick(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Timer1.Tick
        '// Timer interval is set to 1
        Dim D As Boolean = GetAsyncKeyState(Keys.D)
        Dim Ctrl As Boolean = GetAsyncKeyState(Keys.ControlKey)
        If ActiveControl.Name.Contains("txt") Then
            If D And Ctrl = True Then
                ActiveControl.Text = Now
            End If
        End If
    End Sub

Open in new window

missionarymike

ASKER

Is this a common way of using hotkeys? Or am I trying to reinvent the wheel? It seemed a lot easier in VBA.
Mike

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Omego2K

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

missionarymike

ASKER

That is more efficient, in case a misname a control.
Thanks.