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my goal for this program is to run in the background, and when a certain key (or combination) is pushed my program executes a thread (in my case robot.keypress)
its like a macro program i just have no clue how to listen for a key while the actual program itself isn't in focus.
its probably some api function i don't know... so fwiw i'm using vista
Anyway you need to have an implementation to listen key-events and must have a way to communicate with the main application.
I think you are looking for key listeners.
How to Write a Key Listener (The Java™ Tutorials > Creating a GUI with JFC/Swing > Writing Event Listeners)
But if he is running in the background, unless it's some sort of plugin he won't get KeyEvents. I can't think of any way to get key-presses without being part of the actual program.
@OP I don't believe there is really any good way of doing this in java. Only thing I could think of would be changing it to something like a command line.
That's what I'm trying to point here Boyo. Must need a way to communicate with the application, background application.
whatever u advised doesnt seem to meet the actual prob .........
Java is the wrong tool for this task. You need a native language that can hook into the OS key handler chain.
Then better give your solution here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Waqas
Can you explain a bit, on what contest you say that, Java is not suitable for this?Quote:
Originally Posted by dlorde
Hmm, it's the same thing I pointed out. Java has no way of listening for key-presses in other applications. C++, C, and other languages are far more likely to able to link into the OS key handlers, partly because they generate .exe files that can be run by any OS. Because Java is run in its own Virtual Machine (the JVM) it doesn't have any links to other programs, as it is not directly integrated with the OS, which, while likely making it more portable, it does make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to write programs that would require direct integration with the OS.
Wait wait, now I'm confusing. I've to go the OPs' question again. Is his background program is not a Java program? I'm mess-up with that.
What the OP really wants is some kind of 'daemon' program that will constantly wait in the background, listen for key-presses, and react accordingly. But Java doesn't do daemon programming at all...
Yes lol, I got the point now. Actually I've miss-understood the question. I'm really sorry about that, I'll try to give a better explanation on my thoughts of the original question.
It's simple. You can't write a keylogger in Java.
db
Hey guys,
You can use robot class and can use setVisible(false) to work in background.......
How will this read in keystrokes if the GUI does not have focus?Quote:
Originally Posted by chiragkini
hi Fubarable,
thanks for your interest. Now what u want to achieve can be done using java Robot class and JFrame class for its gui. Now how to do it, for your help i can only say that search for Eboook- "Java After Hours:10 Projects You'll Never Do at Work" by -- Steven Holzner
In that book browse the section ' Running Any Program Via Remote Control with the Robot' this will definetly help you to achieve what you want , just you need to implement your logic to get keystrokes.......
I dont have link for ebook buut i am sure you will get it by little bit googling...
If you dont get the link then send me request for same on my "chiragkini" gmail account i will send you that ebook..
Hope u succeed!
Best of Luck!!!!!;)