Holding space for a specific time

[scripterman]

hello to everyone in the forum

I want to create a quite simple script. I need to control another window (already open) and as soon as I run the script, I need the SPACE button to be held down for a specific amount of time (defined by me), then released, then held again etc.

I had in mind something like this:

WinWaitActive("Window Title")

Send("{SPACE down}")

Sleep(2000); If I want it to be held for 2 seconds

Send("{SPACE up}")

Sleep(1000); to wait 1 sec before it is pressed again

and so on.. But it doesn't seem to work. Why?

[Melba23]

scripterman,

What is the window that you are trying to Send to?

M23

[scripterman]

A mozilla firefox window. I used the AutoIt Window Info to copy-paste the exact name of the window.. But it doesn't work. Actually, I'm not sure 10% how the WinWaitActive command works. I mean:

- I'm in the AutoIt window writing the script and I press Go (or F5)

- Do I have to make the specific mozilla firefox window active myself by clicking in it? Then will the script start executing the commands?

Is the rest of the script ok?

Thanks

[GiulioM]

[...]

I had in mind something like this:

WinWaitActive("Window Title")

Send("{SPACE down}")

Sleep(2000); If I want it to be held for 2 seconds

Send("{SPACE up}")

Sleep(1000); to wait 1 sec before it is pressed again

and so on.. But it doesn't seem to work. Why?

Because Sleep() means "pause the script", so pauses Send() command too.

I suggest this code to solve the problem:

WinWaitActive("Window Title")

Dim $stop_send = @sec + 2 ; Change me!!!

Do

Send("{SPACE}")

Until @SEC = $stop_send

Sleep(1000)

Send("{SPACE})

p.s. I've checked the code on SciTe, I've not written it now (like I do usually =) ).

Edited April 5, 2010 by GiulioM

[scripterman]

Hmmm.. It DOES send the Space key, but it doesn't hold it down for 2 seconds like I wanted to. It seems to just a press of the key. I changed the

Send("{SPACE}") to Send("{SPACE down}")

but it still doesn't work..

[Melba23]

scripterman,

Holding keys down is not that easy. Try this (you will need to click in the Firefox window to activate it):

WinActivate("Window Title")
WinWaitActive("Window Title")
$iOldOpt = Opt("SendKeyDownDelay", 2000)
Send("{SPACE}")
Opt("SendKeyDownDelay", $iOldOpt)
Sleep(1000); to wait 1 sec before it is pressed again

The Opt lines are saving the current setting of "the length of time a key is held down before being released during a keystroke" value, changing it to 2 secs and then resetting it.

M23

[scripterman]

Would it be easier if I told you that I could have the same result just by holding down the left mouse button instead of the space key?

[ShawnW]

You know I can't get the holding a button thing to work either but the left mouse click down works fine.

MouseDown ("left")
Sleep(2000)
MouseUp("left")