SendEx - yet another alternative to the built-in Send function

[iCode 8]

As many are aware, the standard AutoIt Send() function can leave modifier keys (usually Shift, Alt, Ctrl) in a pressed-like state. While there are at least a few alternatives that can be found on this forum, as well as one in the Wiki (which i can't find at the moment), they have all failed me at some point, leaving a modifier key "stuck". So far i have had no issues with this function however.
 
LAST UPDATED: 21-SEP-2014

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#include-once
; #FUNCTION# ====================================================================================================================
; Name ..........: _SendEx
; Description ...: alternative to built-in Send() function which prevents modifier keys from being left in a pressed state
; Syntax ........: _SendEx($sSendKeys[, $iTimeout[, $sReleaseKeys[, $hUser32Dll]]])
; Parameters ....: $sSendKeys           - string of keys to send in Send() format
;                  $hUser32Dll          - [optional] handle to user32.dll
;                  $iTimeout            - [optional] maximum time in ms to attempt to release pressed keys (minimum = 250)
;                  $sReleaseKeys        - [optional] comma seperated string of keys to release before issuing Send() (no spaces).
;                      defaults to: Shift, Ctrl, Alt, L Win, R Win
; Return values .: Success returns 1, else sets @error to 1 and returns an error message string
; Release date ..: 25-May-2014
; Modify date ...: 21-Sep-2014
; Author ........: iCode
; Modified by ...:
; Remarks .......:
; Related .......: Send()
; Link ..........:
; Example .......: No
; ===============================================================================================================================
Func _SendEx($sSendKeys, $hUser32Dll = "", $iTimeout = 2000, $sReleaseKeys = "0x10,0x11,0x12,0x5B,0x5C")
    Local $bCloseDll, $sRet
    Local $iDelay = Opt("SendKeyDelay") + Opt("SendKeyDownDelay")
    If $iDelay < 50 Then $iDelay = 50
    Local $aReleaseKeys = StringSplit($sReleaseKeys, ",")
    If @error Then Return SetError(1, 0, "Failed to create release key array")
    If $hUser32Dll <> "user32.dll" Then
        $hUser32Dll = DllOpen("user32.dll")
        If @error Then Return SetError(1, 0, "Failed to open handle to user32.dll")
        $bCloseDll = True
    EndIf
    $sRet = __ReleaseKeys($aReleaseKeys, $iTimeout, $hUser32Dll)
    If Not @error Then
        Send($sSendKeys)
        Sleep($iDelay)
        $sRet = __ReleaseKeys($aReleaseKeys, $iTimeout, $hUser32Dll)
    EndIf
    If $bCloseDll Then DllClose("user32.dll")
    If $sRet Then Return SetError(1, 0, $sRet)
    Return 1
EndFunc

; #INTERNAL_USE_ONLY# ===========================================================================================================
; Name ..........: __ReleaseKeys
; Description ...: release pressed keys
; Syntax ........: __ReleaseKeys(Byref $aReleaseKeys, $iTimeout, $hUser32Dll)
; Parameters ....: $aReleaseKeys        - [in/out] An array of unknowns.
;                  $iTimeout            - An integer value.
;                  $hUser32Dll          - A handle value.
; Return values .: None
; Author ........: iCode
; Modified ......: 25-May-2014
; Remarks .......:
; Related .......:
; Link ..........:
; Example .......: No
; ===============================================================================================================================
Func __ReleaseKeys(ByRef $aReleaseKeys, $iTimeout, $hUser32Dll)
    If $iTimeout < 50 Then $iTimeout = 250
    Local $aRet, $hTimer = TimerInit()
    For $i = 0 To UBound($aReleaseKeys) - 1
        $aRet = DllCall($hUser32Dll, "short", "GetAsyncKeyState", "int", $aReleaseKeys[$i])
        If @error Then Return SetError(1, 0, "Dll call GetAsyncKeyState failed with key: " & $aReleaseKeys[$i])
        If BitAND($aRet[0], 0x8000) <> 0 Then
            Do
                Sleep(100)
                DllCall($hUser32Dll, "int", "keybd_event", "int", $aReleaseKeys[$i], "int", 0, "long", 2, "long", 0)
                If @error Then Return SetError(1, 0, "Dll call keybd_event failed with key: " & $aReleaseKeys[$i])
                $aRet = DllCall($hUser32Dll, "short", "GetAsyncKeyState", "int", $aReleaseKeys[$i])
                If TimerDiff($hTimer) >= $iTimeout Then Return SetError(1, 0, "Time out limit reached")
            Until BitAND($aRet[0], 0x8000) = 0
        EndIf
    Next
EndFunc

Change log...

29-JUN-2014 - changed the order of the parameters for _SendEx, moving $sReleaseKeys to the last position

21-SEP-2014 - in the interest of efficiency, i removed the StringStripWS() function - $sReleaseKeys can no longer have spaces in the string

Edited September 21, 2014 by iCode

[Srex 0]

Would you mind throwing a simple example?
This could be usefull

_SendEx("{A}")

Would just send the key a?

Edited July 19, 2014 by Srex

[iCode 8]

the format is the same as Send()

[guinness 1,455]

It's quite clear it's an extension of Send(). I therefore see no reason to have an example if people are familiar with Send(). If not then they can look in the help file.

[Srex 0]

Thanks for the 2 yeses
It works very well must say great work !