Recording & Outputting Key Presses

[primer]

this isnt for anything malicious or anything but is it possible to have an au3 script record how long i hold down which key and when, and then output it. Basically, i want it to simulate my exact key patterns and then duplicate them. it would have to be in the background while recording also, because i need to have focus on another window. is that possible?

[TheCuz]

What it is going to be used for?

Do be aware that key loggers of any type are frowned upon and will you not get much help.

[primer]

for my personal use to automate a video game

i could use a stop-watch to record how long i pres each key and then code it from there, but this way seems much easier and more precise

[primer]

ok, this is what im trying to do. i only need to record these four keys

HotKeySet("{W}","wfunc()")
HotKeySet("{S}","sfunc()")
HotKeySet("{A}","afunc()")
HotKeySet("{D}","dfunc()")

Func wfunc()
    $begin = TimerInit()
    While _IsPressed("{w}","user32.dll")
        $dif = TimerDiff($begin)
    WEnd
    MsgBox(0, "W Key: " + $dif/1000 + " seconds.", "W")
EndFunc

Func sfunc()
    $begin = TimerInit()
    While _IsPressed("{s}","user32.dll")
        $dif = TimerDiff($begin)
    WEnd
    MsgBox(0, "S Key: " + $dif/1000 + " seconds.", "S")
EndFunc

Func afunc()
    $begin = TimerInit()
    While _IsPressed("{a}","user32.dll")
        $dif = TimerDiff($begin)
    WEnd
    MsgBox(0, "A Key: " + $dif/1000 + " seconds.", "A")
EndFunc

Func dfunc()
    $begin = TimerInit()
    While _IsPressed("{d}","user32.dll")
        $dif = TimerDiff($begin)
    WEnd
    MsgBox(0, "D Key: " + $dif/1000 + " seconds.", "D")
EndFunc

but it doesnt work

[hearurscream]

What you're doing wrong is quite simple, however, this script could easily be turned into a keylogger by changing just a few things.

Without any permission from the administration I will refrain from contributing to your project, be it a keylogger or not.

I hope you understand this, as your post count does not add any credibility to your position.

[primer]

i absolutely understand, but how much could I possibly record from 4 keys?

also, i run into another problem. how would I record the time in between the key presses, when no key is pressed. i look more at the _IsPressed function and realized im doing it wrong. came up with this:

expandcollapse popup

HotKeySet("{W down}","wfunc()")
HotKeySet("{S down}","sfunc()")
HotKeySet("{A down}","afunc()")
HotKeySet("{D down}","dfunc()")

HotKeySet("{W up}","wfunc2()")
HotKeySet("{S up}","sfunc2()")
HotKeySet("{A up}","afunc2()")
HotKeySet("{D up}","dfunc2()")

Func wfunc()
    $wbegin = TimerInit()
EndFunc

Func wfunc2()
    $wdif = TimerDiff($wbegin)
    MsgBox(0, "W Key: " + $wdif/1000 + " seconds.", "W")
EndFunc

Func sfunc()
    $sbegin = TimerInit()
EndFunc

Func sfunc2()
    $sdif = TimerDiff($sbegin)
    MsgBox(0, "S Key: " + $sdif/1000 + " seconds.", "S")
EndFunc

Func afunc()
    $abegin = TimerInit()
EndFunc

Func afunc2()
    $adif = TimerDiff($abegin)
    MsgBox(0, "A Key: " + $adif/1000 + " seconds.", "A")
EndFunc

Func dfunc()
    $dbegin = TimerInit()
EndFunc

Func dfunc2()
    $ddif = TimerDiff($dbegin)
    MsgBox(0, "D Key: " + $ddif/1000 + " seconds.", "D")
EndFunc

[primer]

not sure what i can do to convince you its not a keylogger. A keylogger seems like it would be more feasible because I wouldn't have to worry about timing and how long W,A,S or D are held down.

[Helge]

Oh my... I don't have time to point every error in the code your showed, but here are something to look at :

Wrong : HotKeySet("{W down}","wfunc()")

Correct : HotKeySet("w","wfunc")

Wrong : MsgBox(0, "W Key: " + $wdif/1000 + " seconds.", "W")

Correct : MsgBox(0, "W Key: " & $wdif/1000 & " seconds.", "W")

Notes :

- Study the helpfile, it's comments and examples while keeping both eyes open. Don't guess.

- Try to learn the basics of the language before asking questions in a forum.

That's all I have time for...

[primer]

Wrong : HotKeySet("{W down}","wfunc()")

Correct : HotKeySet("w","wfunc")

not according to the documentation

HotKeySet ( "key" [, "function"] )

Key - The key(s) to use as the hotkey. Same format as Send().

If you mean the function calls () then yea I goofed up on that.

I understand my syntax knowledge is shaky with this language, but thats not what I'm asking for help with. I can read the documentation for that. I do not understand the... logic, i guess, to accomplishing this task in AutoIt

Edited January 3, 2007 by primer

[SmOke_N]

not according to the documentation

HotKeySet ( "key" [, "function"] )

Key - The key(s) to use as the hotkey. Same format as Send().

If you mean the function calls () then yea I goofed up on that.

I understand my syntax knowledge is shaky with this language, but thats not what I'm asking for help with. I can read the documentation for that. I do not understand the... logic, i guess to accomplishing this task in AutoIt

Hmm, not according to the documentation?

Where do you get {W Down} from "key"? Helge is correct in your syntax being a tad more than shaky. You should learn the syntax properly before trying to address logic issues. (and do you're home work before trying to say you are correct)

Edit:

I should state about the "Same as Send format" as you are only clicking the key for HotKeySet() not holding them down in order to activate them, so it is like "Send" in that aspect, but you will only use "literal" keys.

Edited January 3, 2007 by SmOke_N

[hearurscream]

I will help you with this, but I'm not giving you a working example. I'm using your first example of code as it was closer to the target.

First of all, in order to use the _IsPressed() Function, you must include Misc.au3.

So add

#include <misc.au3>
oÝ÷ ÚÚ2¢êÜ¡×yÊ'u.ë-¢§¶VÞ~ÞÊj{¬z+ZºÚ"µÍÌÍÙQÜ[  ][ÝÝÙÌ  ][ÝÊNÝÚXÚ]ÝHÛÜÙY]H[ÙHÙÜ[BÛÜÙJ    ÌÍÙ
B

Third: you cannot put {w} and {s} when your communicating with a DLL. They must be referenced by their corresponding hex values.

Refer to the help file under _IsPressed() for more information.

Fourth: Replace the "User32.dll" in your _IsPressed() functions to $DLL as it references the open DLL file.

Fifth: Move the $dif=TimerDiff($begin) to the outside of the While-WEnd loop. As it stands now, the user presses the key, and it enters the loop which immediately stops the timer, whence on the outside, it waits until the key is no longer pressed, and then it evaluates the difference in the timer.

These should be a couple steps to help you on your way, provided that this is NOT, and will not be used for a keylogger.

Edited January 3, 2007 by hearurscream

[primer]

im still a bit lost unfortunately

[hearurscream]

Elaborate please.

"im still a bit lost unfortunately" tells us nothing.

Can you post anything that you have changed, if you have at all?

[xcal]

#include <misc.au3>

HotKeySet('{esc}', 'quit')

While 1
    If _IsPressed(57) Then keytimer(57)
    If _IsPressed(53) Then keytimer(53)
    If _IsPressed(41) Then keytimer(41)
    If _IsPressed(44) Then keytimer(44)
    Sleep(50)
WEnd

Func keytimer($key)
    $s_timer = TimerInit()
    Do
        ;Sleep(50)  ;may want a small sleep here for cpu cycles
    Until Not _IsPressed($key)
    ConsoleWrite(@CRLF & 'key ' & $key & ' held for ' & StringFormat('%.2f', TimerDiff($s_timer) / 1000) & ' secs')
EndFunc

Func quit()
    MsgBox(0, '', 'Exiting...', 1)
    Sleep(1000)
    Exit
EndFunc