How to simulate a Ctrl A + Ctrl C using keybd_event

Question

How to simulate a Ctrl-A + Ctrl-C using keybd_event?

Because I am simulating a ctrl a + ctrl c on a webbrowser form to copy the entire contents on clipboard. i used the SendKeys.SendWait but it is not copying the entire contents!

Solution

This should work

[DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
static extern void keybd_event(byte bVk, byte bScan, int dwFlags, int dwExtraInfo);

public const int KEYEVENTF_KEYDOWN = 0x0000; // New definition
public const int KEYEVENTF_EXTENDEDKEY = 0x0001; //Key down flag
public const int KEYEVENTF_KEYUP = 0x0002; //Key up flag
public const int VK_LCONTROL = 0xA2; //Left Control key code
public const int A = 0x41; //A key code
public const int C = 0x43; //C key code

public static void PressKeys()
{
    // Hold Control down and press A
    keybd_event(VK_LCONTROL, 0, KEYEVENTF_KEYDOWN, 0);
    keybd_event(A, 0, KEYEVENTF_KEYDOWN, 0);
    keybd_event(A, 0, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP, 0);
    keybd_event(VK_LCONTROL, 0, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP, 0);

    // Hold Control down and press C
    keybd_event(VK_LCONTROL, 0, KEYEVENTF_KEYDOWN, 0);
    keybd_event(C, 0, KEYEVENTF_KEYDOWN, 0);
    keybd_event(C, 0, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP, 0);
    keybd_event(VK_LCONTROL, 0, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP, 0);
}

Comments

[default]

what is it that you actually want to do?

[jith10]

Hi Bali thanks a lot for your post. I guess in any other case this would have worked. But in my case the browser control is only considering the first logical ‘grouping’ of html… maybe its hitting the next ‘anchor’ and that is causing it not to copy all...!!! Got to look in depth.. thanks a ton!! I will keep this post updated as and when i get a solution...

[GravityWell]

Note that KEYEVENTF_EXTENDEDKEY is not key down. There is no define for key down. Use 0 (or make your own define).

[Gerard]

keybd_event(C, 0, 0, 0); keybd_event(C, 0, 2, 0); works for me.