Windows - Map a Keyboard Key to the Same Action as Left Mouse Button

Question

Is the a programmatic way (or something more simple) to map some keyboard key to the same action windows-wide as the left mouse button in Windows XP / Vista. If programmatic is there a way to do this in .NET 2.0 (or greater)?

Solution 1

There is a programmatic way, and it is possible in C# with a global hook. But I find tools like AutoHotkey, which were made for this sort of thing, are much quicker to get up and running. The scripts can also be compiled to executables.

Solution 2

You could also turn on Accessibility MouseKeys via the Accessibility Options

Comments

[BuddyJoe]

is it me? I turned this ON on Windows Vista and couldn't figure out how to make it do anything different. with the num lock on and off.

[BuddyJoe]

This is awesome. Had to post to the AHK Forums to get the correct syntax. see: autohotkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=41375

[BuddyJoe]

If you compile the scripts to executables, does that mean you can distribute "your" AHKs to someone who doesn't have AHK installed?

[John T]

yes, that's exactly what the compiler's for. From the front page - "Convert any script into an EXE file that can be run on computers that don't have AutoHotkey installed."

[AFOC]

This is the best option, it's built in, intended for this very thing and works great. Once it is activated, ALT + SHIFT + NUMLOCK turns it on & off, 5 is left click, 0 is hold left (press 5 to stop holding), * switches to right click, / switches back