Sends keystrokes to a window that you specify or the window that is currently in focus. After you have opened an application programmatically, you can use this action to access menu commands using shortcut, or hot, keys, such as ALT + F to open the File menu. Send Keystrokes is one of the most powerful actions for manipulating applications.
Target
Specifies the window to send the keystrokes to. There are two choices:
| • | Current Window - the keystrokes are sent to the currently focused window. |
| • | Specified Window - the specified window will be focused and the keystrokes are sent to it. |
Part of Window Caption
Enter the caption, or part of the caption, of the window to send keystrokes to. This option is available only when you the Specified Window option is selected.
Fixed Window
Click this check box when you want to prevent a user from switching windows during the time that the action runs.
Keystrokes
Specifies the keystrokes that the action sends to the window. For the alpha-numeric characters, type these keys on the keyboard. For the special keys, such as Esc, F11, Left Arrow Key, and Ctrl+Alt+A, click the Insert a Key button.
Insert a Key
Click this button to insert special keys such as Esc, F11, Left Arrow Key, and Ctrl+Alt+A. You can also insert a pause between keystrokes to give time for program operations, such as opening a file.
Variable
Allows you to add a variable to the action or triggering event that you selected. You must place the cursor in a edit box in the settings dialog window of the action or event and then click the {V} button.
Standard keys for GDI windows
When you work with emulated key presses, we recommend that you use standard key combinations for controlling dialog boxes. These combinations work in most dialog boxes in Windows applications and you will not have to use the mouse.
Tab – move to the next control element of the dialog box;
Shift-Tab – move to the previous control element of the dialog box;
ESC – the same as a click on the Cancel button in most cases;
Enter – the same as a click on the OK button in most cases;
Ctrl-Tab – move to the next tab if the dialog box contains tabs;
Ctrl-Shift-Tab - move to the previous tab;
Key combinations
Ctrt |
- ^(<Letter>) , e.g. Ctrl-S -> ^(S) |
Alt |
- %(<Letter>) , e.g. Alt-W -> %(W) |
Shift |
- +(<Letter>) , e.g. Shift-W -> +(W) |
Win |
- #(<Letter>) , e.g. Win-E -> #(E) |
How to simulate reserved symbols: ^ % + # { } ( )
You can do this by using Shift combinations, like this
^ |
- Shift-6 , i.e. +(6) |
% |
- Shift-5 , i.e. +(5) |
+ |
- Shift-= , i.e. +(=) |
# |
- Shift-3 , i.e. +(3) |
{ |
- Shift-[ , i.e. +([) |
} |
- Shift-] , i.e. +(]) |
( |
- Shift-9 , i.e. +(9) |
) |
- Shift-0 , i.e. +(0) |
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