[C/JScript] Send VK_MEDIA_PLAY_PAUSE or CTRL+ALT+HOME

Disclaimer: I am not a programmer. I'm just a helper in the IT of my company. Beware of code I write!

In my work, I had to integrate a Philips pedal with Windows Media Player in the background. Philips driver sends keystrokes to the active window but not to background windows.

The integration is not yet complete, I just did tests on my computer, but I believe that I have an available basic solution.

Let's show the codes.


main.c, send VK_MEDIA_PLAY_PAUSE with SendInput

Code:

/**
 *  SendInput VKMP or VKBB keys
 *
 *  Please use: http://wmpkeys.sourceforge.net/ // Make "Fast Backward" use VK_BROWSER_BACK
 *
 *  @Author:  Fernando Di Ramos
 *     Here is where I hide: https://ofernandofilo.blogspot.com.br/
 *  @License: WTFPL Version 2
 *     SEE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WTFPL
 *
 *  This software was tested only with:
 *     Windows 7 Home Basic, Service Pack 1, 7601, x64, pt_BR [not free]
 *     Windows Media Player 12.0.7601.19148 [not free]
 *     WMP Keys 1.2.0.0 [free]
 */
#define WINVER 0x0601
// SEE: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa383745%28VS.85%29.aspx
// SEE: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff554695%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
#define VK_BROWSER_BACK     0xA6
#define VK_MEDIA_PLAY_PAUSE 0xB3
// SEE: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dd375731%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
#define WSCAN_BROWSER_BACK     0x6A
#define WSCAN_MEDIA_PLAY_PAUSE 0x22
// SEE: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/274333
// SEE: http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/6/1/161ba512-40e2-4cc9-843a-923143f3456c/scancode.doc
#define KEYEVENTF_KEYDOWN   0x0000
#define KEYEVENTF_KEYUP     0x0002
// SEE: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms646271%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
// SEE: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms646280%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
// SEE: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms646281%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
#define nInputs           1 // # of inputs
#define INPUT_MOUSE       0
#define INPUT_KEYBOARD    1
#define INPUT_HARDWARE    2
// SEE: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms646310%28v=vs.85%29.aspx

/**
 * Keyboard Input
 * https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms646267%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
 * https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms646268%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
 *
 * Scancodes Sets
 * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scancode#Scancode_sets
 * https://www.win.tue.nl/~aeb/linux/kbd/scancodes.html
 * https://www.win.tue.nl/~aeb/linux/kbd/scancodes-10.html
 * http://www.quadibloc.com/comp/scan.htm
 *
 */

#include <windows.h>

int main() {
   /**
    * You must define a KEYBDINPUT
    * SEE: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms646271%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
    */
   KEYBDINPUT keybdinput;
   keybdinput.wVk = VK_MEDIA_PLAY_PAUSE;
   keybdinput.wScan = WSCAN_MEDIA_PLAY_PAUSE;
   keybdinput.dwFlags = KEYEVENTF_KEYDOWN;
   keybdinput.time = 0;
   keybdinput.dwExtraInfo = 0;

   /**
    * You must define a LPINPUT/INPUT, which uses KEYBDINPUT
    * SEE: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms646270%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
    */
   LPINPUT lpinput;
   INPUT input;
   input.type = INPUT_KEYBOARD;
   input.ki = keybdinput;
   lpinput = &input;

   /**
    * SendInput function
    * SEE:https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms646310%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
    */
   // SendInput(UINT nInputs,LPINPUT pInputs,int cbSize);
   // Press down
   // SendInput(nInputs,lpinput,sizeof(input));

   // Release key
   keybdinput.dwFlags = KEYEVENTF_KEYUP;
   SendInput(nInputs,lpinput,sizeof(input));

   return 0;
}

/**
 *  Still confuse?
 *     SEE: https://batchloaf.wordpress.com/2012/04/17/simulating-a-keystroke-in-win32-c-or-c-using-sendinput/
 *     SEE: https://batchloaf.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/simulating-a-ctrl-v-keystroke-in-win32-c-or-c-using-sendinput/
 */

sendkeystowmpkeys.js, send CTRL + ALT + HOME, with SendKeys [please, install WMP Keys to work]

Code:

/**
 * WINDOWS SCRIPT JSCRIPT
 *
 * CALL ME:
 *   wscript.exe sendkeystowmpkeys.js
 */
 
var sendtowindows = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell");
// SEND: CTRL + ALT + HOME
sendtowindows.SendKeys("^%{HOME}");

WMP Keys: http ://wmpkeys.sourceforge .net/

Tested in: Windows 7 Home Basic, SP1, 64 bits, pt_BR.
Tested with: Code::Blocks + TDM-GCC (codeblocks-16.01mingw-setup.exe) and -static option in linker.
(Settings > Compiler... > Linker settings > Other linker options: -static)

cheers!