How to Simulate keyboard key inputs?

I am interested in simulating a keyboard input using .m code.

How would I go about simulating typing and other keyboard inputs?

Similar to this, but with the keyboard instead of the mouse.

http://www.mathworks.com/support/solutions/en/data/1-2X10AT/index.html?solution=1-2X10AT

Thanks,

Kevin

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

Java Robot class.

[Paulo Silva]

%Example

import java.awt.Robot;

import java.awt.event.*;

SimKey=Robot;

SimKey.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_P);

[Matt Fig]

I like this example better:

import java.awt.Robot;

import java.awt.event.*;

SimKey=Robot;

SimKey.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_W);

SimKey.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_H);

SimKey.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_Y);

SimKey.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_ENTER);

[Paulo Silva]

import java.awt.Robot;

import java.awt.event.*;

SimKey=Robot;

SimKey.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_S);

SimKey.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_P);

SimKey.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_Y);

SimKey.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_ENTER);

[Paulo Silva]

execute my code and Matt code on the command line of matlab (not in a script) :)

[Walter Roberson]

In theory shouldn't you also be sending virtual key release events?

[Walter Roberson]

ying xing FENG commented "It works for text. But not for other active windows other than Matlab. For eg. on screen key borad. Any idea? "

[Jan]

Walter: http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/29594-textinject

Answer 2

[Garrett Cassidy]

Does anyone know how to emulate a ; or a \ ? I can emulate keystrokes, but the ‘VK_OEM_1´input to keyPress is undefined.

Thanks

Answer 3

[Kevin]

Haha, nice.

Why does SimKey.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_w); now work for undercase w? Is there a full list of keyboard inputs I can reference?

What is "VK" referencing to?

[Paulo Silva]

http://download.oracle.com/javase/1.3/docs/api/java/awt/event/KeyEvent.html#KEY_PRESSED

I think VK means virtual key but I'm not sure

[Jan]

KeyEvent.VK_W is the [W] key - there is no upper or lower case *key*! You need the [Shift] key to create uppercase characters:

robot.keyPress(java.awt.event.KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT)

robot.keyPress(java.awt.event.KeyEvent.VK_W)

robot.keyRelase(java.awt.event.KeyEvent.VK_W)

robot.keyRelease(java.awt.event.KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT)

Remember: It is only a robot and it s(t)imulates the keyboard...

Answer 4

[ali]

Hi Paulo,

regarding"execute my code and Matt code on the command line of matlab (not in a script) :)"

I am going to kill an running script through simulating Ctrl+C which is written as a function like this:

import java.awt.Robot; import java.awt.event.*; SimKey=Robot; SimKey.keyPress(java.awt.event.KeyEvent.VK_CONTROL); SimKey.keyPress(java.awt.event.KeyEvent.VK_C); SimKey.keyRelease(java.awt.event.KeyEvent.VK_CONTROL);

how can I call it? when I call this function it does not work? Thanks, Ali

[Walter Roberson]

Don't forget to release the VK_C

Answer 5

[Amirhosein Ghenaati]

hello i want to execute kmplayer then first launch kmplayer then use java robot to push space it will open media folder. my program stop when kmp starts and and when i terminates kmp space chracter will be printed in editor. here is my simple program and i dont know whats problem please help me in this situation

import java.awt.Robot
import java.awt.event.*
keys = Robot;
keys.setAutoDelay(1000)  
[status currdir] = system('cd C:\Users\IranZamin\Documents\MATLAB\temporary');
[status result] = system('KMPlayer.lnk');

keys.keyPress(java.awt.event.KeyEvent.VK_SPACE ) 
keys.keyRelease(java.awt.event.KeyEvent.VK_SPACE ) 
keys.waitForIdle

Answer 6

[Amirhosein Ghenaati]

i tried to make exe version of key pressing with robot class but my exe file doesn't work and i dont know what i couldnt find relative .jar file for java robot class whats its name ?