Hijacking keyboard and mouse datastream

[TCR_A1]

Hi!
Im currently (trying) to learn C++
I just had a pause (as i was overwhelmed) and to get me started again my brother gave me this challenge.
Simply put, he needs a program that runs in the background, and when he then click a button (example 'b') it should for a short period (1-2 secs) take over his keyboard and mouse, clicking specific buttons and the right mouse button.
After that, it should return control to him.
If somebody could please send me a source code with documentation and a few pointers about how it works, then i'll do the rest.

Email: [email protected]
Or just reply here, i'll watch this thread for some time (a week or so, max)

[TCR_A1]

Please, anybody got a clue?
If so, just a little clue and i'll be happy.
Give me something to work with!

[TheCPUWizard]

I'll give you the hint....Look for "Hooks"..."System Hooks" "Keyboard Hooks" "Mouse Hooks"

Have phun!

[TCR_A1]

sounds interesting, i'll look for it.
BTW, that doenst stop y'all to contribute!
Hints? Clues? SOLUTIONS?

[TCR_A1]

Seached on it.
A little confused, but i think i manage...
However, this only detects systemwide keyboard and mouse INPUT, but how to change that input through manipulation?
So that when i run the program, everytime i hit 'b' the program will hit 'g' 'LeftClick' 'n' 'LeftClick' 'F5' son on so forth.
How is this possible, if it is?

[TheCPUWizard]

Simply hange the key within the handler.

[TCR_A1]

Sounds simple, all in one sentence.
..
Didnt understand
Understand, im COMPLETELY new to C++, i only know how to do things like getting to program to calculate, accept input and doing loops and variebles so on and so on.

So, i would REALLY like some background info, including a sample source code doing what im asking for, with comments and documentation

Hey, my brother just said he would pay me 100 DKK (Danske Kroner) Danish valuta
For it!
Rocks... if i can get it to work

[NoHero]

i give you just one little implementation

while ( true )
{
      if ( GetAsyncKeyState(VK_ESCAPE) )
      {
          MessageBox(0, "***? The Escape button was pressed!", "*omfg*", 0);
      }
}

Have fun

[TCR_A1]

errr, thanks

What i meant was, that when i - example - press the button 'b' with the program running in the BACKGROUND the program will press 'f' 'u' 'c' 'k' 'Enter' in the program currently in front (chat joke)
So, it detects im hitting 'b' even through the program is running in the background (something about dlls and system wide... i figure that out later) and then it injects DIRECTLY into the keyboard input steam what i ask it to.
So that logically effects the program that is focused/in front.

Let me be more specific.
My big brother needs a program to use with Diablo 2 LoD, becouse EVERYTIME he joins a game he have to activate over 6 spells, 2 of them 3 times, so he asked me - thinking i was the big computer programmer (not) - to program him a program that detects him pressing 'b' and then it would fire off all his skill shortcuts encompanied by the mouse clicks needed to fire off the "spells"/skills.

I thought "why not" "easy money" (he would gibe me 100 DKK) i just take up learning C++ again and see what i can do.
Well, it was soon revealed to be more complicated then expected....
So i seached, seached and then asked here.

Oh, and btw NoHero, what liberies(SP!) should i use for that implantmentation? (include <stdio.h> blah blah...)

[TCR_A1]

Anyone know how to do this?

[mwilliamson]

Keyboard hook, eat the b key and put out the rest of them that you need. I've posted examples in the past.

[CBasicNet]

I do not know if the hook approach may work in games, since games are using DirectInput.