Digital Workshop

Hi! - Im using a touch screen originally developed by Brendon Knifton as a base for my own touch screen keyboard.

I have a question regarding output. - is it possible to ( while using a touch screen ) to have what you are typing actually be inserted in other programs?.

For example, - if you were to open say.....note pad ( for example ) and type using the virtual keypad.... whatever you type appears in notepad? - ( instead of an output window as it does at the moment.)

Is this possible at all?

Many thanks in advance

Nope -- you are getting into Chat type apps and probably needing to use something like sockets.
Opus can't do this directly.

cheers
Paul

? I would say yes - but only via scripting (so this should be in the advanced area)
If you search google you will find a few people have used windows .dll (or created their own) files to create this in visual basic and C++ etc.
Opus can call .dll files, so I can't see why opus wouldn't be able to do this?

http://yortondotnet.blogspot.com/2006/1 ... oards.html
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/miscctrl/ ... board.aspx

If you not looking for anything too complicated then the program recommend by Reemski in another post - AutoIT - will work.

Use the attached IMP, open a notepad file (in notepad) and launch the IMP. then simply click the buttons.

It works by launching the EXE with the parameter of the the required key press - see AutoIT help (send()) for all codes. The EXE is a very simple AutoIT compiled script. It simply activates a specified class (in this case Notepad) and uses the send function to pass a key code to the activated notepad window.

With more playing, and code, it might even be possible to cause notepad to stay active as suggested in Jez's links.

Have a play and let us know how you get on. If it works well enough, other AutoIT scriptwriters might chip in with a more efficient script (as I only discovered the program yesterday ) which would benefit all using the touch screen concept.

Mack

Since we can use 3rd party tools with Opus you can probably write to any open text windows, including Office documents like .doc and .xls.
You can also use vbs scripts to get more functionality with Office Applications including Outlook.
I'd be careful with AutoIT as it occasionally gives false positives with some AV's. I seem to remember that AVG was the main offender, especially if the exe's were compressed.

Paul

I've altered Mack's example to use a .vbs script instead of AutoIT.
Open Notepad, then use the send2.imp as before. It will call and run the send.vbs file with a suitable parameter for each button clicked.

VBscripts can be very powerful and you can do a lot with them, including send parameters to a .vbs file. You might be able to use them instead of DLL's in some cases. XP and Vista should run vbs scripts without problems as the Windows Scripting Host is installed by default.

It's easy to edit .vbs files, just right click them and click "edit".

I've enclosed openNP.vbs that will open up a notepad window if doubled clicked.

Paul

Mack,
that Autoit "send.zip" file you posted is being flagged by AVG Internet Security (latest definitions) as a virus.

Probably a false positive but might pay to check it out.

Paul

UPDATE::

This is weird -- 3hrs later AVG considers it OK.

Paul

Here is a good site if you need an on screen keyboard for very little cost or ideas

http://www.comfort-software.com/on-screen-keyboard.html

Hi Paul,

It seems fine but then false positives are always going to be problem with script based solutions.

AutoIT & VBS are great for free personal solutions but I'd never use them for a professional project. With Opus' DLL feature - this would be my preferred method.

Mack