5.0 KiB
AutoHotInterception
AutoHotInterception(AHI) allows you to execute AutoHotkey code in response to keys on a specific keyboard, whilst (optionally) blocking the native functionality of that key.
In other words, you can use a key on a second (or third, or fourth..) keyboard to trigger AHK code, and that key will not be seen by applications. You can use the same key on multiple keyboards for individual actions.
AHI uses the Interception driver by Francisco Lopez
WARNING
TAKE CARE when using this code. Because Interception is a driver, and sits below windows proper, blocking with Interception goes so deep that it can even block CTRL+ALT+DEL etc. As such, it is entirely possible to lock up all input, potentially requiring use of the reset button. This is less of an issue whilst AHI does not support mouse blocking, but if/when that happens, the potential is there.
For example, using Subscription Mode with block
enabled will totally block that key from working on that keyboard.
So if you block Ctrl
on your only keyboard, you just blocked CTRL+ALT+DEL.
Be wary of making scripts using this code run on startup. Know how to enter "Safe Mode" in windows and disable startup of the scripts.
As they say - With great power comes great responsibility.
Setup
- Download and install the Interception Driver
- Download a zip from the releases page and extract it to a folder
- Copy the
interception.dll
from the folder where you ran the interecption install into thelib
folder
(You can optionally place the contents of thelib
folder inMy Documents\AutoHotkey\lib
- Edit the example script, enter the VID and PID of your keyboard
- Run the example script
Usage
Initializing the Library
Include the library
#Persistent ; (Interception hotkeys do not stop AHK from exiting, so use this)
#include Lib\AutoHotInterception.ahk
Initialize the library
Interception := AutoHotInterception_Init()
Modes
There are two modes of operation for AHI, and both can be used simultaneously.
Context mode
Context mode is so named as it takes advantage of AutoHotkey's Context Sensitive Hotkeys.
In AHK, you can wrap your hotkeys in a block like so:
#if myVariable == 1
F1::Msgbox You Pressed F1
#if
This hotkey would only fire if the myVariable
was 1.
In context mode, you subscribe to a keyboard, and any time events for that keyboard are just about to happen, AHI fires your callback and passes it 1
. Your code then sets the context variable to 1
which enables the hotkey.
AHI then sends the key, which triggers your hotkey.
AHI then fires the callback once more, passing 0
and the context variable gets set back to 0
, disabling the hotkey.
Step 1
Register your callback with AHI
VID := 0x04F2, PID := 0x0112
Interception.SetContextCallback(VID, PID, Func("SetKb1Context"))
Step 2
Create your callback function, and set the context variable to the value of state
SetKb1Context(state){
global isKeyboard1Active
Sleep 0 ; We seem to need this for hotstrings to work, not sure why
isKeyboard1Active := state
}
Step 3
Create your hotkeys, wrapped in an #if
block for that context variable
#if isKeyboard1Active
::aaa::JACKPOT
1::
ToolTip % "KEY DOWN EVENT @ " A_TickCount
return
1 up::
ToolTip % "KEY UP EVENT @ " A_TickCount
return
#if
Subscription mode
In Subscription mode, you bypass AHK's hotkey system completely, and Interception notifies you of key events via callbacks.
Subscription Mode overrides Context Mode - that is, if a key on a keyboard has been subscribed to with Subscription Mode, then Context Mode will not fire for that key on that keyboard.
Subscribe to a key on a specific keyboard
SubscribeKey(<scanCode>, <block>, <callback>, <VID>, <PID>
VID := 0x04F2, PID := 0x0112
Interception.SubscribeKey(GetKeySC("1"), true, Func("KeyEvent"), VID, PID)
return
Callback function is passed state 0
(released) or 1
(pressed)
KeyEvent(state){
ToolTip % "State: " state
}
Sending Keys
You can send keys as a specific keyboard using the SendKeyEvent
method.
Interception.SendKeyEvent(<scanCode>, <state> [, <keyboardId = 1>])
scanCode = the Scan Code of the key
state = 1 for press, 0 for release
keyboardId = The Interception ID of the keyboard (Leave blank to use 1st keyboard)
Interception.SendKeyEvent(GetKeySC("a"), 1)
VID := 0x04F2, PID := 0x0112
keyboardId := Interception.GetDeviceId(VID, PID)
Interception.SendKeyEvent(GetKeySC("a"), 1, keyboardId)
If you subscribe to a key using Subscription mode with the block
parameter set to true, then send a different key using SendKeyEvent
, you are transforming that key in a way which is totally invisible to windows (And all apps running on it), and it will respond as appropriate. For example, AHK $
prefixed hotkeys will not be able to tell that this is synthetic input, and will respond to it.