WinKeySim -The Windows Keyboard Simulator (freeware)
Click this link to get the latest version (v1.00): WKSim100.zip (761K)
WinKeySim is a freeware program for Windows 95 and later and Windows NT 4.0 and later. WinKeySim gives
keyboard macro support for practically any Windows program that supports keyboard input. Generally speaking,
if it can be done with the keyboard, it can be done with a WinKeySim macro. WinKeySim works by simulating
keystrokes to your target Windows application. The target application believes that the user has manually
typed in the keystrokes using the keyboard when, in fact, the keystrokes are being fed into the keyboard buffer
by WinKeySim.
To use WinKeySim, you create a macro using a very simple scripting language which consists of the characters
you wish WinKeySim to simulate for you and a few simple tags that WinKeySim recognizes as directives, such as the
[!NNN] tag that tells WinKeySim to pause for NNN milliseconds to allow the target application to complete a task.
Some examples are included on this page to give you an idea of what I mean. The online help file contains a
tutorial to get you started creating your macros. You don't have to be a programmer to do this. Trust me, it is
very simple.
Your macros are always available to you via a popup context menu when you right click the mouse on the WinKeySim
icon, which is placed in the System Tray next to the system clock usually located on the lower right hand corner
of the screen in Windows. To use your macro, you select it from the popup context menu and then click on your
target application window where you wish WinKeySim to simulate the keystrokes that you defined in your macro definition.
It is projected that the most common use for WinKeySim will be for creating login scripts. For example,
if your login requires that you enter your username, followed by the tab key, followed by your password,
followed by the enter key, you can create a macro to help automate the process as follows:
(This assumes a username of "johnsmith" and a password of "js123456")
Then, to login to your account, you would just right click on the WinKeySim icon, select your macro, and then
click on the place where you would normally click in order to begin typing in your username. That is just a
simple example. You can do more advanced stuff, too, such as creating a form letter template that can prompt
you to enter data for the embedded elements in the form. As an example of this, suppose you are sending out
invitations to a birthday party to several friends. You could just send the same generic e-mail to all of them or
you could personalize each message with that particular friend's name and any other personal stuff you can think of.
Here is an example of a form letter template script that you might decide to use:
This example is a very short and to the point message. You could get cuter and add a lot more verbiage, even
using that friend's significant other, such as "feel free to bring whomever with you if you like". Your friends
will all think you took the time to write each of them separately. What the heck, I won't tell them if you won't.
Obviously, birthday's only come once a year. Also, the above example is so short that the payoff isn't so great
in terms of time savings. But, if this were a sales letter that you routinely send out to prospective customers,
being able to personalize each letter with the client's first name could be potentially quite lucrative.
Another potential use might be your own address. Instead of typing out your mailing address each time you write
a letter in MS Word, for example, you could have WinKeySim type it out for you at the click of the mouse! You can also
use WinKeySim to create shortcuts to programs using the Start button's Run command. For example, a shortcut to the
Windows calculator program would be
You would use this shortcut by clicking the "Start" button after choosing this macro from the popup context menu.
The "r" brings up the "Run" dialog box. The "calc" is entered into the command box. The "[enter]" simulates
the enter key, which executes the command to bring up the calculator program.
WinKeySim also works as a pretty good browser bookmark list. Here is an example macro for setting up a URL
shortcut:
In the above example, the URL link is for netscape.com's free web-based e-mail, but could be any URL you like.
You use the macro by clicking on the browser's address bar. The macro first ensures that the caret is at
the beginning of the address by simulating the HOME button. Then, SHIFT+END highlights any existing address
bar contents and the DELETE button deletes the current contents. The [!150] tells the computer to pause just
a bit before entering the URL on the next line to allow slower computers to catch up. Then, the macro types in the desired URL and
simulates the ENTER key. You could use the browser's built-in bookmark/favorite list, but this method has the
benefit of being cross-browser compatible. So, if you change browsers you can still retain your bookmarks.
And, multiple users of the same computer can set up their own personal set of bookmarks for increased privacy.
Thank you for your interest in WinKeySim. Please take this time to visit some of my other websites:
Mark's Adding Machine (freeware)
NFLPicker - a java applet that picks NFL games
PowerballPicker - a java applet that shows powerball lotto statistics
Java4Free! - free java web tools for webmasters
E-mail me at MWGANSON AT HOTMAIL.COM (with WinKeySim in the subject line)..