Stroker for Windows Version 1.0 (the cheap version)

Stroker is a great tool for automating, training and demonstrating Windows applications.

Why Stroker was written:  To do the things that Recorder doesn't yet.

Stroker is a Visual Basic application that automatically starts a Windows (not Dos under Windows) application, reads the contents of a ".key" file and pumps those (Keystrokes (up to 20 in version 1.0 The "cheap version")) into that application.

Simple,  right?  Right.

And another reason I wrote this.
This program has a timing option (in seconds) that delays the
keystrokes if you find it necessary.
And even another reason, you cannot start an application directly by using Recorder because Recorder doesn't start itself.

And lastly, with the wife out of work (hey Clinton, when was the last time your family had their income cut in half ?) and the second baby on the way, the squeeze is on.
That's the "Pitiful Plea".
So if you can help, a Mr. Lincoln would be greatly appreciated or whatever you can find in the couch cushions.

Keith D'Amore
P.O. Box 1351
North Wales, Pa. 19454


O.K.  so how does it work ?


First:

Place Stroker.exe and Vbrun200.dll into your Windows directory


Second:

Create a file with Notepad, Edit, Copy con or your favorite text editor with the same name as the application it is intended for, but with the extension ".key".  Separate each character by a comma, line or quotes.
The first line should contain a number.  This number is the # of seconds that Stroker will wait between keystrokes.  Any number including 0 is acceptable.
The remaining file contents should contain the same characters that you would normally be typing into that application. The ".key"  file should be in the same directory as "Stroker.exe" .

NOTE:  There is a list of special characters that follows like Alt = "%" and Control = "^" to name a few.


Third and finally:

From the Windows Run command, type the following :

   Stroker xxxx (where "xxxx" is the application name (including path))

such as "Stroker notepad", the ".exe" extension is assumed.

To automate the process, refer to your Windows manual or local Guru to create an Icon and put it in the Startup Group.

What happens:

1) Stroker appears at the bottom of the screen with my "Pitiful Plea" for 5 seconds (just long enough to read the advertisement)
   At the bottom of the form is "Starting xxxx" where "xxxx" is the application name that Stroker has read from the command line.  If you see Stroker "" something is wrong or you didn't type the app name. 

2) The first character is read (hopefully you remembered that this has to be a number for the timing function).  This is the seconds delay.

3) The remainder of the ".key" file characters are sent to the application delayed by the # of seconds as noted above.

4) Stroker terminates

5) You love this so much that you send us $5.00 and receive the latest version (Advanced Stroker v2.0) that doesn't have the Pitiful Plea and 5 second delay.

Note:

I purposely left out the Multitasking options (DoEvents) because it was impossible to know the exact Window Task List Name without making you type it in the ".key file" and this version is supposed to be simple and easy.  Therefore avoid interacting with Windows while Stroker is running.  So don't loose it while Stroker is running and all you get is an Hourglass and a locked keyboard.
The advanced version will have this option.

Advanced Version 2.0 has some of the following features:

1) Complete source code.
2) Unlimited keystrokes.
3) Multiple Timing options (set different seconds delay between strokes if desired (good for demonstrations and training)).
4) Multitasking (allow Windows to process other applications).
5) Other features as I can work them in between diaper changes.  Thanks to everyone who has contributed suggestions so far.
 

"The List":  These are special character codes that are recognized by Stroker. 

KEY:         CODE:                 KEY:              CODE

Backspace    {BACKSPACE},or {BS}   Break             {BREAK}
Caps Lock    {CAPSLOCK}            Clear             {CLEAR}
Del          {DELETE}, or {DEL}    Down Arrow        {DOWN}
End          {END}                 Enter             {ENTER}
Esc          {ESCAPE}              Help              {HELP}
Home         {HOME}                Insert            {INSERT}
Left Arrow   {LEFT}                Num Lock          {NUMLOCK}
Page Down    {PGDN}                Page Up           {PGUP}
Print Screen {PRTSC}               Right Arrow       {RIGHT}
Scroll Lock  {SCROLLLOCK}          Tab               {TAB}
Up Arrow     {UP}                  F1 - F16          {F1} - {F16}
ALT           %                    CTRL                ^

Special notes:

The Control and Alt keys are a little different.  To send a 'ALT F', the ".key" file line should look like this: "%f" and similiarly to close a Windows application with an ALT F4, "%{F4}"

Sincerely hope that you find this program as useful as I have. 
 

Error messages:       Meaning/Solution:

Cannot find file      The application or ".key" file are not in the path or current directory.  Correct path or move the ".key" file to the same directory as Stroker.exe