Using Java to send key combinations

Muhammad Khan picture Muhammad Khan · Jan 30, 2013 · Viewed 24.3k times · Source

As per this previous link (How to send keyboard outputs) Java can simulate a key being pressed using the Robot class. However, how could a combination of key presses be simulated? If I wanted to send the combination "alt-123" would this be possible using Robot?

Answer

MadProgrammer picture MadProgrammer · Jan 30, 2013

The simple answer is yes. Basically, you need to wrap the keyPress/Release of the Alt around the other keyPress/Releases

public class TestRobotKeys {

    private Robot robot;

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        new TestRobotKeys();
    }

    public TestRobotKeys() {
        try {
            robot = new Robot();
            robot.setAutoDelay(250);
            robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_ALT);
            robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_1);
            robot.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_1);
            robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_2);
            robot.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_2);
            robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_3);
            robot.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_4);
            robot.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_ALT);
        } catch (AWTException ex) {
            ex.printStackTrace();
        }
    }

}