How to create an application that listens to windows events?

Question

How do i write a windows application that listens to particular keys strokes to launch it! just the way google desktop app works,press ctrl twice and it pop up!

I would prefer examples in delphi, but i dont mind other languages to!

For starters i assume it should be a service running in windows (i can be able to create a service application)

Gath

Answer 1

You could write it as a service if you wish with its own message pump, capturing all windows messages, checking those that are related to key presses and not passing them on to the default message handler.

My Delphi is very rusty (version 4), so I can't say how to do it.

An easy alternative to writing a service, in C# would be to set an application form with Opacity of 0%, KeyPreview = True and ShowInTaskbar=False.

Maybe your version of Delphi has something similar.

Answer 2

make a service that install global keyboard hook .

Answer 3

http://www.delphitricks.com/source-code/windows/install_a_keyboard_hook.html

http://delphi.about.com/od/windowsshellapi/a/keyboard_hook.htm

Answer 4

You are probably better off registering a hotkey instead of installing a gobal keyboard hook:

http://delphi.about.com/cs/adptips2001/a/bltip0601_3.htm

Answer 5

See HotKeyManager at: http://subsimple.com/delphi.asp