detect if NumLock is OFF and turn it always back ON

Question

What is a method to detect if NumLock is OFF and how to turn it always back ON automatically when my VB APP is running ?

EDIT: My app is dedicated app, running on dedicated computer with external numpad device.

another option would be to ACCEPT NUMPAD ARROW KEYS (etc) and convert these to NUMBERS on fly, is it possible?? (e.g. ignore the numlock off situation and behave as numlock is on)

Answer 1

I'm not sure how you do this specifically in vb.net (a quick google found http://support.microsoft.com/kb/177674), but generally speaking changing machine-wide settings like this is frowned upon: users are accustomed to their individual preference for numlock (or capslock -- or whatever) key state...and you're overriding it.

This would really irritate me.

That said, in circumstances where your app is the only thing running (e.g., POS software, medical office management software, etc) this might be ok.

Answer 2

Physically remove NUMPAD key ?

Answer 3

    Private Declare Sub keybd_event Lib "user32" (ByVal bVk As Byte, ByVal bScan As Byte, ByVal dwFlags As Long, ByVal dwExtraInfo As Long)
    Private Declare Sub Sleep Lib "kernel32" (ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long)
    Private Const KEYEVENTF_KEYUP = &H2
    Const VK_NUMLOCK = &H90
    Const KEYEVENTF_EXTENDEDKEY = &H1
    Declare Function GetKeyState Lib "user32" Alias "GetKeyState" (ByVal ByValnVirtKey As Integer) As Short

 Private Sub numlockON()
        keybd_event(VK_NUMLOCK, 0, 0, 0) ' Press NUMLOCK key down
        keybd_event(VK_NUMLOCK, 0, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP, 0) ' Release it
    End Sub

If Not GetKeyState(VK_NUMLOCK) Then numlockON()