Two programs to recieve keyboard input simultaneously?

[Seb]

Hi,

A tough one here. Does anyone know a way to control 2 or more programs simultaneously? i.e. give focus to two programs?

My brother wants to control two games (full screen), on the same PC, at once, I assume that he only needs one to be maximized at a time, but the trouble is giving focus to one will cut the keyboard off from the other, Any way he can make this work?

[Spaz]

I wouldnt put money on it. Its not like a mouse, where you can make some adjustments. Controlling two games (in your case id assume online) with the same keyboard output wouldnt function correctly.

[mcb2001]

...but the trouble is giving focus to one will cut the keyboard off from the other, Any way he can make this work?

This is absolutely correct, and the reason for this, is that it is the core of your OS which controls who to send the mouse and keyboard input to.

Whenever a mouse is moved, clicked or scrolled - the mouse driver generates a "mouse-event" which is then shipped to the OS, who then gives it to which ever program is:

in focus - both in the queue AND in the area the mouse is moving

listening for it

AND

short down the queue in the processor time queue.

Same counts for keyboard strokes...

This means - ONE event generated = ONE program to get the event.

But with all that said - a NON-original "driver" can actually send the event to more programs, working arround the OS.

The reason for putting the quote marks arround driver, is that it doesn't have to be a driver, but a simpler program, like a keyboard logger, who always forwards the event after registering it.

So my point is, this is actually doable, but i never found a trustworthy program which is able to do so, and it would require quite some skill to get it to work.

[Seb]

Hey,

Thanks for the replies. Ive been looking for programs, none yet, the closest is a program which allows control of multiple PCs with one keyboard/mouse.

Using a keylogger to forward the event is a very clever idea. Ill do a little more work but as you say, it will take some serious skill to make work, ill tell him to use another PC (even if it isnt the best) to run the other instance then get a program/adapter to recreat the keyboard data.

Thanks!