https://github.com/foundata/chocolatey-sendkeys.extension
A Chocolatey extension providing helper functions to send keystrokes to the active application window. These functions may be used in Chocolatey install and uninstall scripts.
https://github.com/foundata/chocolatey-sendkeys.extension
automation chocolatey chocolatey-community-repository keystrokes powershell send-keys user32dll
Last synced: about 2 months ago
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A Chocolatey extension providing helper functions to send keystrokes to the active application window. These functions may be used in Chocolatey install and uninstall scripts.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/foundata/chocolatey-sendkeys.extension
- Owner: foundata
- Created: 2023-06-02T18:46:10.000Z (over 2 years ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2025-02-17T15:15:28.000Z (8 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-08-18T17:55:29.730Z (about 2 months ago)
- Topics: automation, chocolatey, chocolatey-community-repository, keystrokes, powershell, send-keys, user32dll
- Language: PowerShell
- Homepage:
- Size: 31.3 KB
- Stars: 7
- Watchers: 1
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 2
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- Changelog: CHANGELOG.md
- Contributing: CONTRIBUTING.md
- License: LICENSES/Apache-2.0.txt
- Security: SECURITY.md
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README
# Send-Keys extension for Chocolatey (helper to send keystrokes to a window) (`sendkeys.extension`)
**This project is *not* associated with the official [Chocolatey](https://chocolatey.org/) product or team, nor with [Chocolatey Software, Inc.](https://chocolatey.org/contact/).**
A [Chocolatey extension](https://docs.chocolatey.org/en-us/features/extensions) providing helper functions to send keystrokes to the active application window. These functions may be used in Chocolatey install and uninstall scripts by declaring this package a dependency in your package's `.nuspec`.
## Installation
As the package is an extension, it gets usually installed automatically as a dependency. However, you can still install it manually:
```console
choco install sendkeys.extension
```
## Usage
To create a package with the ability to use a function from this extension, add the following to your `.nuspec` specification:
```xml
```
It is possible to import the module directly in your `PS >`, so you can try out the main functionality directly:
```powershell
# import the modules
Import-Module "${env:ChocolateyInstall}\helpers\chocolateyInstaller.psm1"
Import-Module "${env:ChocolateyInstall}\extensions\sendkeys\*.psm1"
# get a list of all functions
Get-Command -Module 'sendkeys.extension'
# get help and examples for a specific function
Get-Help Send-Keys -Detailed
# See https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.windows.forms.sendkeys.send
# for a list of codes to specify characters that aren't displayed or represent
# actions rather than characters (like ENTER, DOWN or TAB).
# Send the keystrokes "ABC" to the currently active window; wait 2 seconds
# afterwards
Send-Keys -Keys 'ABC'
# Bring the first window that contains the name 'foo' to the front, focus it
# and send different keystrokes to it. By default, the functions waits two
# seconds after each keystroke.
Send-Keys -Keys 'a' -Query 'foo' # send a; wait 2 seconds
Send-Keys -Keys '{TAB}' -Query 'foo' # send tab; wait 2 seconds
Send-Keys -Keys ' ' -Query 'foo' # sends space bar; wait 2 seconds
Send-Keys -Keys '{ENTER}' -Query 'foo' -Delay @(0, 5) # send enter; wait 5 seconds
Send-Keys -Keys '%A' -Query 'foo' # send ALT + A; wait 2 seconds
Send-Keys -Keys '%w' -Query 'foo' # send ALT + w; wait 2 seconds
Send-Keys -Keys 'abC{TAB}D' -Query 'foo' # send a, b, C, tab, D; wait 2 seconds
# Bring the first window that starts with the name 'bar' to the front, focus it
# and send different keystrokes to it. By default, the functions waits two
# seconds after each keystroke.
Send-Keys -Keys 'a' -Query '^bar.+$' # send a; wait 2 seconds
Send-Keys -Keys '{DOWN}' -Query '^bar.+$' # send down; wait 2 seconds
```
But keep in mind that functions of Chocolatey extension may only work correctly in the context of Chocolatey install and uninstall scripts.
## Licensing, copyright
Copyright (c) 2023, 2024 foundata GmbH (https://foundata.com)
This project is licensed under the Apache License 2.0 (SPDX-License-Identifier: `Apache-2.0`), see [`LICENSES/Apache-2.0.txt`](LICENSES/Apache-2.0.txt) for the full text.
The [`REUSE.toml`](REUSE.toml) file provides detailed licensing and copyright information in a human- and machine-readable format. This includes parts that may be subject to different licensing or usage terms, such as third-party components. The repository conforms to the [REUSE specification](https://reuse.software/spec/). You can use [`reuse spdx`](https://reuse.readthedocs.io/en/latest/readme.html#cli) to create a [SPDX software bill of materials (SBOM)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_Package_Data_Exchange).
[](https://api.reuse.software/info/github.com/foundata/chocolatey-sendkeys.extension)
## Author information
This Chocolatey extension was created and is maintained by [foundata](https://foundata.com/). If you like it, you might [buy them a coffee](https://buy-me-a.coffee/chocolatey-sendkeys.extension/). This is a community project and *not* associated with the official [Chocolatey](https://chocolatey.org/) product or team, nor with [Chocolatey Software, Inc.](https://chocolatey.org/contact/).