Keyboard hotkeys (nullsoft or microsoft?)

BKDotCom · 11th October 2001, 03:32

I have a Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro... It's got the "media hotkeys" across the top (play/pause stop prev next..)
There dosn't seem to be anywhere to program these keys yet they worked flawlessly with Winamp 2..

In a nutshell.. will they work with WA3?

dragonstorm · 11th October 2001, 04:00

I'm not sure how it works, but Windows Media Player knows how to use the special play/pause/etc buttons on my keyboard. It's not even the Microsoft keyboard -- just an old Compaq keyboard.

PowerDVD knows about those buttons too, so it's not a Microsoft trick... meaning it should be possible to implement it in Winamp as well.

There are a two or three plugins for Winamp 2 that let it make use of the special keys on a multimedia keyboard. Unfortunately, each of the plugins currently available is designed for a specific model of keyboard, and therefore may not work properly unless you're using the same keyboard the author used. For example, the best plugin I found was for HP keyboards -- it recognizes Play/Pause, Stop, and Eject, but not Next and Previous. (Actually, my keyboard's Search button triggers the Next action in this plugin -- unfortunately, that's the same key Windows XP assigns to the Calculator function. Therefore, if I want to go to the next song using a keyboard shortcut, I would press the Search button, and then press Alt-F4 to close Calculator, which has popped up at the same time.

The other keyboard plugins I tried did even stranger things.)

Anyway, if PowerDVD can do it, Winamp should be able to do it. Or get the plugin authors to figure out how to write the plugin so it works on any keyboard, not just the one they own.

zivan56 · 11th October 2001, 04:14

Will it be possible to use the my Toshiba laptop media keys to control winamp3 ? that would be nice, since it only works in wmp.

BKDotCom · 11th October 2001, 04:49

This page lists what media players are supported and what it takes for them to work
Supported Software for Microsoft Keyboard Hot Keys

It may or may not have something to do with the WM_APPCOMMAND API the page talks about... beats me.

All I know is that I expect the hot keys to work in the finished WA3!

riser · 16th October 2001, 17:57

Most keyboards with multimedia keys these days adhere to a standard PS/2 and USB spec. which defines the multimedia keys... eg. the multimedia keys on my logitech itouch work without drivers, and some of the internet ones launch ie and outlook express by default...
Cheap keyboards would do the same thing.

I've also posted a brief description of what to do to get the logitech itouch software to work with wa3 here ... Tell me if it's not detailed enough...

--John Reisinger

dragonstorm · 17th October 2001, 04:38

My Compaq keyboard doesn't say Logitech on the label. Of course, that doesn't mean it isn't actually a Logitech keyboard -- my computer also insists that it has a "Compaq GD-5000 DVD-ROM" drive, even though I know the GD-5000 is actually made by Hitachi.

In any case, I don't have any special drivers installed for my keyboard. Whatever support I'm getting is part of Windows XP. It may even already be sending the key code to Winamp3, but Winamp3 simply isn't checking for it. (How to get Winamp to see the keypress even while another application has the focus is a challenge I'll leave for someone else.)

MadCap · 17th October 2001, 08:43

'System Hotkeys for Winamp'
should work
but I use 'Instant Disc' on my cordless logitech keyboard with multimedia keys.

both are general plugins for winamp. the last one of them don't exist on winamps pluginspage.
Any plugin that uses ordinary keyboard shortcuts (i.e. ctrl+alt+b) to bind commands should work. try out for yourself!

jarsonic · 18th October 2001, 00:57

System Hotkeys for Winamp

Here you go.

- Jarsonic

11th October 2001, 03:32	#1
BKDotCom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Jenks, OK Posts: 100	Keyboard hotkeys (nullsoft or microsoft?) I have a Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro... It's got the "media hotkeys" across the top (play/pause stop prev next..) There dosn't seem to be anywhere to program these keys yet they worked flawlessly with Winamp 2.. In a nutshell.. will they work with WA3?

11th October 2001, 04:49	#4
BKDotCom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Jenks, OK Posts: 100	To sorta inadiquately answer my own question This page lists what media players are supported and what it takes for them to work Supported Software for Microsoft Keyboard Hot Keys It may or may not have something to do with the WM_APPCOMMAND API the page talks about... beats me. All I know is that I expect the hot keys to work in the finished WA3!

17th October 2001, 08:43	#7
MadCap Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: SWEDEN Posts: 2	try a different plugin 'System Hotkeys for Winamp' should work but I use 'Instant Disc' on my cordless logitech keyboard with multimedia keys. both are general plugins for winamp. the last one of them don't exist on winamps pluginspage. Any plugin that uses ordinary keyboard shortcuts (i.e. ctrl+alt+b) to bind commands should work. try out for yourself!

18th October 2001, 00:57	#8
jarsonic Major Dude Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 1,114	System Hotkeys for Winamp Here you go. - Jarsonic do justly \| love mercy \| walk humbly

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11th October 2001, 04:00	#2
dragonstorm Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 16	I'm not sure how it works, but Windows Media Player knows how to use the special play/pause/etc buttons on my keyboard. It's not even the Microsoft keyboard -- just an old Compaq keyboard. PowerDVD knows about those buttons too, so it's not a Microsoft trick... meaning it should be possible to implement it in Winamp as well. There are a two or three plugins for Winamp 2 that let it make use of the special keys on a multimedia keyboard. Unfortunately, each of the plugins currently available is designed for a specific model of keyboard, and therefore may not work properly unless you're using the same keyboard the author used. For example, the best plugin I found was for HP keyboards -- it recognizes Play/Pause, Stop, and Eject, but not Next and Previous. (Actually, my keyboard's Search button triggers the Next action in this plugin -- unfortunately, that's the same key Windows XP assigns to the Calculator function. Therefore, if I want to go to the next song using a keyboard shortcut, I would press the Search button, and then press Alt-F4 to close Calculator, which has popped up at the same time. The other keyboard plugins I tried did even stranger things.) Anyway, if PowerDVD can do it, Winamp should be able to do it. Or get the plugin authors to figure out how to write the plugin so it works on any keyboard, not just the one they own.

11th October 2001, 04:14	#3
zivan56 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 10	Will it be possible to use the my Toshiba laptop media keys to control winamp3 ? that would be nice, since it only works in wmp.

16th October 2001, 17:57	#5
riser Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 2	Most keyboards with multimedia keys these days adhere to a standard PS/2 and USB spec. which defines the multimedia keys... eg. the multimedia keys on my logitech itouch work without drivers, and some of the internet ones launch ie and outlook express by default... Cheap keyboards would do the same thing. I've also posted a brief description of what to do to get the logitech itouch software to work with wa3 here ... Tell me if it's not detailed enough... --John Reisinger

17th October 2001, 04:38	#6
dragonstorm Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 16	My Compaq keyboard doesn't say Logitech on the label. Of course, that doesn't mean it isn't actually a Logitech keyboard -- my computer also insists that it has a "Compaq GD-5000 DVD-ROM" drive, even though I know the GD-5000 is actually made by Hitachi. In any case, I don't have any special drivers installed for my keyboard. Whatever support I'm getting is part of Windows XP. It may even already be sending the key code to Winamp3, but Winamp3 simply isn't checking for it. (How to get Winamp to see the keypress even while another application has the focus is a challenge I'll leave for someone else.)