Flash NumLock light

[WhiteAvenger]

Hi,

is it possible to flash the NumLock light on my laptop?

I remember that an MSN Messnger Plus! script had the option to flash the NumLk and ScrlLk lights to alert you of new messages.

But is it possible in AutoIt?

Thanks,

--WhiteAvenger

[bluerein]

while 1
send("{NUMLOCK}")
sleep(100)
wend

[PsaltyDS]

Hi,

is it possible to flash the NumLock light on my laptop?

I remember that an MSN Messnger Plus! script had the option to flash the NumLk and ScrlLk lights to alert you of new messages.

But is it possible in AutoIt?

Thanks,

--WhiteAvenger

Kind of overkill, but I had to look up how to check the original state of the NUMLOCK before toggling it, and that lead me a useful idea for flashing the LED.

Behold, the _SendMorse() UDF:

expandcollapse popup

While 1
    $sInput = InputBox("Morse Code", "Enter string to send: ")
    If @error Then ExitLoop
    If _SendMorse($sInput) = 0 Then
        MsgBox(16, "Error", "_SendMorse() returned 0 (error)" & @CRLF & _
                "@error = " & @error & @CRLF & _
                "@extended = " & @extended)
    EndIf
WEnd


; -------------------------------------------------------------------
; Function:  _SendMorse
; Purpose:  Sends morse code by beeps and flashing NUMLOCK
; Syntax:   _SendMorse($sString [, $iBaseTime])
; Where:        $sString = ASCII string to send
;               $iBaseTime = Base time for speed, default = 50 (miliseconds)
; Return:   On success returns 1.
;           On failure returns 0 and sets @error:
;               1 = Input is not ASCII
;               2 = Input has invalid ASCII characters (@extended = count)
; Author(s):        PsaltyDS at http://www.autoitscript.com/forum
; Date/Version:   11/10/2008  --  v1.0.0
; Remarks:  String must be all ASCII characters.
;           Valid ASCII characters are 0 thru 9, A thru Z, and the following
;               puctuation: !"$&'()+,-./:;=?@_
;           Invalid ASCII is not sent and increments the count returned in @extended with @error = 2
;       Special codes can be included for "Procodes" but must be separated by a space from other text:
;           "\EOW" = End Of Work
;           "\ERROR" = Error
;           "\ITT" = Invite To Transmit
;           "\START" = Starting Signal
;           "\UND" = Understood
;           "\WAIT" = Wait
; Example:  _SendMorse("\START This is a test. \EOW", 100)
; -------------------------------------------------------------------
Func _SendMorse($sString, $iBaseTime = 50)
; Only handle ASCII strings, only upper case letters
    If StringIsASCII($sString) Then
        $sString = StringUpper($sString)
    Else
        ; Non-ASCII characters in string
        Return SetError(1, 0, 0)
    EndIf
    
    ; Declare local variables
    Local $avRET, $fNUMLOCK
    Local $avTxWords[1] = [0], $avTxChar[1] = [0], $sTX = "", $iErrCnt = 0
    Local $iDahTime = 3 * $iBaseTime; Length of "Dah"
    Local $iDitTime = $iBaseTime; Length of "Dit"
    Local $iDahDitGap = $iBaseTime; Gap between Dahs and Dits
    Local $iCharGap = 3 * $iBaseTime; Gap between characters
    Local $iWordGap = 7 * $iBaseTime; Gap between words
    
    ; Save NUMLOCK state and turn it off
    $avRET = DllCall('user32.dll', "short", "GetKeyState", "int", '0x90')
    If Not @error And BitAND($avRET[0], 0xFF) = 1 Then
        $fNUMLOCK = True
        Send("{NUMLOCK OFF}")
    Else
        $fNUMLOCK = False
    EndIf
    
    
    ; -------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; Declare Morse Code Table
    ;   "-" = Dah, "." = Dit
    ;   Valid ASCII codes are 33 to 95
    ;   Element index is ASCII code minus 33, so:
    ;       [0] = "-.-.--" = ASCII 33 (Exclamation point)
    ;       [15] = "" = ASCII 48 (Zero)
    ;       [24] = "" = ASCII 57 (Nine)
    ;       [32] = "" = ASCII 65 (A)
    ;       [57] = "" = ASCII 90 (Z)
    ;       [62] = "--.." = ASCII 95 (Underscore)
    ;   Invalid characters (ASCII 35, 37, 42, 60, 62, 91 to 94) return -1
    ; -------------------------------------------------------------------
    Local $avMorseCode[63] = ["-.-.--", ".-..-.", -1, "...-..-", -1, ".-...", ".----.", _
            "-.--.", "-.--.-", -1, ".-.-.", "--..--", "-....-", ".-.-.-", "-..-.", _
            "-----", ".----", "..---", "...--", "....-", ".....", "-....", "--...", _
            "---..", "----.", "---...", "-.-.-.", -1, "-...-", -1, "..--..", ".--.-.", _
            ".-", "-...", "-.-.", "-..", ".", "..-.", "--.", "....", "..", ".---", _
            "-.-", ".-..", "--", "-.", "---", ".--.", "--.-", ".-.", "...", "-", _
            "..-", "...-", ".--", "-..-", "-.--", "--..", -1, -1, -1, -1, "..--.-"]
    
    ; Split input string into words
    $avTxWords = StringSplit($sString, " ")
    
    ; For each word...
    For $w = 1 To $avTxWords[0]
        ; Check for Procodes
        Switch $avTxWords[$w]
            Case "\EOW"; End Of Work
                $sTX &= "...-.-" & ","
            Case "\ERROR"; Error
                $sTX &= "........" & ","
            Case "\ITT"; Invite To Transmit
                $sTX &= "-.-" & ","
            Case "\START"; Starting Signal
                $sTX &= "-.-.-" & ","
            Case "\UND"; Understood
                $sTX &= "...-." & ","
            Case "\WAIT"; Wait
                $sTX &= ".-..." & ","
            Case Else; All other words
                ; Split work into characters
                $avTxChar = StringSplit($avTxWords[$w], "")
                
                ; For each character...
                For $c = 1 To $avTxChar[0]
                    $iAsc = Asc($avTxChar[$c])
                    
                    If ($iAsc >= 33) And ($iAsc <= 122) Then
                        ; Valid ASCII characters
                        If $avMorseCode[$iAsc - 33] <> -1 Then
                            ; Add dah-dit code to string
                            $sTX &= $avMorseCode[$iAsc - 33] & ","
                        Else
                            ; Invalid ASCII character from table
                            $iErrCnt += 1
                            ContinueLoop
                        EndIf
                    Else
                        ; Invalid ASCII characters
                        $iErrCnt += 1
                        ContinueLoop
                    EndIf
                Next
        EndSwitch
        $sTX &= " "; Add inter-word gap
    Next
    
    ; Split assembled morse code string:
    ;   "-" = Dah
    ;   "." = Dit
    ;   "," = Inter-character gap
    ;   " " = Inter-word gap
    $avTxCode = StringSplit($sTX, "")
    
    ; Send code
    For $n = 1 To $avTxCode[0]
        Switch $avTxCode[$n]
            Case "-"
                ; Dah
                Send("{NUMLOCK ON}")
                Beep(2000, $iDahTime)
                Send("{NUMLOCK OFF}")
                Sleep($iDahDitGap)
                
            Case "."
                ; Dit
                Send("{NUMLOCK ON}")
                Beep(2500, $iDitTime)
                Send("{NUMLOCK OFF}")
                Sleep($iDahDitGap)
                
            Case ","
                ; Character gap
                Sleep($iCharGap)
                
            Case " "
                ; Word gap
                Sleep($iWordGap)
        EndSwitch
    Next
    
    ; Restore saved NUMLOCK state
    If $fNUMLOCK Then Send("{NUMLOCK ON}")
    
    ; Return result
    If $iErrCnt Then
        ; Invalid ASCII characters in string
        Return SetError(2, $iErrCnt, 0)
    Else
        Return 1
    EndIf
EndFunc  ;==>_SendMorse

Func _Quit()
    Send("{NUMLOCK ON}")
    Exit
EndFunc  ;==>_Quit

[monoceres]

I have an UDF 50% done that is able to flash the keyboard LEDs without toggling the states of the buttons. It will be done by tomorrow

[PsaltyDS]

Kind of overkill, but I had to look up how to check the original state of the NUMLOCK before toggling it, and that lead me a useful idea for flashing the LED.

Behold, the _SendMorse() UDF:

OK, this was neither new, nor original, but it was still an interesting exercise!

[PsaltyDS]

I have an UDF 50% done that is able to flash the keyboard LEDs without toggling the states of the buttons. It will be done by tomorrow

Is it just a DLL call? I was kind of too lazy to look that up and just went with Send("{NUMLOCK ON}") and Send("{NUMLOCK OFF}").

[monoceres]

Is it just a DLL call? I was kind of too lazy to look that up and just went with Send("{NUMLOCK ON}") and Send("{NUMLOCK OFF}").

Nope, it involves direct communication with the keyboard device

[TehWhale]

I want to be able to turn mine off, but keep the functionality. Like I want Num lock to forever be on, but not show the BRIGHT LED light that shines with it.

[PsaltyDS]

I want to be able to turn mine off, but keep the functionality. Like I want Num lock to forever be on, but not show the BRIGHT LED light that shines with it.

Duct tape....

[TehWhale]

It shines through the paper and tape I already put on there.

[Andreik]

Nope, it involves direct communication with the keyboard device

That sounds very interesting. I want to see that.

[monoceres]

I want to be able to turn mine off, but keep the functionality. Like I want Num lock to forever be on, but not show the BRIGHT LED light that shines with it.

Won't be any problems with my UDF.

That sounds very interesting. I want to see that.

Patience my young padawan, patience.

[Andreik]

Won't be any problems with my UDF.

Patience my young padawan, patience.

For some time trying to find in the dictionary what mean "padawan".

Please tell me a synonym.

Edited November 11, 2008 by Andreik

[dbzfanatic]

For some time trying to find in the dictionary what mean "padawan".

Please tell me a synonym.

O_O You really don't know? Padawan is the "apprentice" of the Jedi stages. Padawan, Knight, Master. It's a star wars quote/reference.

[Andreik]

O_O You really don't know? Padawan is the "apprentice" of the Jedi stages. Padawan, Knight, Master. It's a star wars quote/reference.

I did not know.

I searched in the dictionary and find out. I thought to write my english teacher, but in Romania now is time 3 AM. Thank you enlightened me.