Windows Messages: a newbie question about Windows software development

classic35mm · Apr 26, 2024

I'm using a third-party application called Comfort On-Screen Keyboard Pro, which is helpful to me because I am physically disabled and have only limited use of my hands to use a computer mouse.

This software's documentation gives some examples of how Windows Messages can be used to manipulate the software.

I'm running Windows 11 Enterprise, 23H2, 22631.3527. Is Windows Messages available on Windows 11? If so, how do I access it? Can anyone recommend turorials on how to use Windows Messages?

kelper · Apr 26, 2024

Windows 'messages' is a way for applications to communicate with each other. As far as I know, there is no Windows Messages app.
What is it you need to do that you can't presently?

Berton · Apr 26, 2024

Also available for company communication.

Is Windows Messages available on Windows 11? at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

classic35mm · Apr 26, 2024

kelper said:
Windows 'messages' is a way for applications to communicate with each other. As far as I know, there is no Windows Messages app.
What is it you need to do that you can't presently?

I'd like to be able to implement some of these commands programmatically in a small script or something like that.

Ghot · Apr 26, 2024

classic35mm said:
I'd like to be able to implement some of these commands programmatically in a small script or something like that.

Have you tried either of these?

glasskuter · Apr 26, 2024

I'm not familiar with the application. I can find no full user guide for the app, only an online list of questions and answers.
Messaging in windows allows apps access to your text messages with a cellular connection. Maybe what this app is referring to is to allow it to read your text message so that it can help you construct your response to the message.

Send and receive text messages from your PC - Microsoft Support

While setting up the Phone Link app, you'll be prompted to enable access to your phone's messages.

support.microsoft.com

You would have to allow the app access to messaging through settings>privacy and security>messaging.
If that's not it, you might contact the company support.

I would think voice access would be of more benefit to you more than anything.

Set up voice access - Microsoft Support

Learn how to set up the new voice access feature with your microphone in Windows.

support.microsoft.com

garlin · Apr 26, 2024

Windows Messages refers to a Windows API library that apps can use to send notifications to each other. The provided link has some programming examples.

Unfortunately, unless you're a developer then it's not something that can be pasted into a batch file. You need a script written in a programming language to execute a specific request. After you have a wrapper, that can be called from batch.

This is a chicken & egg problem. I presume the OP isn't a dev. And most devs (if they wanted to help), don't have this keyboard to test against. You might to check if there's an users group for this company's products, and see if someone has already made a solution?

pseymour · Apr 26, 2024

You can also send messages with PowerShell, since it also has access to Windows APIs. Here's a sample from a script I have that manipulates some taskbar settings, then sends messages out telling Windows to notice the changes.

Powershell:

Set-StrictMode -Version 'latest'

$InformationPreference = [Management.Automation.ActionPreference]::Continue

Add-Type -MemberDefinition @'
[DllImport("user32.dll", EntryPoint = "FindWindow", SetLastError = true)]
public static extern IntPtr FindWindow(string lpClassName, string lpWindowName);

[DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
public static extern bool SendMessage(IntPtr hWnd, uint Msg, uint wParam, uint lParam);

[DllImport("User32.Dll", EntryPoint = "SendMessageTimeout")]
public static extern IntPtr SendMessageTimeout([In] IntPtr hWnd, [In] uint message, [In] int wParam, [In] string lParam, [In] uint flags, [In] uint timeout, [Out][Optional] IntPtr result);

'@ -Name "NativeMethods" -Namespace "Win32" -PassThru | Out-Null


[UInt32]$WM_SETTINGCHANGE = 0x001A
[UInt32]$WM_THEMECHANGED = 0x031A
[UInt32]$WM_NOTIFY = 0x4E
[UInt32]$HWND_BROADCAST = 0xFFFF
[int]$SMTO_NORMAL = 0x0000 # The calling thread is not prevented from processing other requests while waiting for the function to return.
[int]$TimeoutForMessageSend = 2000
[IntPtr]$result = [IntPtr]::Zero


## Some Windows settings changes related to the taskbar go here. Left them out for brevity.


Write-Information 'Finding Shell_TrayWnd window.'
[IntPtr]$trayPointer = [Win32.NativeMethods]::FindWindow("Shell_TrayWnd", $null)

Write-Information 'Sending messages to notification area window and broadcast.'
[Win32.NativeMethods]::SendMessageTimeout($HWND_BROADCAST, $WM_SETTINGCHANGE, $null, $null, $SMTO_NORMAL, $TimeoutForMessageSend, $result) | Out-Null
[Win32.NativeMethods]::SendMessageTimeout($HWND_BROADCAST, $WM_THEMECHANGED, $null, $null, $SMTO_NORMAL, $TimeoutForMessageSend, $result) | Out-Null
[Win32.NativeMethods]::SendMessageTimeout($HWND_BROADCAST, $WM_NOTIFY, $null, $null, $SMTO_NORMAL, $TimeoutForMessageSend, $result) | Out-Null
[Win32.NativeMethods]::SendMessageTimeout($trayPointer, $WM_SETTINGCHANGE, $null, $null, $SMTO_NORMAL, $TimeoutForMessageSend, $result) | Out-Null
[Win32.NativeMethods]::SendMessageTimeout($trayPointer, $WM_THEMECHANGED, $null, $null, $SMTO_NORMAL, $TimeoutForMessageSend, $result) | Out-Null
[Win32.NativeMethods]::SendMessageTimeout($trayPointer, $WM_NOTIFY, $null, $null, $SMTO_NORMAL, $TimeoutForMessageSend, $result) | Out-Null
<#
# Alternatively...
[Win32.NativeMethods]::SendMessage($HWND_BROADCAST, $WM_SETTINGCHANGE, $null, 0) | Out-Null
[Win32.NativeMethods]::SendMessage($trayPointer, $WM_SETTINGCHANGE, 0, 0) | Out-Null
[Win32.NativeMethods]::SendMessage($trayPointer, $WM_THEMECHANGED, 0, 0) | Out-Null
[Win32.NativeMethods]::SendMessage($trayPointer, $WM_NOTIFY, 0, 0) | Out-Null
#>