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Q: Batch file command ( No Answer, 0 Comments )

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Subject: Batch file command
Category: Computers > Operating Systems
Asked by: felisque-ga
List Price: $2.00

Posted: 22 Feb 2003 20:57 PST
Expires: 24 Mar 2003 20:57 PST
Question ID: 165845

In Windows ME.... How do I send "Ctrl+Alt+F1" command in a batch file in order to change my keyboard layout form French to English
Request for Question Clarification by joseleon-ga on 23 Feb 2003 03:39 PST Hello: Do you want to emulate a key combination from a batch file? The only way I know is to execute a custom Windows program that sends the key to the system, if you are interested, let me know, but the price of this question is too low for that task. Regards.
Clarification of Question by felisque-ga on 23 Feb 2003 08:56 PST What I want to do is the following: I often have to work with DOS programs. With Windows95 and Windows 98, I use this simple one line batch file ( KEYB_E )to switch keyboard layout from French to English: KEYB_E.BAT = keyb us,,C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\keyboard.sys This batch file is not working with Windows ME. What is the command I could use in my batch file to do the same thing in Windows ME.
Request for Question Clarification by theta-ga on 23 Feb 2003 11:37 PST Hi felisque-ga, I do not have Windows Me to check out this solution, so I am posting this as a clarification. To send the required keypress combination to Windows, you need to use the Windows Scripting Host that comes installed with Windows Me. For more information on WSH, check out the following sites : - MSDN Online: Windows Scripting ( http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/nhp/Default.asp?contentid=28001169 ) - Microsoft Windows Script Host: A Universal Script Host for Scripting Languages ( http://msdn.microsoft.com/archive/en-us/dnarwsh/html/msdn_wsh_wp.asp ) - Windows Script Host 5.6 ( http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/02/05/wsh/default.aspx ) You should already have WSH installed on your computer. If not, you can download the latest version of Windows Scripting Host (version 5.6) from : - Microsoft Windows Script 5.6 Download ( http://msdn.microsoft.com/downloads/default.asp?URL=/downloads/sample.asp?url=/msdn-files/027/001/733/msdncompositedoc.xml ) The following code works for me on Windows 98. I use it to simulate the keypress "Ctrl+Alt+F1" to activate a shortcut on my desktop. Copy and paste this code into a file(say 'keypress.vbs'). Click on the file to run this code. =========== Begin Code =========== Set WSHShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell") WSHShell.SendKeys "^%{F1}" =========== End Code ============ Thats it! Just two lines. Please try it out, and if the solution works for you, I will be glad to post it as an answer. Best Of Luck! Theta-ga
Request for Question Clarification by theta-ga on 27 Feb 2003 08:22 PST Hi felisque-ga, Did the code supplied above work for you? Thanks, Theta-ga
Clarification of Question by felisque-ga on 27 Feb 2003 14:41 PST I have copied your 2 lines in a batch file. When I try to call it at the dos prompt, I have the following message "Bad command or file name"
Request for Question Clarification by arcadesdude-ga on 28 Feb 2003 05:32 PST Felisque, Those two commands that Theta-ga suggested don't go in the batch file themselves. You make a new text file and put those two lines in there and all the file whatever.vbs (keypress.vbs was suggested). Then you save the file and put it in the same directory as the bat file. In the batch file itself you would use the line: C:\WINDOWS\WScript.exe keypress.vbs to run the program. (You would have to change C:\WINDOWS\ to the path where WScript is (it is probably the same but you might need to change it) Also keypress.vbs would have to be the name of the file that you saved it as with a vbs extension). I can not take credit for it if this works; it is entierly Theta's merit and credit should be given to him (and not me) if this works.
Request for Question Clarification by theta-ga on 28 Feb 2003 09:52 PST Hi felisque-ga, The first thing you have to do is copy the code into a blank file, and rename the file "keypress.vbs". There are actually two ways you can run this code: - In Windows, you can execute the file just by double clicking on it. If you have WScript installed correctly, then it will automatically execute all .vbs files when you double click on them. - If you want to call the file from within a batch file(.BAT), then just follow the steps arcadesdude-ga laid out for you. If you need any clarifications, please don't hesitate to ask. Regards, Theta-ga
Clarification of Question by felisque-ga on 28 Feb 2003 18:36 PST HI! Theta-ga I have tried your last suggestion. (with the batch file and keypress.bat) It doesn`t work neither in Windows nor at my DOS Prompt. and WScript.exe is in the Windows directory. Is there anything else I should try. (Remember that I need it to work at the DOS PROMPT Thank you
Request for Question Clarification by theta-ga on 01 Mar 2003 10:41 PST Hi felisque-ga, All that the piece of code does is simulate the keypress Ctrl+Alt+F1 in Windows. So, it should work if you have that shortcut key setup to change keyboard languages. You can, of course, select the shortcut key from Control Panel>Keyboard>Language tab. When you say that the code did not work, could you be more specific? Did you receive some sort of an error message or did the code execute without any messages, but nothing happened? Are you trying to change the language from the command prompt in Windows, or from the DOS commandline while Windows is starting up? Thank You, Theta-ga
Clarification of Question by felisque-ga on 01 Mar 2003 19:40 PST What I need to do is the following. My computer runs in Windows ME. I click "Start-Programs-Accessories-MSDOS Prompt" in order to work in a MS-DOS Prompt (black) window. When I start in that DOS session, by keyboard layout is French. I want to change it with a batch file (from there, because even if I change it in the windows session, when I start my DOS session, my DOS session is with the french keyboard layout. Thanks
Request for Question Clarification by theta-ga on 02 Mar 2003 01:49 PST Hi felisque-ga, In Windows Me, the keyboard settings for your DOS session are stored in the registry. You can change them by using the MS System Configuration Utility. The steps you have to take can be found documented a in the following MS KnowledgeBase Article: - Article 261417: Keyboard Command Does Not Work in Command Prompt ( http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;261417 ) If after changing your settings and restarting your computer, the problem is still not solved, then you may be suffering from a bug in some versions of Windows ME. You can find a solution for this in the following MSKB article: - International Keyboard Settings Do Not Work in an MS-DOS Prompt ( http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q272719 ) Please try out the steps outlined in the above articles and tell me if your problem is solved. If it is, then I will post this as my answer. If you need any clarifications, please don't hesitate to ask. Regards, Theta-ga
Clarification of Question by felisque-ga on 02 Mar 2003 20:31 PST Hi Theta-ga The article in Microsoft support you refered me to, mentions that the "keyb xx" command is not available in Windows ME. This was the command that I using in windows 95 ? & 98 to change my layout in a DOS session. THANK YOU VERY MUCH for trying but I would like to do seems to be imossible in Windows ME
Request for Question Clarification by theta-ga on 03 Mar 2003 08:32 PST Hi felisque-ga, You will notice that that article also details the method by which you can change the keyboard language for the DOS session in Windows ME. Even though the keyb command is not available, you can use the msconfig utility to change the keyboard language to your liking. You can check out the resolution of a similar problem in the following Google Groups posting: - Windows ME and DOS Keyboard Language Issue/Question ( http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&th=48e666f82fb4de42 ) Try out the steps outlined in the MSKB article and see if your problem is solved. If you need any clarifications, just ask. Regards, Theta-ga
Request for Question Clarification by theta-ga on 07 Mar 2003 09:38 PST Hi felisque-ga, Were you able to change your keyboard language as outlined in the above article? Do you need more instructions? Regards, Theta-ga
Request for Question Clarification by googleexpert-ga on 07 Mar 2003 10:37 PST Hi felisque, Can you copy the keyb.com or keyb.exe file to your "WinME Computer"?
Clarification of Question by felisque-ga on 07 Mar 2003 15:37 PST Hi theta-ga I already knew how to change my keyboard layout with msconfig. But the computer has to be rebooted. What I need to do is to switch my keyboard while in a Dos session without re-booting the computer. From what I`ve read, it it impossible. Thanks again for trying

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