How can I make Robot type a `:`?

Question

I want to type : using Java Robot. However, I'm getting an IllegalArgumentException. My code is:

robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT);
robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_COLON);
robot.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_COLON);
robot.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT);

The exception is:

java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Invalid key code.].

I also tried with:

robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT);
robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_SEMICOLON);
robot.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_SEMICOLON);
robot.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT);

How can I solve this problem?

GuruKulki · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-20T21:01:46.627

17

try with this code :

robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT);
robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_SEMICOLON);
robot.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_SEMICOLON);
robot.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT);

As with the keyboard you enter : when you press shift + ;. the same you need to simulate.

Try running this code just to try out which works fine with above answer:

public class Test {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Robot robot;
        try {
            robot = new Robot();
            robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT);  
            robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_SEMICOLON);  
            robot.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_SEMICOLON);  
            robot.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT);
        } catch (AWTException e) {
            // TODO Auto-generated catch bloc
            e.printStackTrace();
        }


    }
}

edited Apr 20 '11 at 21:01

answered Apr 20 '11 at 20:23

GuruKulki

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The result is the same: Exception in thread "main" java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Invalid key code at sun.awt.windows.WRobotPeer.keyPress(Native Method) at java.awt.Robot.keyPress(Unknown Source) – Eric Bautista Apr 20 '11 at 20:38
1

The problem is the semicolon keyEvent. If I execute this code, I get the same Exception but the shift key is "still pressed" after terminating it. Does this code work for you? – Eric Bautista Apr 20 '11 at 21:09
@Eric on my Windows XP box the above code works fine. If you are still getting an error I would try to just do a `keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_COLON)` without the `VK_SHIFT` modifier. – Tim Bender Apr 20 '11 at 21:12

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 20 '11 at 21:18

Unfortunately, Java Robot class relies on a platform specific implementation of an undocumented interface called java.awt.peer.RobotPeer. The platform specific implementation decides what key press events are legal or illegal.

On my windows XP box, this works fine:

public static void main(final String[] args) throws InterruptedException, IOException {
    Robot robot;
    try {
        robot = new Robot();
        robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT);
        robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_SEMICOLON);
        robot.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_SEMICOLON);
        robot.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT);
    } catch (final AWTException e) {
        // TODO Auto-generated catch bloc
        e.printStackTrace();
    }
}

On a different platform you may want to try:

public static void main(final String[] args) throws InterruptedException, IOException {
    Robot robot;
    try {
        robot = new Robot();
        robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_COLON);
        robot.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_COLON);
    } catch (final AWTException e) {
        // TODO Auto-generated catch bloc
        e.printStackTrace();
    }
}

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 16 '14 at 13:29

2

try this code ;), maybe it helps (using ascii code alt+5+8=:):

robot9.delay(20);
robot9.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_ALT);
robot9.delay(20);
robot9.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_NUMPAD5);
robot9.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_NUMPAD5);
robot9.delay(20);
robot9.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_NUMPAD8);
robot9.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_NUMPAD8);
robot9.delay(20);
robot9.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_ALT);
robot9.delay(20);

answered Jun 16 '14 at 13:29

Misose

21
2

Thank you. The concept works with : and also \ signs. So I can type file location to a pop-up file browser. You saved me some hours. Thx. – David Feb 27 '18 at 12:35

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 22 '15 at 14:05

2

This also seems to be language dependent. On a German keyboard, using the combination of VK_SHIFT and VK_PERIOD worked.

answered Jun 22 '15 at 14:05

Thomas Weller

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score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Mar 07 '14 at 12:38

0

Try This Code

        case KeyEvent.VK_SEMICOLON:
            if((event.getModifiers() & KeyEvent.KEY_PRESSED)!=0)
               System.out.println(":");
            else
                System.out.print(";");
            break;

answered Mar 07 '14 at 12:38

Nirav Dabhi

341
1
7
29

score 0 · Answer 6 · edited May 23 '17 at 10:30

0

Someone build a KeyboardKeys class and published it here in SO. it´s at https://stackoverflow.com/a/20979488/7069565. In a nutshell, he types every character as an Alt + Number combination.

edited May 23 '17 at 10:30

Community

1
1

answered Oct 28 '16 at 01:16

Omar N

61
7

score 0 · Answer 7 · answered Oct 28 '16 at 12:08

Semicolon is an "upercase leter", that is, you only get it with the combination of Keys

Shift+Coma

Try this:

robot = new Robot();
robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT);
robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_COMMA);
//Since you have the Shift pressed it will generate a semi colon.
robot.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_COMMA);
robot.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT);

I hope I have helped.

Have a nice day. :)

score 0 · Answer 8 · answered Apr 20 '11 at 20:22

0

I don't know about Java Robots, but if you're using shift, shouldn't you then type semicolon, because shift + semicolon = colon. So it's probably an illegal argument because colon isn't a key, semicolon is.

answered Apr 20 '11 at 20:22

None

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How can I make Robot type a `:`?

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