Subclassing and Hooking with Visual Basic

A Thread-Specific Example

The first example using the WH_KEYBOARD hook will be thread-specific. This example will watch for the Windows key on the keyboard to be pressed, along with the “w” key. When the user presses this key combination, Internet Explorer starts. It is easy to change the key combination and the application that is started to suit your own purposes.

To use the application, simply click the Hook button in the WH_KEYBOARD frame on the VB form. Next, press the Windows key on the keyboard and hold it down while pressing the “w” key; Internet Explorer should start. Figure 12-3 shows a screenshot of the application’s user interface (UI).

Figure 12-3. Screenshot of the thread-specific example

Table 12-1 lists the nondefault properties of the form and its controls.

Table 12-1. Nondefault Properties of the Form and Its Controls

Object Type	Property Name	Property Value
Form	Name	Form2
Form	Caption	“WH_KEYBOARD Hook Test”
Form	BorderStyle	3-Fixed Dialog
Form	Top	420
Form	Left	132
Form	Height	2100
Form	Width	2985
Frame	Caption	“WH_KEYBOARD”
Frame	Name	Frame1
Frame	Top	180
Frame	Left	751
Frame	Height	1335
Frame	Width	1392
Command Button1	Name	cmdHook
Command Button1	Caption	“hook”
Command Button1	Top	300
Command Button1	Left	240
Command Button1	Height	315
Command Button1	Width	915
Command Button2	Name	cmdUnHook