Max users: Always on top / keyboard hook ?

[Coupe70]

Hi,

I'm taking a look at MAX at the moment.
Is it possible to read out keyboard input with MAX
even if MAX window is not on top / does not have focus ?

[Michael Hatsis]

yeah, its possible, yer gonna want to go ahead and take a good ol' look at the hi object. that there object will go ahead and give you mouse info no matter which gosh darn windah is up front.

[monohusche]

"key" is your key

[disco judas]

If you make a nice midi computer key, like PropsRecord, please share !

[Coupe70]

@monohusche:
As far as I understand "key" only works when teh MAX window has focus,
so it does not work in background. Correct me if I'm wrong...

@mike:
hi-menu command returns "0 devices".
so my internal notebook keyboard is not recognised (because it is
PS/2 internal I guess), but my "HID-conform mouse" (device manager)
does not show up either. what's wrong ?
will an external USB keyboard work ?

[monohusche]

I tried it with two identical max patches, both just containing "key" and "print" but using different print prefixes. No matter which window has the focus there are always two printouts.

Haven't checked whether it still works if NONE of the max windows has the focus. will check it out...

actually, you are right, max has to have the focus to get keyboard events delivered