8

Where could I find a small Windows utility to show the current status of the Ctrl, Shift and Alt keys? Something that lives in the system tray or otherwise "always on top"? Just little "lights" to say "Ctrl is pressed!"

phuclv
  • 26,555
  • 15
  • 113
  • 235
Chris Simmons
  • 287
  • 3
  • 9
  • THIS looks so good, unfortunately only in Linux :) http://code.google.com/p/key-mon/ –  Feb 28 '10 at 21:52

3 Answers3

5

Done:

http://svn.lando.us/joey/Public/SO/SU114626

Used the low-level keyboard hook code by Stephen Taub. May contain bugs, malfunctions and other weird things. May eat babies without prior warning. Right-click to close.

Works on my machine

Feel free to use or adapt the code as you see fit.

Joey
  • 40,002
  • 15
  • 104
  • 126
  • @Chris: Well, not the prettiest one and sorta hacked together but at least it works :) I thought about a notification icon but I wasn't able to cram the strings »Ctrl«, »Alt« and »Shift« into a 16×16 px² image and three notification icons were a little too much, I thought. Anyway, should be trivial to adapt if the need arises :) – Joey Mar 01 '10 at 19:08
  • Rössel: Hey, it fits the bill just fine. Thank you thank you! – Chris Simmons Mar 02 '10 at 00:33
  • 2
    Done. I should probably put this on Github, I guess. – Joey Nov 11 '12 at 13:25
4

While waiting for Joey to fix his link, I made another one. Download the executable (and code) here: https://github.com/BobVul/KeyStatus/releases

It uses basically the same method as Joey's, and supports the Windows key. The display is a little much bigger.

Screenshot

Do whatever you want, no warranty, yadda yadda yadda

Bob
  • 60,938
  • 25
  • 191
  • 216
3

Windows on-screen keyboard fits your "always on top" and "small Windows utility" criteria. Each time Caps Lock or a modifier key is pressed it'll be highlighted on the on-screen keyboard. It's built-in so you don't need a 3rd party app.

osk

phuclv
  • 26,555
  • 15
  • 113
  • 235