README

Delphi Low Level Keyboard Hook

Delphi project showcasing low-level keyboard capture on Windows in two complete forms:

1. Standalone VCL source application and demo UI.
2. Reusable VCL drag-and-drop component (TKeyboardHook) with its own demo project.

Both implementations use WH_KEYBOARD_LL, include window-context tracking, and clean up hooks correctly on shutdown.

What Is Included

1. Original source app (manual hook control) Path: keyboardhook.dpr, Unit1.pas, Unit1.dfm
2. Original app demo assets Path: preview.png, Images and Media/
3. New installable VCL component package Path: KeyboardHookComponent/KeyboardHookComponent.dpk
4. Component source unit Path: KeyboardHookComponent/uKeyboardHook.pas
5. Component palette icon resource Path: KeyboardHookComponent/uKeyboardHook.dcr
6. Dedicated component demo project Path: KeyboardHookComponent/Demo/KBHookDemo.dpr

Features

1. Dual output modes for technical logging and typing simulation.
2. Active window title tracking with context-aware events.
3. Full key coverage including Ctrl, Alt, Shift, and Win keys.
4. Millisecond-level event timing metadata.
5. Event-driven component API for rapid form integration.
6. Safe shutdown behavior that removes hooks reliably.

Quick Start

Option A: Run the original standalone app

1. Open keyboardhook.dpr in Delphi.
2. Build and run.
3. Use Start Hook and Stop Hook in the UI.

Option B: Install and use the VCL component

1. Open KeyboardHookComponent/KeyboardHookComponent.dproj (or .dpk) in Delphi.
2. Build the package.
3. Install the package from the IDE package manager.
4. Find TKeyboardHook on the KeyboardHook component palette tab.
5. Drop it onto a form and set Active := True or call StartHook.

Option C: Run the component demo

1. Open KeyboardHookComponent/Demo/KBHookDemo.dpr.
2. Build and run.
3. Interact with the demo form to test TKeyboardHook events.

Component API (TKeyboardHook)

Published properties:

1. Active
2. TrackWindowChanges

Published events:

1. OnKeyDown
2. OnKeyUp
3. OnWindowChange

Public methods:

1. StartHook
2. StopHook

Technical Notes

1. Uses Windows WH_KEYBOARD_LL hook infrastructure.
2. Designed for one active component hook instance per process.
3. Intended for authorized testing, tooling, and accessibility scenarios.
4. Keep event handlers lightweight to avoid hook timeout removal by Windows.

Contributing

Pull requests are welcome for bug fixes, performance improvements, and additional demo scenarios.

License

Provided as-is without warranty. Use at your own risk.

Contact

Discord: bitmasterxor

Built by BitmasterXor with Delphi RAD Studio