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Simulating mouse/keyboard activity to prevent screensaver kicking in

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JustLJ

MIS
Oct 15, 2002
70
US
Greetings.

Okay, this is really a really out there type of issue. Please be gentle in any replies…

Background: Running MS Access 2002, running tons of macros to update data and then generating reports. These updates run at various points after midnight until the big push with the reports starting at 0300 lasting until 0600 (you can understand why I do them overnight, since they are lengthy). I ran into the situation with the Outlook security module stopping me from sending email from MSA (using the Outlook object, because of the number recipients, attachments and the fact that on many of them I’m looping through tables to filter the reports for the recipient) and discovered the utility PTFB (other people have pointed me to Express CheckYes, but it doesn’t help the MSA messages and PTFB is tailored better).

PTFB doesn’t work if the workstation is locked, so I go through a process of uncoupling my monitor and locking the dangling connection cord in a drawer (weird, but effective for our security auditors). However, the main security group is putting in a Windows policy change for a forced locked workstation screensaver if the workstation is idle for more than 15 minutes... so here’s where you folks come in (finally, eh?!).

I’m trying to figure out a solution to keeping the workstation unlocked, so my stuff can process all night. I can’t change the registry, because their process will check the workstation and if the policy is missing or changed, it will replace it. So either I need some way to unlock the workstation once it’s locked (even if possible, is bad idea, because it would have to unlock every 15 minutes after the policy kicks in and I have three hours worth of processing) or I guess I’m thinking more like something that would make the OS think the mouse moves every ten minutes, or the real keyboard did something; anything so the screensaver doesn’t kick on.

I’d like it to be VBA or at least something which can be easily evoked by VBA (or MSA macro, etc.), so I can invoke a process when I leave and keep the screensaver from running.

I have found lots of articles and tips about simulating mouse clicks and keyboard clicks and restricting mouse movements, but nothing about faking out the OS to make it think either mouse or keyboard are being used.

Thanks for your feedback!

 
For the Outlook Object Model Guard problem you may consider Redemption.

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ222-2244
 
Thanks PHV -- we're not allowed to run unapproved applications, but I'm having central group look at Redemption.

Thanks also pullingteeth -- I can't seem to adapt the straight VB code into VBA usable in my MSA database.

I appreciate the replies!
LJ
 
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