How to send function keypress (F1..F12) to a console app in .NET

Question

I am writing a windowed .NET app in C#, which runs a third party console application via the Process class, as hidden as possible (CreateNoWindow, RedirectStandardOutput, etc.).

I've redirected it's StandardInput, so I can write whatever string I want, but not function keys or other type of special keys, as they don't have a character representation. As for me, I have to send keys F1 to F4 to the console app. The solutions I've found are for windowed app (PostMessage, SendMessage).

How can I do this for my console application?

Is there anything to do with the Handle of the Process?

Answer 1

You can't. Function keys cannot work with stdin, an app has to call ReadConsoleInput() to be able to detect them. That no longer works when you start the process without a console window.