Platform SDK: Interprocess Communications |
The SetWindowsHookEx function installs an application-defined hook procedure into a hook chain. You would install a hook procedure to monitor the system for certain types of events. These events are associated either with a specific thread or with all threads in the same desktop as the calling thread.
HHOOK SetWindowsHookEx( int idHook, // hook type HOOKPROC lpfn, // hook procedure HINSTANCE hMod, // handle to application instance DWORD dwThreadId // thread identifier );
Value | Description |
---|---|
WH_CALLWNDPROC | Installs a hook procedure that monitors messages before the system sends them to the destination window procedure. For more information, see the CallWndProc hook procedure. |
WH_CALLWNDPROCRET | Installs a hook procedure that monitors messages after they have been processed by the destination window procedure. For more information, see the CallWndRetProc hook procedure. |
WH_CBT | Installs a hook procedure that receives notifications useful to a computer-based training (CBT) application. For more information, see the CBTProc hook procedure. |
WH_DEBUG | Installs a hook procedure useful for debugging other hook procedures. For more information, see the DebugProc hook procedure. |
WH_FOREGROUNDIDLE | Installs a hook procedure that will be called when the application's foreground thread is about to become idle. This hook is useful for performing low priority tasks during idle time. For more information, see the ForegroundIdleProc hook procedure. |
WH_GETMESSAGE | Installs a hook procedure that monitors messages posted to a message queue. For more information, see the GetMsgProc hook procedure. |
WH_JOURNALPLAYBACK | Installs a hook procedure that posts messages previously recorded by a WH_JOURNALRECORD hook procedure. For more information, see the JournalPlaybackProc hook procedure. |
WH_JOURNALRECORD | Installs a hook procedure that records input messages posted to the system message queue. This hook is useful for recording macros. For more information, see the JournalRecordProc hook procedure. |
WH_KEYBOARD | Installs a hook procedure that monitors keystroke messages. For more information, see the KeyboardProc hook procedure. |
WH_KEYBOARD_LL | Windows NT/2000: Installs a hook procedure that monitors low-level keyboard input events. For more information, see the LowLevelKeyboardProc hook procedure. |
WH_MOUSE | Installs a hook procedure that monitors mouse messages. For more information, see the MouseProc hook procedure. |
WH_MOUSE_LL | Windows NT/2000: Installs a hook procedure that monitors low-level mouse input events. For more information, see the LowLevelMouseProc hook procedure. |
WH_MSGFILTER | Installs a hook procedure that monitors messages generated as a result of an input event in a dialog box, message box, menu, or scroll bar. For more information, see the MessageProc hook procedure. |
WH_SHELL | Installs a hook procedure that receives notifications useful to shell applications. For more information, see the ShellProc hook procedure. |
WH_SYSMSGFILTER | Installs a hook procedure that monitors messages generated as a result of an input event in a dialog box, message box, menu, or scroll bar. The hook procedure monitors these messages for all applications in the same desktop as the calling thread. For more information, see the SysMsgProc hook procedure. |
If the function succeeds, the return value is the handle to the hook procedure.
If the function fails, the return value is NULL. To get extended error information, call GetLastError.
An error may occur if the hMod parameter is NULL and the dwThreadId parameter is zero or specifies the identifier of a thread created by another process.
Calling the CallNextHookEx function to chain to the next hook procedure is optional, but it is highly recommended; otherwise, other applications that have installed hooks will not receive hook notifications and may behave incorrectly as a result. You should call CallNextHookEx unless you absolutely need to prevent the notification from being seen by other applications.
Before terminating, an application must call the UnhookWindowsHookEx function to free system resources associated with the hook.
The scope of a hook depends on the hook type. Some hooks can be set only with global scope; others can also be set for only a specific thread, as shown in the following table.
Hook | Scope |
---|---|
WH_CALLWNDPROC | Thread or global |
WH_CALLWNDPROCRET | Thread or global |
WH_CBT | Thread or global |
WH_DEBUG | Thread or global |
WH_FOREGROUNDIDLE | Thread or global |
WH_GETMESSAGE | Thread or global |
WH_JOURNALPLAYBACK | Global only |
WH_JOURNALRECORD | Global only |
WH_KEYBOARD | Thread or global |
WH_KEYBOARD_LL | Global only |
WH_MOUSE | Thread or global |
WH_MOUSE_LL | Global only |
WH_MSGFILTER | Thread or global |
WH_SHELL | Thread or global |
WH_SYSMSGFILTER | Global only |
For a specified hook type, thread hooks are called first, then global hooks.
The global hooks are a shared resource, and installing one affects all applications in the same desktop as the calling thread. All global hook functions must be in libraries. Global hooks should be restricted to special-purpose applications or to use as a development aid during application debugging. Libraries that no longer need a hook should remove its hook procedure.
Windows NT/2000: Requires Windows NT 3.1 or later.
Windows 95/98: Requires Windows 95 or later.
Header: Declared in Winuser.h; include Windows.h.
Library: Use User32.lib.
Unicode: Implemented as Unicode and ANSI versions on Windows NT/2000.
Hooks Overview, Hook Functions, CallNextHookEx, CallWndProc, CallWndRetProc, CBTProc, DebugProc, ForegroundIdleProc, GetMsgProc, JournalPlaybackProc, JournalRecordProc, LowLevelKeyboardProc, LowLevelMouseProc KeyboardProc, MouseProc, MessageProc, ShellProc, SysMsgProc, UnhookWindowsHookEx