OT PC kbd redirection

I think you need to say a bit more.

For example can you just use hyperterminal (or equivalent).

I'm sorry, bit brain dead, (normal), probably too close to the problem to think properly. I just buckle when a PC is involved with my stuff. My balls shrink, and I loose more hair

Basically I need to insert text data from a PC in real time into a datastream via my 8051, and the idea that the operator could type into notepad their notes and have it simultaneously pump it into my thing.

The Idea of Notepad, was so the operator could have some visual feedback. Something they are familiar with.

I'll fire up Tera Term in the morning and see if it's user fiendly enough for office cow orkers, I've never used TT like that before, always thought it was an engineering tool

( Are we allowed to menton "Hypeterminal" here? )

martin

If your embedded system does not echo the characters, remember to turn on local echo on TT - otherwise they won't get much feedback.

Only if you are swearing at it :-)

Or you could make you "Kit" into a keyboard wedge. Read the keys as there are typed. And / Or add keys to the stream.

I am sure there is a way to "redirect" the keyboard as you suggest - maybe ask in a windows programming group. Actually isn't that what keylogging malware does? You might get some nasty replies! But obviously it can be done.

There might be issues with unwanted keystrokes as the user accesses the menus, or alt-tabs to their usenet reader etc.

A notepad clone is probably a demonstration project for some software development environments, perhaps you could hack at one of those?

It is not too difficult to build a text user interface around a terminal program. The microcontroller can redraw the text screen each time the user enters something.

It's a bit clunky, but the advantage is that no software needs to be installed on the PC...

... and the disadvantage is you end up using HyperTerminal, the worlds finest terminal emulator.