Command Line Parameters

Hot Virtual Keyboard (hvk.exe) accepts optional command line parameters. These parameters can be useful for developers and for calling our application from other software.

/HELP and /?

Displays the list of valid command line parameters in a message box.

/CLOSE

Closes a previously launched instance of the application.

/SHOWKEYBOARD

Forcibly shows the on-screen keyboard when the application is launched. Normally, the on-screen keyboard is shown only if it was visible the last time the application was closed.

/HIDEKEYBOARD

Starts the application with the on-screen keyboard hidden. Normally, the on-screen keyboard is shown if it was visible the last time the application was closed.

/COMMON

Starts the application with the same settings for all users.

This parameter instructs the application to save its settings to the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ComfortSoftware\hvk

Normally, they are saved to this registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\ComfortSoftware\hvk

/INIFILE

Instructs the application to save and read its settings from the INI file. Normally, the settings are stored in the registry.
The settings will be stored to the Backup.ini file located in the application installation folder (in the Data subfolder).

How to use:
Save your settings to "C:\Program Files\HotVirtualKeyboard\Data\Backup.ini" file, and launch "hvk.exe /INIFILE". In this case, the application saves and reads the settings from the Backup.ini file.

/OPTIONS

Opens the application settings window.

/CHANGELANGUAGE <code>

Changes the current system language. Learn More

"C:\Program Files\HotVirtualKeyboard\hvk.exe" /CHANGELANGUAGE 0409

/RESTORE

Instructs the application to load settings from the INI file specified in the command line. If another instance of the application is already running, the settings from the INI file will be loaded into it. You can save the settings to the INI file by opening the Options window and switching to the Advanced section.

"C:\Program Files\HotVirtualKeyboard\hvk.exe" /RESTORE "C:\Program Files\HotVirtualKeyboard\Settings.ini"

/M <num>

Launches several instances of the program, where <num> is the number of instances to be launched. Each instance will have its own settings. By default, you can launch one instance only.

/TURNON and /TURNOFF

Completely turn the application on or off. Use the /SHOWKEYBOARD or /HIDEKEYBOARD parameter to show or hide the on-screen keyboard.

/ACTION <hotkey>

Launches the action assigned to the specified hotkey.

"C:\Program Files\HotVirtualKeyboard\hvk.exe" /ACTION Win+K

You can specify a key code in the hexadecimal format by using $ (the dollar sign). For example, $20 is Space, and $1B is Escape.

"C:\Program Files\HotVirtualKeyboard\hvk.exe" /ACTION Alt+$20

/SAFEMODE

Launches the application in safe mode. Some features of the application will be disabled.

/DEBUG

Instructs the application to create the Log.txt file in the application folder (in the Data subfolder). The log file will contain details about the application's activity, which can be a helpful debugging aid.

The information contained in the log file is technical in nature and therefore not intended to be understandable by end users.

If a file with the specified name already exists in the application folder, it will be overwritten.

/EVENTLOG

Instructs the application to create different log files for every startup. See the Data subfolder in the application folder.

You can also add the DWORD parameter EventLog=1 in the registry to do the same.

/REMOTECONTROLMODE

Enables the special mode for remote control devices. In this mode, you can use the arrow keys to move around the keyboard, and use Enter key to press the currently selected key.