SendKeys Method in Powershell

Question

I have batch file for telnet a server automatically, I want to do the same thing with PowerShell

Batch File named Script.bat :

:: Open a Telnet window
 start telnet.exe 10.84.10.85
:: Run the script
 cscript SendKeys.vbs

Command File named SendKeys.vbs :

set OBJECT=WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
 WScript.sleep 1000
 OBJECT.SendKeys "myPassword{ENTER}"
 WScript.sleep 1000
 OBJECT.SendKeys "7{ENTER}"
 WScript.sleep 1000
 OBJECT.SendKeys "1{ENTER}"
 WScript.sleep 1000
 OBJECT.SendKeys "{ENTER}"
 WScript.sleep 1000
 OBJECT.SendKeys "{ENTER}"
 WScript.sleep 1000
 OBJECT.SendKeys "Y{ENTER}"
 WScript.sleep 3000
 OBJECT.SendKeys ""

Answer 1

PowerShell has no built-in functionality to emulate keystrokes.

Practically, you have two options: COM-Automation and Interop.

1. SendKeys via COM

Like in VB(S) you can create a Shell-Object and SendKeys. Here is the PowerShell way to do it.

$wshell = New-Object -ComObject wscript.shell;
$wshell.SendKeys('a')

If you would like to send a keystroke to a window, you have to activate it first:

$wshell = New-Object -ComObject wscript.shell;
$wshell.AppActivate('title of the application window')
Sleep 1
$wshell.SendKeys('~')

Some keystrokes have special variables like ~ for RETURN. Here is a complete list.
After activating a window it's often necessary to wait a second until it becomes responsive, otherwise it'll send the key to the PowerShell window, or to nowhere. The scripting Host's SendKeys method can be unreliable, but luckily there is a better approach.

2. SendKeys via Interop

Like in C#, you can use the SendWait method from the .NET Framework in PowerShell.

[void] [System.Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName("'System.Windows.Forms")
[System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys]::SendWait("x")

If you want to activate a window, it can be done like this:

[void] [System.Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName("'Microsoft.VisualBasic")
[Microsoft.VisualBasic.Interaction]::AppActivate("Internet Explorer - Windows")

To Sleep, you can use the Start-Sleep Cmdlet.

Regarding your original problem, I would suggest the following solution:

# Open a Telnet window
Start-Process telnet.exe -ArgumentList 10.84.10.85
# Run the keystrokes
Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms
[System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys]::SendWait('myPassword{ENTER}')
Start-Sleep 1
[System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys]::SendWait('7{ENTER}')
Start-Sleep 1
[System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys]::SendWait('1{ENTER}')
Start-Sleep 1
[System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys]::SendWait('{ENTER}')
Start-Sleep 1
[System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys]::SendWait('{ENTER}')
Start-Sleep 1
[System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys]::SendWait('Y{ENTER}')
Start-Sleep 1
[System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys]::SendWait('')

WARNING: Be extra careful if you're using this method to send a password because activating a different window between invoking AppActivate and invoking SendKeys will cause the password to be sent to that different window in plain text (e.g. your favorite messenger)!

Answer 2

I did some of modification in the script, I have a list of IP server which have the same password and I want to telnet the list automatically and sendKey for deactivate or activate the FTP server .

my script is :

  ## - List of IP
  $printers = get-content "C:\Dir2\servers.txt"

  foreach ($IPAddress in $printers){

   ## - Start Telnet Session:
     start-process C:\Windows\System32\telnet.exe -argumentlist $IPAddress

   ## - SendKey for each IP
     $obj = New-Object -com Wscript.Shell
     sleep -s 3
     $obj.SendKeys("MyPassword{ENTER}")
     sleep -s 3
     $obj.SendKeys("7{ENTER}")
     sleep -s 3
     $obj.SendKeys("1{ENTER}")
     sleep -s 3
     $obj.SendKeys("{ENTER}")
     sleep -s 3
     $obj.SendKeys("{ENTER}")
     sleep -s 3
     $obj.SendKeys("Y{ENTER}")
     sleep -s 3
     $obj.SendKeys("{ENTER}")
     sleep -s 3
     }