Keyboard shortcut doesn't work when the app is in background

[InfinitelyCrazy]

I have installed a windows application called "Zello" in Wine. I want to use it to chat with my friends while gaming. So I assigned a keyboard shortcut in Zello to activate the push-to-talk function. (key - "F"). Everything is working fine when the Zello window is open and focused. But the keyboard shortcut doesn't activate the push-to-talk function when the Zello window is minimized or unfocused. That means I cannot use the Zello app to talk to my friends while I'm playing a game.
I can't use a different voice chat application at the moment because all of my friends are using Zello.

I would appreciate if someone could help me fix this issue. Thanks in advance.

I am using Kubuntu 17.10, Wine 2.0.2, and Zello 1.81

(I also tried Zello on a Windows machine with the same keyboard shortcut for push-to-talk function, and the same game. It works fine in Windows)

[Bob Wya]

@InfinitelyCrazy

It's a known issue with wineserver - that it doesn't pass device input (keyboard presses, mouse clicks, etc.) to minimised Windows.
You best bet is to capture your global hotkey (F) with a Windows scripting utility, like AutoIt or AutoHotKey, and pass it on to the handle of the unfocused Zello Window.

I've had some experience with using AutoIt - if you get stuck...

Bob

[InfinitelyCrazy]

@InfinitelyCrazy


You best bet is to capture your global hotkey (F) with a Windows scripting utility, like AutoIt or AutoHotKey, and pass it on to the handle of the unfocused Zello Window.

Bob

I tried AutoHotkey. The problem is, AutoHotkey also doesn't recognize the keys. Maybe because the script runs minimized in the system tray.

[Bob Wya]

...
I tried AutoHotkey. The problem is, AutoHotkey also doesn't recognize the keys. Maybe because the script runs minimized in the system tray.

Hmmm... I feared that might be the case...

Then it would probably have to be a hybrid solution using:

• xdotool to capture global keypress
• AutoIt or AutoHotKey executable/script to handle the Wine keyboard management

Since the xdotool X11 automation tool - doesn't really play nice with applications running under Wine...

Bob

[InfinitelyCrazy]

Thanks for helping me Bob. I use Mumble for gaming now. It's way better than Zello and it supports all the popular operating systems. So no need to configure Zello anymore. Yay.
Anyways, I hope Wine will have some solution to this problem in a future version.