>TC,
>
>Can you get the manufacturer and model number of the usb numeric keypad? I would look it up online and see if it receives any communication or only sends as Tore suggested. Some of them have drivers that allow for programming them or communicating with them. They made need to purchase one that has those features or they not have installed the drivers to allow for two-way communication. Is it usb wired or usb wireless? Some of them actually switch numlock() on everytime you press a key and on the release turn it off. That would probably be ideal for them but I don't know the cost difference.
>
>The manufacturer is A4Tech, with model number TK-5.
>
>Thanks!
>Dennis

That model doesn't have any drivers and the link to the manual is broken :( I recommend emailing the manufacturer about it (there's a link on their website) and asking about that functionality and if that model doesn't support it, possibly a different model...

http://www.a4tech.com/emailus.asp