How to use keyboard right and left arrow keys in my application

Question

How can i use the keyboard right and left arrow keys in my application instead of click the yes or no buttons

Sam Hobbs · Answer

Note that my article for C++ MFC does explain the WM_GETDLGCODE message. I assume that .Net provides a method that is easier to use and that provides equivalent features.

theLizard · Answer

From my interpretation of his question, he wants to use the arrow keys to fire the button click events instead of clicking on the buttons, why I do not know!! Frogleg, I have not tried your code but, when a button has the focus, the arrow keys will move focus to the next control in tab order even if KeyPreview is set to true and there is a form key down event or a keydown event for the buttons themselves. If the button does not have focus then key preview as in my example does work. I am reasonably sure that this like the TAB key is the default behavior of the arrow keys for anything other than edit controls that want tabs like the rich edit control. I had a similar need to capture the TAB key in C++ Builder, there was no way to capture the TAB key by using any of the key events, UP, Down, Press. What needed to be done was to override the controls TAB default behavior using a MESSAGE_MAP in a derived custom control. BEGIN_MESSAGE_MAP VCL_MESSAGE_HANDLER(WM_GETDLGCODE, TMessage, WMGetDlgCode) END_MESSAGE_MAP(TComboBox); void __fastcall TMyComboBox::WMGetDlgCode(TMessage &msg) { TComboBox::Dispatch(&msg); msg.Result |= DLGC_WANTTAB; } This allowed the TAB key press to be captured and consumed by the derived control, I am sure that the arrow keys can be captured the same way (have not had the need to do so). I don't know if you can do the same in C#, if not, this is a limitation, if yes then it is a matter of finding out how to.

Frogleg · Answer

From what I gather, he has two buttons on a form - correct and incorrect - and he wants to use the arrow keys to input in conjunction with mouse click of those buttonsIf there are radio buttons etc on the form the arrow keys will not be treated as an input - hence the code I uploaded earlier To make it easy, here is a sample

theLizard · Answer

Sam, "My suggestion is to write a UserControl. It does not need to have any buttons; it could have images that look like buttons. Then the keys could be processed in a manner that is totally normal for controls." I agree with you on this :)

Sam Hobbs · Answer

Vulpes is not the only one that could possibly help. If this was a C++ program using MFC then I would recommend my article Processing Keyboard Messages ; I wrote that in response to similar discussions to show how to use object-oriented solutions for MFC programming. I do not know if Frogleg's suggestion will work but I have confidence in and respect of what he does too. My suggestion is to write a UserControl. It does not need to have any buttons; it could have images that look like buttons. Then the keys could be processed in a manner that is totally normal for controls.

theLizard · Answer

There is only one part of this question that is not clear, that is, where are the "Yes"/ "no"buttons. Are they on a MessageBox Dialog or are they on a standard form. If they are on a MessageBox Dialog then you most probably would NOT be able to use the arrow keys to fire the button click events. If they are on a standard form then the answer is simple, private void frmMain_KeyDown(object sender, KeyEventArgs e) { if (e.KeyData == Keys.Right) bnNo_Click(this, e); if (e.KeyData == Keys.Left) bnYes_Click(this, e); } But this only works if the buttons do not have the focus , if they do the arrow keys will respond to the arrow key being pressed setting focus to the next control in tab order. I don't know if you can but the only way you could get this to work for you when a button has focus is to over ride its behavior, I do not know how to do this in C# (I do in the C++ I use) maybe Vulpes can help here.

Kunal Vaishya · Answer

Dear Create KeyDown Event and KeyPreview on Property True if Exist put Code Modify as Per Requirement private void Form1_KeyDown(object sender, KeyEventArgs e) { if (e.KeyData = Keys.Left) { MessageBox.SHow("Left Key") } else if (e.KeyData = Keys.Right) { MessageBox.SHow("Right Key") } }

Sam Hobbs · Answer

Siri, can you tell us what you are trying to do, from the point of view of the user? What would the user see and what would they see happen? I can understand that it might be difficult to explain. I want to understand.

jnmsy · Answer

Go through the above video they will definitely help you..

siri · Answer

Hi Sir, Iam new to .net that to windows application, before asking question iam trying to do own afterthat only Iam posting Questions. Iam trainee ,No one is there to give support us. Sometimes Iam unable to express what i want thats why iam giving so many replys. Yes Iam unfamiliar with windows application.Thanks for your reply Thanks&Regards, Siri

jnmsy · Answer

Hello Siri, The following videos may help you http://www.bestdotnettraining.com/Online/Training/CSharp/WinForms/14

Sam Hobbs · Answer

I wish people would get clarification before guessing at the solution. If the person seeking assistance does not spend the small amount of time needed to do that then they are not doing their part. What typically happens is that someone guesses at an answer and the person chooses the answer but then we find out what the person really wants to do and then it becomes obvious that there would be a more appropriate solution but the person that is seeking assistance continues with the fist one. And then if someone in the future seeks answer, they get misled too. Depending on requirements, there is a good chance that a better solution is to derive a control from a control. Another possibility is to create a UserControl. Use of the arrow keys, in the manner I understand the question, is not what Windows users are expecting. Id Siri is unfamiliar with accepted practices of Windows programs then perhaps the best solution is a better understanding. I think it is best to avoid overriding keyboard processing for the entire window (form) when the requriements can be satisfied by processing keys in a specific control or type of control.

Frogleg · Answer

To use arrow keys Set key preview to true in form properties //put this in form load event SetFeatureToAllControls(this.Controls); // private void SetFeatureToAllControls(Control.ControlCollection cc) { if (cc != null) { foreach (Control control in cc) { control.PreviewKeyDown += new PreviewKeyDownEventHandler(control_PreviewKeyDown); SetFeatureToAllControls(control.Controls); } } } void control_PreviewKeyDown(object sender, PreviewKeyDownEventArgs e) { if (e.KeyCode == Keys.Up || e.KeyCode == Keys.Down || e.KeyCode == Keys.Left || e.KeyCode == Keys.Right) { e.IsInputKey = true; } } //then in keydown private void Form1_KeyDown(object sender, KeyEventArgs e) { if (e.KeyCode == Keys.Left) { } else if (e.KeyCode == Keys.Right) { } }

Sam Hobbs · Answer

I am not sure what you are trying to do. The arrow keys are typically used to move around. Is that what you are trying to do or are you trying to use the arrow keys in a manner that is different from their typical use?

Kunal Vaishya · Answer

Dear if is Dekstop Application Then use Key Down or Key Press Event to Do if you have more functionality then you can also manage by ContexMenu private void Form1_KeyDown(object sender, KeyEventArgs e) { if (e.KeyData = Keys.Left) { } else if (e.KeyData = Keys.Right) { } }

How to use keyboard right and left arrow keys in my application

Answers (15)