An application sends a WM_SETHOTKEY message to a window to associate a hot key with the window. When the user presses the hot key, the system activates the window.
Syntax
To send this message, call the
SendMessage
function as follows.
lResult = SendMessage( // returns LRESULT in lResult
hWndControl, // (HWND) handle to destination control
WM_SETHOTKEY, // (UINT) message ID
wParam, // = () wParam;
lParam // = () lParam;
);
Parameters
- wParam
-
The low-order word specifies the virtual-key code to associate with the window.
The high-order word can be one or more of the following values.
Setting
wParam to NULL removes the hot key associated with a window.
HOTKEYF_ALT- ALT key
HOTKEYF_CONTROL- CTRL key
HOTKEYF_EXT- Extended key
HOTKEYF_SHIFT- SHIFT key
- lParam
-
This parameter is not used.
Return Value
The return value is one of the following.
| -1 | The function is unsuccessful—the hot key is invalid. |
| 0 | The function is unsuccessful—the window is invalid. |
| 1 | The function is successful, and no other window has the same hot key. |
| 2 | The function is successful, but another window already has the same hot key. |
Remarks
A hot key cannot be associated with a child window.
VK_ESCAPE, VK_SPACE, and VK_TAB are invalid hot keys.
When the user presses the hot key, the system generates a WM_SYSCOMMAND message with
wParam equal to SC_HOTKEY and
lParam equal to the window's handle. If this message is passed on to
DefWindowProc, the system will bring the window's last active popup (if it exists) or the window itself (if there is no popup window) to the foreground.
A window can only have one hot key. If the window already has a hot key associated with it, the new hot key replaces the old one. If more than one window has the same hot key, the window that is activated by the hot key is random.
These hot keys are unrelated to the hot keys set by RegisterHotKey.
Message Information
| Header | Declared in Winuser.h, include Windows.h |
|---|
| Minimum operating systems |
Windows 95, Windows NT 3.1 |
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See Also