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.NET Framework Class Library
KeyEventArgs..::.KeyData Property

Gets the key data for a KeyDown or KeyUp event.

Namespace: System.Windows.Forms
Assembly: System.Windows.Forms (in System.Windows.Forms.dll)
Syntax
Public ReadOnly Property KeyData As Keys
public Keys KeyData { get; }
public:
property Keys KeyData {
	Keys get ();
}
member KeyData : Keys

Property Value

Type: System.Windows.Forms..::.Keys
A Keys representing the key code for the key that was pressed, combined with modifier flags that indicate which combination of CTRL, SHIFT, and ALT keys was pressed at the same time.
Remarks

You can use constants from Keys to extract information from the KeyData property. Use the bitwise AND operator to compare data returned by KeyData with constants in Keys to obtain information about which keys the user pressed. To determine whether a specific modifier key was pressed, use the Control, Shift, and Alt properties.

Examples

The following code example demonstrates the use of this member. In the example, an event handler reports on the occurrence of the Control..::.KeyDown event. This report helps you to learn when the event occurs and can assist you in debugging. To report on multiple events or on events that occur frequently, consider replacing MessageBox..::.Show with Console..::.WriteLine or appending the message to a multiline TextBox.

To run the example code, paste it into a project that contains an instance of a type that inherits from Control, such as a Button or ComboBox. Then name the instance Control1 and ensure that the event handler is associated with the Control..::.KeyDown event.


Private Sub Control1_KeyDown(sender as Object, e as KeyEventArgs) _ 
     Handles Control1.KeyDown

    Dim messageBoxVB as New System.Text.StringBuilder()
    messageBoxVB.AppendFormat("{0} = {1}", "Alt", e.Alt)
    messageBoxVB.AppendLine()
    messageBoxVB.AppendFormat("{0} = {1}", "Control", e.Control)
    messageBoxVB.AppendLine()
    messageBoxVB.AppendFormat("{0} = {1}", "Handled", e.Handled)
    messageBoxVB.AppendLine()
    messageBoxVB.AppendFormat("{0} = {1}", "KeyCode", e.KeyCode)
    messageBoxVB.AppendLine()
    messageBoxVB.AppendFormat("{0} = {1}", "KeyValue", e.KeyValue)
    messageBoxVB.AppendLine()
    messageBoxVB.AppendFormat("{0} = {1}", "KeyData", e.KeyData)
    messageBoxVB.AppendLine()
    messageBoxVB.AppendFormat("{0} = {1}", "Modifiers", e.Modifiers)
    messageBoxVB.AppendLine()
    messageBoxVB.AppendFormat("{0} = {1}", "Shift", e.Shift)
    messageBoxVB.AppendLine()
    messageBoxVB.AppendFormat("{0} = {1}", "SuppressKeyPress", e.SuppressKeyPress)
    messageBoxVB.AppendLine()
    MessageBox.Show(messageBoxVB.ToString(),"KeyDown Event")

End Sub


private void Control1_KeyDown(Object sender, KeyEventArgs e) {

System.Text.StringBuilder messageBoxCS = new System.Text.StringBuilder();
messageBoxCS.AppendFormat("{0} = {1}", "Alt", e.Alt );
messageBoxCS.AppendLine();
messageBoxCS.AppendFormat("{0} = {1}", "Control", e.Control );
messageBoxCS.AppendLine();
messageBoxCS.AppendFormat("{0} = {1}", "Handled", e.Handled );
messageBoxCS.AppendLine();
messageBoxCS.AppendFormat("{0} = {1}", "KeyCode", e.KeyCode );
messageBoxCS.AppendLine();
messageBoxCS.AppendFormat("{0} = {1}", "KeyValue", e.KeyValue );
messageBoxCS.AppendLine();
messageBoxCS.AppendFormat("{0} = {1}", "KeyData", e.KeyData );
messageBoxCS.AppendLine();
messageBoxCS.AppendFormat("{0} = {1}", "Modifiers", e.Modifiers );
messageBoxCS.AppendLine();
messageBoxCS.AppendFormat("{0} = {1}", "Shift", e.Shift );
messageBoxCS.AppendLine();
messageBoxCS.AppendFormat("{0} = {1}", "SuppressKeyPress", e.SuppressKeyPress );
messageBoxCS.AppendLine();
MessageBox.Show(messageBoxCS.ToString(), "KeyDown Event" );
}

Version Information

.NET Framework

Supported in: 4, 3.5, 3.0, 2.0, 1.1, 1.0

.NET Framework Client Profile

Supported in: 4, 3.5 SP1
Platforms

Windows 7, Windows Vista SP1 or later, Windows XP SP3, Windows XP SP2 x64 Edition, Windows Server 2008 (Server Core not supported), Windows Server 2008 R2 (Server Core supported with SP1 or later), Windows Server 2003 SP2

The .NET Framework does not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.