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ConsoleSpecialKey Enumeration

Specifies combinations of modifier and console keys that can interrupt the current process.

Namespace:  System
Assembly:  mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)

[SerializableAttribute]
public enum class ConsoleSpecialKey

Member nameDescription
ControlCThe ConsoleModifiers::Control modifier key plus the ConsoleKey::C console key.
ControlBreakThe ConsoleModifiers::Control modifier key plus the BREAK console key.

The ConsoleCancelEventArgs::SpecialKey property returns the ConsoleSpecialKey enumeration type.

Simultaneously pressing certain key combinations signals the operating system to interrupt the currently running process. The two valid key combinations are ConsoleModifiers::Control plus BREAK (CTRL+BREAK) and ConsoleModifiers::Control plus ConsoleKey::C (CTRL+C).

The following code example displays the ConsoleSpecialKey value that invokes the associated event handler.


using namespace System;

void OnCancelKeyPressed(Object^ sender, 
    ConsoleCancelEventArgs^ args)
{
    Console::WriteLine("{0}The read operation has been interrupted.",
        Environment::NewLine);

    Console::WriteLine("  Key pressed: {0}", args->SpecialKey);

    Console::WriteLine("  Cancel property: {0}", args->Cancel);

    // Set the Cancel property to true to prevent the process from 
    // terminating.
    Console::WriteLine("Setting the Cancel property to true...");
    args->Cancel = true;

    // Announce the new value of the Cancel property.
    Console::WriteLine("  Cancel property: {0}", args->Cancel);
    Console::WriteLine("The read operation will resume...{0}",
        Environment::NewLine);
}

int main()
{       
    // Clear the screen.
    Console::Clear();

    // Establish an event handler to process key press events.
    Console::CancelKeyPress += 
        gcnew ConsoleCancelEventHandler(OnCancelKeyPressed);

    while (true)
    {
        // Prompt the user.
        Console::Write("Press any key, or 'X' to quit, or ");
        Console::WriteLine("CTRL+C to interrupt the read operation:");

        // Start a console read operation. Do not display the input.
        ConsoleKeyInfo^ keyInfo = Console::ReadKey(true);

        // Announce the name of the key that was pressed .
        Console::WriteLine("  Key pressed: {0}{1}", keyInfo->Key, 
            Environment::NewLine);

        // Exit if the user pressed the 'X' key.
        if (keyInfo->Key == ConsoleKey::X)
        {
            break;
        }
    }
}
// The example displays output similar to the following:
//    Press any key, or 'X' to quit, or CTRL+C to interrupt the read operation:
//    Key pressed: J
//    
//    Press any key, or 'X' to quit, or CTRL+C to interrupt the read operation:
//    Key pressed: Enter
//    
//    Press any key, or 'X' to quit, or CTRL+C to interrupt the read operation:
//    
//    The read operation has been interrupted.
//    Key pressed: ControlC
//    Cancel property: False
//    Setting the Cancel property to true...
//    Cancel property: True
//    The read operation will resume...
//    
//    Key pressed: Q
//    
//    Press any key, or 'X' to quit, or CTRL+C to interrupt the read operation:
//    Key pressed: X


.NET Framework

Supported in: 4, 3.5, 3.0, 2.0

.NET Framework Client Profile

Supported in: 4, 3.5 SP1

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.
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