How to: Detect Navigation Keys

The example in this topic shows how you can determine when a user presses any one of the four directions on a Pocket PC navigation pad or its Return button. You can extend this example to detect keys on a Pocket PC keyboard accessory.

Example

The following example shows how to get the value of a key by overriding the OnKeyDown method and evaluating the KeyData property.

Protected Overrides Sub OnKeyDown(ByVal keyg As KeyEventArgs) 
        Select Case keyg.KeyData
            Case Keys.Left
                Label1.Text = "Left" 
            Case Keys.Right
                Label1.Text = "Right" 
            Case Keys.Down
                Label1.Text = "Down" 
            Case Keys.Up
                Label1.Text = "Up" 
            Case Keys.Return
                Label1.Text = "Return" 
            End Select 
End Sub
protected override void OnKeyDown(KeyEventArgs keyg)
{
        switch(keyg.KeyData)
        {
            case Keys.Left:
                label1.Text = "Left";
                break;
            case Keys.Right:
                label1.Text = "Right";
                break;
            case Keys.Down:
                label1.Text = "Down";
                break;
            case Keys.Up:
                label1.Text = "Up";
                break;
            case Keys.Return:
                label1.Text = "Return";
                break;
            default:
                break;
        }
}

Compiling the Code

This example requires references to the following namespaces:

See Also

Tasks

How to: Use the HardwareButton Component

Other Resources

Pocket PC Development and the .NET Compact Framework