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WM_CHAR

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This message is posted to the window with the keyboard focus when a WM_KEYDOWN message is translated by the TranslateMessage function. WM_CHAR contains the character code of the key that was pressed.

WM_CHAR chCharCode = (TCHAR) wParam; lKeyData = lParam;

Parameters

  • chCharCode
    Specifies the character code of the key.
  • lKeyData
    Specifies the repeat count, context code, previous key-state flag, and transition-state flag, as shown in the following table.
    Value Description
    0–15 Specifies the repeat count. The value is the number of times the keystroke is repeated as a result of the user holding down the key.
    29 Specifies the context code. The value is 1 if the ALT key is held down while the key is pressed; otherwise, the value is 0.
    30 Specifies the previous key state. The value is 1 if the key is down before the message is sent, or it is 0 if the key is up.
    31 Specifies the transition state. The value is 1 if the key is being released, or it is 0 if the key is being pressed.

Return Values

An application should return zero if it processes this message.

Remarks

Because there is not necessarily a one-to-one correspondence between keys pressed and character messages generated, the information in the high-order word of the lKeyData parameter is generally not useful to applications. The information in the high-order word applies only to the most recent WM_KEYDOWN message that precedes the posting of the WM_CHAR message.

For enhanced 101- and 102-key keyboards, extended keys are the right ALT and the right CTRL keys on the main section of the keyboard; the INS, DEL, HOME, END, PAGE UP, PAGE DOWN and arrow keys in the clusters to the left of the numeric keypad; and the divide (/) and ENTER keys in the numeric keypad. Some other keyboards may support the extended-key bit in the lKeyData parameter.

Requirements

Runs on Versions Defined in Include Link to
Windows CE OS 1.0 and later Winuser.h    

Note   This API is part of the complete Windows CE OS package as provided by Microsoft. The functionality of a particular platform is determined by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and some devices may not support this API.

See Also

TranslateMessage, WM_KEYDOWN

 Last updated on Tuesday, July 13, 2004

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