KeyPressEventArgs.KeyChar Property

Reference

Definition

Namespace:: System.Windows.Forms

Assembly:: System.Windows.Forms.dll

Important

Some information relates to prerelease product that may be substantially modified before it’s released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here.

Gets or sets the character corresponding to the key pressed.

public:
 property char KeyChar { char get(); };

public:
 property char KeyChar { char get(); void set(char value); };

public char KeyChar { get; }

public char KeyChar { get; set; }

member this.KeyChar : char

member this.KeyChar : char with get, set

Public ReadOnly Property KeyChar As Char

Public Property KeyChar As Char

Property Value

Char

The ASCII character that is composed. For example, if the user presses SHIFT + K, this property returns an uppercase K.

Examples

The following example creates a TextBox control. The keypressed method uses the KeyChar property to check whether the ENTER key pressed. If the ENTER key is pressed, the Handled property is set to true, which indicates the event is handled.

#using <System.dll>
#using <System.Drawing.dll>
#using <System.Windows.Forms.dll>

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Windows::Forms;

public ref class Form1: public Form
{
public:
   Form1()
   {
      // Create a TextBox control.
      TextBox^ tb = gcnew TextBox;
      this->Controls->Add( tb );
      tb->KeyPress += gcnew KeyPressEventHandler( this, &Form1::keypressed );
   }

private:
   void keypressed( Object^ /*o*/, KeyPressEventArgs^ e )
   {
      // The keypressed method uses the KeyChar property to check 
      // whether the ENTER key is pressed. 
      // If the ENTER key is pressed, the Handled property is set to true, 
      // to indicate the event is handled.
      if ( e->KeyChar == (char)13 )
            e->Handled = true;
   }
};

int main()
{
   Application::Run( gcnew Form1 );
}

using System;
using System.Windows.Forms;

public class Form1: Form
{
    public Form1()
    {
        // Create a TextBox control.
        TextBox tb = new TextBox();
        this.Controls.Add(tb);
        tb.KeyPress += new KeyPressEventHandler(keypressed);
    }

    private void keypressed(Object o, KeyPressEventArgs e)
    {
        // The keypressed method uses the KeyChar property to check 
        // whether the ENTER key is pressed. 

        // If the ENTER key is pressed, the Handled property is set to true, 
        // to indicate the event is handled.
        if (e.KeyChar == (char)Keys.Return)
        {
            e.Handled = true;
        }
    }

    public static void Main()
    {
        Application.Run(new Form1());
    }
}

Imports System.Windows.Forms

Public Class Form1
    Inherits Form

    Public Sub New()
        ' Create a TextBox control.
        Dim tb As New TextBox()
        Me.Controls.Add(tb)
        AddHandler tb.KeyPress, AddressOf keypressed
    End Sub

    Private Sub keypressed(ByVal o As [Object], ByVal e As KeyPressEventArgs)
        ' The keypressed method uses the KeyChar property to check 
        ' whether the ENTER key is pressed. 

        ' If the ENTER key is pressed, the Handled property is set to true, 
        ' to indicate the event is handled.

        If e.KeyChar = Microsoft.VisualBasic.ChrW(Keys.Return) Then
            e.Handled = True
        End If
    End Sub

    Public Shared Sub Main()
        Application.Run(New Form1())
    End Sub
End Class

Remarks

Use the KeyChar property to sample keystrokes at run time and to modify keystrokes under special run-time circumstances. For example, you can use KeyChar to disable non-numeric keypresses when the user enters a ZIP code, change all alphabetical keypresses to uppercase in a data entry field, or monitor the keyboard or other key input device for specific key combinations.

You can get or set the following keys:

a-z, A-Z.
CTRL.
Punctuation marks.
Number keys, both across the top of the keyboard and on the numeric keypad.
ENTER.

You cannot get or set the following keys:

The TAB key.
INSERT and DELETE.
HOME.
END.
PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN.
F1-F2.
ALT.
Arrow keys.

Note

For information about how to detect any of the non-character keys mentioned above, see the KeyEventArgs class.

Applies to

Share via