Keys and Key Codes for Windows Mobile

4/8/2010

Windows Mobile maintains a device–independent keyboard model that enables it to support a variety of keyboards. At the lowest level, each key on the keyboard generates a scan code when the key is pressed and released. The scan code is a hardware–dependent number that identifies the key. The keyboard driver translates or maps each scan code to a virtual key code. The virtual key code is a hardware–independent hexadecimal number that identifies the key. Because keyboard layouts vary from language to language, Windows Mobile offers only the core set of virtual key codes that are found on all keyboards. This core set includes English characters, numbers, and a few critical keys, such as the function and arrow keys. Keys that are not included in the core set also have virtual key code assignments, but their values vary from one keyboard layout to the next. You should depend only on the virtual key codes that are in the core set.

Key Codes

The following table shows the symbolic constant names, hexadecimal values, and keyboard equivalents for the virtual key codes used by the Windows Mobile operating system. The codes are listed in numeric order. You can combine any of the codes with a modifier key to create a hot key.

A VK_code is a byte, and so there are only 256 VK_codes total. The virtual key codes listed in the "Virtual key codes" section below are shared with Windows Embedded CE. More virtual keys were required for functionality, and so many hex values are shared between both a traditional Windows Embedded CE value and a Windows Mobile–specific value.

The following table provides a list of the mappings between the traditional VK constants and the additional Windows Mobile–specific value.

For more information about the d-pad, see D-pad Virtual Key Code Support. For more information about soft keys, see Soft Key Virtual Key Codes.

The following keys were undefined for Windows Embedded CE, but are overridden as application keys in Windows Mobile.

The VK_APP keys will only be recognized by the system if they are wrapped with VK_LWIN. The following code snippet demonstrates how to do this programmatically.

keybd_event(VK_LWIN, 0, KEYEVENTF_SILENT, 0);
GenKeyEvent(VK_APP1);
keybd_event(VK_LWIN, 0, KEYEVENTF_SILENT | KEYEVENTF_KEYUP, 0);

And finally, the following chorded keys are implemented for Windows Mobile.

VK_A to VK_Z and VK_0 to VK_9 are defined to be the same values as their ASCII counterparts. So VK_A is 0x41 and VK_0 is 0x30. Windows Mobile also defines the following numerical codes.

VK_0 (which is the same as VK_T0) and VK_NUMPAD0 are different keys. On the desktop keyboard, VK_0 is the key just above and to the left of VK_P. VK_NUMPAD0 is the key at the bottom of the number pad on the far right of the keyboard. Windows Mobile applications will always look for VK_0, but can also look for both VK_0 and VK_NUMPAD0 in order to do the correct thing if there was a device with a numpad.

Virtual key codes in Windows Mobile

Symbolic constant	Hexadecimal value	Additional mapping defined for Windows Mobile	Mouse or keyboard equivalent
VK_LBUTTON	0x01		Left mouse button.
VK_RBUTTON	0x02		Right mouse button.
VK_CANCEL	0x03		Control–break processing.
VK_MBUTTON	0x04		Middle mouse button on a three–button mouse.
	0x05–0x07		Undefined.
VK_BACK	0x08		BACKSPACE key.
VK_TAB	0x09		TAB key.
	0x0A–0x0B		Undefined.
VK_CLEAR	0x0C		CLEAR key.
VK_RETURN	0x0D		ENTER key.
	0x0E–0x0F		Undefined.
VK_SHIFT	0x10		SHIFT key.
VK_CONTROL	0x11		CTRL key.
VK_MENU	0x12		ALT key.
VK_PAUSE	0x13		PAUSE key.
VK_CAPITAL	0x14		CAPS LOCK key.
	0x15–0x19		Reserved for Kanji systems.
	0x1A		Undefined.
VK_ESCAPE	0x1B		ESC key.
	0x1C–0x1F		Reserved for Kanji systems.
VK_SPACE	0x20		SPACEBAR.
VK_PRIOR	0x21		PAGE UP key.
VK_NEXT	0x22		PAGE DOWN key.
VK_END	0x23		END key.
VK_HOME	0x24		HOME key.
VK_LEFT	0x25		LEFT ARROW key.
VK_UP	0x26		UP ARROW key.
VK_RIGHT	0x27		RIGHT ARROW key.
VK_DOWN	0x28		DOWN ARROW key.
VK_SELECT	0x29		SELECT key.
	0x2A		Specific to OEM.
VK_EXECUTE	0x2B		EXECUTE key.
VK_SNAPSHOT	0x2C		PRINT SCREEN key.
VK_INSERT	0x2D		INS key.
VK_DELETE	0x2E		DEL key.
VK_HELP	0x2F		HELP key.
	0x3A–0x40		Undefined.
VK_LWIN	0x5B		Left Windows key on a Microsoft Natural Keyboard.
VK_RWIN	0x5C		Right Windows key on a Microsoft Natural Keyboard.
VK_APPS	0x5D		Applications key on a Microsoft Natural Keyboard.
	0x5E–0x5F		Undefined
VK_NUMPAD0	0x60		Numeric keypad 0 key.
VK_NUMPAD1	0x61		Numeric keypad 1 key.
VK_NUMPAD2	0x62		Numeric keypad 2 key.
VK_NUMPAD3	0x63		Numeric keypad 3 key.
VK_NUMPAD4	0x64		Numeric keypad 4 key.
VK_NUMPAD5	0x65		Numeric keypad 5 key.
VK_NUMPAD6	0x66		Numeric keypad 6 key.
VK_NUMPAD7	0x67		Numeric keypad 7 key.
VK_NUMPAD8	0x68		Numeric keypad 8 key.
VK_NUMPAD9	0x69		Numeric keypad 9 key.
VK_MULTIPLY	0x6A		Multiply key.
VK_ADD	0x6B		Add key.
VK_SEPARATOR	0x6C		Separator key.
VK_SUBTRACT	0x6D		Subtract key.
VK_DECIMAL	0x6E		Decimal key.
VK_DIVIDE	0x6F		Divide key.
VK_F1	0x70		F1 key.
VK_F2	0x71		F2 key.
VK_F3	0x72		F3 key.
VK_F4	0x73		F4 key.
VK_F5	0x74		F5 key.
VK_F6	0x75		F6 key.
VK_F7	0x76		F7 key.
VK_F8	0x77		F8 key.
VK_F9	0x78		F9 key.
VK_F10	0x79		F10 key.
VK_F11	0x7A		F11 key.
VK_F12	0x7B		F12 key.
VK_F13	0x7C		F13 key.
VK_F14	0x7D		F14 key.
VK_F15	0x7E		F15 key.
VK_F16	0x7F		F16 key.
VK_F17	0x80		F17 key.
VK_F18	0x81		F18 key.
VK_F19	0x82		F19 key.
VK_F20	0x83		F20 key.
VK_F21	0x84		F21 key.
VK_F22	0x85		F22 key. Key used to lock device.
VK_F23	0x86		F23 key.
VK_F24	0x87		F24 key.
	0x89–0x8F		Unassigned.
VK_NUMLOCK	0x90		NUM LOCK key.
VK_SCROLL	0x91		SCROLL LOCK key.
VK_LSHIFT	0xA0		Left SHIFT.
VK_RSHIFT	0xA1		Right SHIFT.
VK_LCONTROL	0xA2		Left CTRL.
VK_RCONTROL	0xA3		Right CTRL.
VK_LMENU	0xA4		Left ALT.
VK_RMENU	0xA5		Right ALT.
	0xBA–0xC0		Specific to OEM; reserved. See following tables.
	0xC1–0xDA	0xC1–0xC6	Unassigned.
	0xDB–0xDE		Specific to OEM; reserved. See following tables.
VK_OFF	0xDF		Used to power the device on and off. No keyboard equivalent.
	0xE1–0xE4		Specific to OEM.
	0xE5		Unassigned.
	0xE6		Specific to OEM.
VK_PACKET	0xE7		Used to pass Unicode characters as if they were keystrokes. If VK_PACKET is used with SendInput, then the Unicode character to be delivered should be placed into the lower 16 bits of the scan code. If a keyboard message is removed from the message queue and the virtual key is VK_PACKET, then the Unicode character will be the upper 16 bits of the lparam.
	0xE8		Unassigned.
	0xE9–0xF5		Specific to OEM.
VK_ATTN	0xF6		ATTN key.
VK_CRSEL	0xF7		CRSEL key.
VK_EXSEL	0xF8		EXSEL key.
VK_EREOF	0xF9		Erase EOF key.
VK_PLAY	0xFA		PLAY key.
VK_ZOOM	0xFB		ZOOM key.
VK_NONAME	0xFC		Reserved for future use.
VK_PA1	0xFD		PA1 key.
VK_OEM_CLEAR	0xFE		CLEAR key.
VK_KEYLOCK	0xF22		Key used to lock device.

OEMs should make special note of the VK key ranges reserved for specific OEM use: 2A, DB–E4, E6, and E9–F5.

In addition to the virtual key assignments in the previous table, Microsoft has assigned the following specific OEM virtual keys.

For East Asian Input Method Editors (IMEs) the following additional virtual keyboard definitions must be observed.

OEMs should not use the unassigned portions of the virtual key (VK) mapping tables. Microsoft will assign these values in the future. If manufacturers require additional VK mappings, they should reuse some of the current manufacturer–specific and vendor–specific assignments.

See Also

Reference

WM_CHAR

Concepts

Processing Character Messages

Other Resources

Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Message Map for Navigation Controls