keybd_event (deprecated) (Compact 2013)

3/28/2014

This function has been superceded by keybd_eventEx.

This function synthesizes a keystroke. The system can use such a synthesized keystroke to generate a WM_KEYUP or WM_KEYDOWN message.

Syntax

VOID keybd_event( 
  BYTE bVk, 
  BYTE bScan, 
  DWORD dwFlags, 
  DWORD dwExtraInfo 
);

Parameters

• bVk
  [in] Specifies a virtual-key code. The code must be a value in the range 1 to 254.

• bScan
  [in] Specifies a hardware scan code for the key.

• dwFlags
  [in] Specifies various aspects of function operation. An application can use any combination of the following predefined constant values to set the flags.

  Value	Description
  KEYEVENTF_EXTENDEDKEY	If specified, the scan code will be treated as an extended key by giving it a prefix byte having the value 0xE0 (224).
  KEYEVENTF_KEYUP	If specified, the key is being released. If not specified, the key is being pressed.
  KEYEVENTF_SILENT	If specified, a keystroke is simulated, but no clicking sound is made.

• dwExtraInfo
  [in] Specifies an additional 32-bit value associated with the keystroke.

Return Value

None.

Remarks

When keyboard input is disabled with EnableHardwareKeyboard(FALSE), you can simulate keyboard input using keybd_event.

Although keybd_event passes an OEM-dependent hardware scan code to the system, applications should not use the scan code. The system converts scan codes to virtual-key codes internally and clears the up/down bit in the scan code before passing it to applications.

The parameters bVk and bScan are treated independently. The OS does not use bVk to generate bScan and does not use bScan to generate bVk.

An application can simulate a press of the PRINTSCREEN key in order to obtain a screen snapshot and save it to the clipboard. To do this, call keybd_event with the bVk parameter set to VK_SNAPSHOT, and the bScan parameter set to 0 for a snapshot of the full screen or set bScan to 1 for a snapshot of the active window.

Requirements

See Also

Reference

Keyboard Functions
keybd_eventEx
EnableHardwareKeyboard
GetAsyncKeyState
GetKeyState
MapVirtualKey
PostKeybdMessage