Thread: GetKeyNameText - Is the API or Buggy or is it Me?

Hi there,

I'm trying to convert a virtual key (vk) code into a simple string, but I'm having problems. Here is my code:

Code:

  std::string rslt;
  unsigned int sc = MapVirtualKey(vk, 0);

  sc <<= 16;

  char buf[256];
  if (GetKeyNameTextA(sc, buf, 256) > 0)
    rslt = buf;

It works for some key code values, but there are dozens where it inexplicably returns errorneours values. For example, PAGE_UP returns the string "NUM 9", PAGE_DOWN returns give "NUM 3", DELETE gives "NUM DECIMAL".

I have tried setting bits 24 & 25 of the scan code, but that appears to make things worse.

I read somewhere that GetKeyNameText has a bug where it returns a wrong value for the numeric keypad divide, however in my case, it is not just one character which is wrong.

Am I doing something wrong? Can anyone help?

here's some tests i did.

I ran a win32 program and put that code in my WM_KEYDOWN handler, and it seemed to work fine (I hadn't seen this function before, definitely remembering it though, thanks)

but anyways, here's some testing I did, I displayed the string value and the hex value of lParam (which I passed to GetKeyNameText (not really sure why you're using GetKeyNameTextA...most compilers put stuff in to decide which function you should be using)) and here's what I got:
...wow, I just nested my parenthesis....

Code:

  key:	  binary value of lParam
  F:		10 0001 0000 0000 0000 0001
  Page Up: 1 0100 1001 0000 0000 0000 0001
  Num 9:	  100 1001 0000 0000 0000 0001
  F1:	   11 1011 0000 0000 0000 0001

-edit- I give up trying to line this up, *shakes fist* -edit-

so it seems shifting the first 16 bits is right, but you need to set the first bit or something.....possibly that has to do with it somehow? I'm noticing your shifting the bits to the left 16 bits, but not setting the first bit....

-hope that helps

Thanks for the reply. Your output values gave me some ideas. By purely empirical means, the following code seems to be working:

Code:

  unsigned int sc = MapVirtualKey(vk, 0);

  // Is vk ASCII?
  char buf[256];
  memset(buf, 0, 256);
  unsigned short int temp;
  bool asc = (vk <= 32);
  if (!asc && vk != VK_DIVIDE)
   asc = ToAscii(vk, sc, buf, &temp, 1);

  // Set bits
  sc <<= 16;
  sc |= 0x1 << 25;  // <- don't care
  if (!asc) sc |= 0x1 << 24; // <- extended bit

  // Convert to ANSI string
  if (GetKeyNameTextA(sc, buf, 256) > 0)
    rslt = buf;

Although I haven't fully tested it with every possible key value. Also I can't say I fully understand it. It seems I should only set bit 24 if the VK is not ASCII. So if there is a better way to do this, please let me know anyone.

Thanks again jverkoey.