onKeyDown(), question in dlg based app

I have a dialog based application whith some cotrols (buttons and editbox), in VisualC++ 6.
Now I want variables in the dialog to respond to keystrokes whith the onKeyDown() or onChar() memberfunctions.
So my question is, how do i get the focus to the application and not to one of the controls. As it is now, when I press a key it is displayed in the editbox, and that is not my intention.
I have tried to use ::SetFocus(), and ::GetFocus(), on the dialogClass itself, whith no luck....
Hope someone can give a hand, Im going crazzzzzy....