Thread: Key input

  1. #1
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    Key input

    Hello

    I need for my little game key input. Unfortunately I dont need only arrows but even letters. Is there any way how to do so using only WinAPI or do I need to use DirectX?

  2. #2
    Reverse Engineer maxorator's Avatar
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    Simply handle the WM_CHAR or WM_KEYUP/WM_KEYDOWN messages for your window.

  3. #3
    Malum in se abachler's Avatar
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    for games its generalyl preferred to use the WM_KEYUP and WM_KEYDOWN messages to update a keystate structure. WM_CHAR is subject to auto-repeat for keys that are held down. One thing to note however is that if the application loses focus while a key is down adn then the player releases the key while th app doesnt have focus, then the app will not recieve the WM_KEYUP message and will think that the key is still down. You should occasionally perform a sanity check using GetAsyncKeyState() for keys that are held down for lengthy periods. Dependign ont eh game, you coudl of course just skip that step, as it may not be an issue.

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by abachler View Post
    for games its generalyl preferred to use the WM_KEYUP and WM_KEYDOWN messages to update a keystate structure. WM_CHAR is subject to auto-repeat for keys that are held down. One thing to note however is that if the application loses focus while a key is down adn then the player releases the key while th app doesnt have focus, then the app will not recieve the WM_KEYUP message and will think that the key is still down. You should occasionally perform a sanity check using GetAsyncKeyState() for keys that are held down for lengthy periods. Dependign ont eh game, you coudl of course just skip that step, as it may not be an issue.
    I use GetAsyncKeyState() but only for arrows and stuff. It never works with letters in my case. I will try the WM_KEYDOWN it probably wont be an issue with the WM_KEYUP.

    Thank you

  5. #5
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    So now I use GetAsyncKeyState() for any input again thx for the advice. Just additional question I found at MSDN list of virtual keys but they dont work in my app the values are different. Is it because my app is set to Multibyte so that the character set has different mapping values?

    If yes where can I see map of Multibyte character set?

  6. #6
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    Oh I didnt realize before what I was looking for is a table of ascii code.

  7. #7
    Banned master5001's Avatar
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    Oh wow... Well if you ever need it, check out the VK_* codes on MSDN.

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