Can't type semicolon with Java Robot class

Question

I am trying to type a semicolon using the Java Robot class but it is not functioning properly. It simply will not type anything and it causes me to highlight everything I click after the program ends. Does someone know why this is not working?

Here is my code:

  public class tEST {

    public static void main (String []args) throws AWTException {

        Robot robot=new Robot();
        robot.delay(2000);

        robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT);

        robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_COLON);
        robot.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_COLON);

        robot.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT);
    }
}

Answer 1

If you're looking for the semicolon, look instead for:

robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_SEMICOLON);

rather than the combination of keys (different keyboards have different layouts).

Documentation link:

http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/java/awt/event/KeyEvent.html#VK_SEMICOLON

Answer 2

The correct KeyEvent constant for semicolon is VK_SEMICOLON

robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_SEMICOLON);