.net Keys Enumeration ToString() working with BackSlash '\'

Question

I have an event handling a keypress (KeyDown) that has KeyEventArgs argument. This class has a few relevant members:

KeyCode
KeyData
KeyValue

My problem is: Whenever I press BackSlash, I'd like to get a String with the single character "\".

Whenever I call ToString() on any of the above characters, it just returns Oem5.

I know I could just throw it in a giant if clause, but I'd like to avoid that if I can.

Thanks!

try [KeyConverter.ConvertToString](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.input.keyconverter.converttostring.aspx) — Paolo Falabella, Mar 21 '11 at 15:07
@paolo, unfortunately, I'm operating under WinForms .net 2.0 (C++), and I don't have access to the System.Windows.Input.KeyConverter class, I'm searching for a similar alternative. — greggorob64, Mar 21 '11 at 15:18
@greggorob64 with the KeyPress event you could try the KeyPressEventArgs.KeyChar property — Paolo Falabella, Mar 21 '11 at 15:28
I'm going to try the KeyPress event. The KeyConverter.ToString just throws an exception. (using all 3 of they key* arguments) — greggorob64, Mar 21 '11 at 15:45

score 3 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:26

3

Keyboard Mapping in .NET provides an answer, though it may be easier to use the KeyPress event than KeyDown. KeyDown works at the level of abstraction of the actual keyboard (bunch of keys, will differ according to locale and set-up and may have e.g. a two different sets of numbers, which you may wish to distinguish, and there may not even be a character if the key is a modifier or dead-accent key). KeyPress is better-equipped to deal with the level of abstraction of actual characters being input.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:26

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answered Mar 21 '11 at 15:23

Jon Hanna

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KeyPress ended up working best off all the answers. KeyChar had exactly what I was looking for. It is a pain in the butt through, because it doesn't handle function keys. I have to use a compbination of both keypress and keydown to handle all of my keys now. Thanks! – greggorob64 Mar 23 '11 at 14:47

.net Keys Enumeration ToString() working with BackSlash '\'

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