The MapVirtualKey function translates (maps) a virtual-key code into a scan code or character value, or translates a scan code into a virtual-key code.
UINT MapVirtualKey(
UINT uCode, // virtual-key code or scan code
UINT uMapType // translation to perform
);
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0 | uCode is a virtual-key code and is translated into a scan code. If it is a virtual-key code that does not distinguish between left- and right-hand keys, the left-hand scan code is returned. If there is no translation, the function returns 0. |
| 1 | uCode is a scan code and is translated into a virtual-key code that does not distinguish between left- and right-hand keys. If there is no translation, the function returns 0. |
| 2 | uCode is a virtual-key code and is translated into an unshifted character value in the low-order word of the return value. Dead keys (diacritics) are indicated by setting the top bit of the return value. If there is no translation, the function returns 0. |
| 3 | uCode is a scan code and is translated into a virtual-key code that distinguishes between left- and right-hand keys. If there is no translation, the function returns 0. |
The return value is either a scan code, a virtual-key code, or a character value, depending on the value of uCode and uMapType. If there is no translation, the return value is zero.
An application can use MapVirtualKey to translate scan codes to the virtual-key code constants VK_SHIFT, VK_CONTROL, and VK_MENU, and vice versa. These translations do not distinguish between the left and right instances of the shift, ctrl, or alt keys. An application can get the scan code corresponding to the left or right instance of one of these keys by calling MapVirtualKey with uCode set to one of the following virtual-key code constants.
| VK_LSHIFT | VK_RSHIFT |
| VK_LCONTROL | VK_RCONTROL |
| VK_LMENU | VK_RMENU |
These left- and right-distinguishing constants are available to an application only through the GetKeyboardState, SetKeyboardState, GetAsyncKeyState, GetKeyState, and MapVirtualKey functions.
Windows CE: Windows CE supports only a value of 2 for the uMapType parameter – mapping from virtual keys to unshifted characters.
Windows NT: Requires version 3.1 or later.
Windows: Requires Windows 95 or later.
Windows CE: Requires version 1.0 or later.
Header: Declared in winuser.h.
Import Library: Use user32.lib.
Unicode: Implemented as Unicode and ANSI versions on Windows NT.
Keyboard Input Overview, Keyboard Input Functions, GetAsyncKeyState, GetKeyboardState, GetKeyState, SetKeyboardState