The ToUnicodeEx function translates the specified virtual-key code and keyboard state to the corresponding Unicode character or characters.
int ToUnicodeEx(
UINT wVirtKey, // virtual-key code
UINT wScanCode, // scan code
PBYTE lpKeyState, // key-state array
LPWSTR pwszBuff, // buffer for translated key
int cchBuff, // size of translated key buffer
UINT wFlags, // set of function-conditioning flags
HKL dwhkl // keyboard layout handle
);
The function returns one of the following values.
Value | Meaning |
---|---|
– 1 | The specified virtual key is a dead-key character (accent or diacritic). This value is returned regardless of the keyboard layout, even if several characters have been typed and are stored in the keyboard state. If possible, even with Unicode keyboard layouts, the function has written a spacing version of the dead-key character to the buffer specified by pwszBuffer. For example, the function writes the character SPACING ACUTE (0x00B4), rather than the character NON_SPACING ACUTE (0x0301). |
0 | The specified virtual key has no translation for the current state of the keyboard. Nothing was written to the buffer specified by pwszBuffer. |
1 | One character was written to the buffer specified by pwszBuffer. |
2 or more | Two or more characters were written to the buffer specified by pwszBuff. The most common cause for this is that a dead-key character (accent or diacritic) stored in the keyboard layout could not be combined with the specified virtual key to form a single character. |
The parameters supplied to the ToUnicodeEx function might not be sufficient to translate the virtual-key code because a previous dead key is stored in the keyboard layout.
Typically, ToUnicodeEx performs the translation based on the virtual-key code. In some cases, however, bit 15 of the wScanCode parameter can be used to distinguish between a key press and a key release.
Windows NT: Requires version 4.0 or later.
Windows: Unsupported.
Windows CE: Unsupported.
Header: Declared in winuser.h.
Import Library: Use user32.lib.
Keyboard Input Overview, Keyboard Input Functions, ToAscii, ToUnicode, VkKeyScan