MapVirtualKeyEx

The MapVirtualKeyEx function translates (maps) a virtual-key code into a scan code or character value, or translates a scan code into a virtual-key code. The function translates the codes using the input language and physical keyboard layout identified by the given keyboard layout handle.

UINT MapVirtualKeyEx(
  UINT uCode,     // virtual-key code or scan code
  UINT uMapType,  // translation to perform
  HKL dwhkl       // keyboard layout handle
);
 

Parameters

uCode

Specifies the virtual-key code or scan code for a key. How this value is interpreted depends on the value of the uMapType parameter.

uMapType

Specifies the translation to perform. The value of this parameter depends on the value of the uCode parameter:

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.

dwhkl

Handle to the keyboard layout to use for translating the given code. This parameter can be any keyboard layout handle previously returned by the LoadKeyboardLayout function.

Return Values

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.

Remarks

An application can use MapVirtualKeyEx 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 MapVirtualKeyEx with uCode set to one of the following virtual-key code constants.

These left- and right-distinguishing constants are available to an application only through the GetKeyboardState, SetKeyboardState, GetAsyncKeyState, GetKeyState, MapVirtualKey, and MapVirtualKeyEx functions. For list complete table of virtual key codes, see Virtual-Key Codes.

QuickInfo

  Windows NT: Requires version 4.0 or later.
  Windows: Requires Windows 95 or later.
  Windows CE: Unsupported.
  Header: Declared in winuser.h.
  Import Library: Use user32.lib.
  Unicode: Implemented as Unicode and ANSI versions on Windows NT.

See Also

Keyboard Input Overview, Keyboard Input Functions, GetAsyncKeyState, GetKeyboardState, GetKeyState, LoadKeyboardLayout, MapVirtualKey, SetKeyboardState