INFO: Visual Basic SendKeys Statement Is Case-Sensitive

ID: Q81466

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Visual Basic Standard and Professional Editions for Windows, versions 2.0, 3.0
Microsoft Visual Basic programming system for Windows, version 1.0

SUMMARY

The SendKeys statement in Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows is case- sensitive with regards to the keystrokes sent. Sending an uppercase letter may be interpreted by the receiving application differently than the lowercase version of a letter.

MORE INFORMATION

The following line of code sends an ALT+F key combination to the application that currently has the focus:


   SendKeys "%(F)"

NOTE: This is different from ALT+F:


   SendKeys "%(f)"

This can be a problem because some applications distinguish between an uppercase F and lowercase f when sent by the SendKeys statement.

For example, Microsoft Word versions 1.0b and earlier for Windows (WINWORD.EXE) do not distinguish the difference. However, Microsoft Word version 2.0 for Windows does distinguish the lowercase f sent by SendKeys.

When SendKeys (from Visual Basic for Windows) sends the ALT+F key combination, WINWORD.EXE version 2.0 interprets the keystroke as ALT+Shift+f, at which Word for Windows will simply beep. However, SendKeys using ALT+f will correctly activate the File menu.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbprg PrgCtrlsStd vbwin
Version : WINDOWS:1.0,2.0,3.0
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbinfo