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INKEY$ Function Details
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INKEY$
Usage Notes
■ Input from the INKEY$ function cannot be directed to a form. Any
reference to INKEY$ when forms are showing causes Visual Basic to
generate an error. Use the HIDE method to hide any visible forms or
controls before executing this function. See: ◄HIDE Method►
■ The INKEY$ function returns the following values:
Condition Value
════════════════════════ ════════════════════════════════════════
If there is no character Null string
For keys 1-byte string containing the character
read
For extended keys 2-byte string consisting of the null
character (ASCII 0) and keyboard scan
code
■ The character returned by the INKEY$ function is never displayed on the
screen; instead, all characters are passed through to the program except
for the following key combinations:
Character Visual Basic Stand-Alone .EXE File
════════════ ══════════════════════════ ═══════════════════════════
Ctrl+Break Halts program execution Halts program execution
if compiled with /D option;
otherwise, passed through to
program
Ctrl+NumLock Pauses program execution Same as running under VBDOS
until a key is pressed; if compiled with /D option;
then next key pressed is otherwise, ignored; the
passed through to program program does not pause and
no keystroke is passed
Shift+PrtSc Prints the screen contents Prints the screen contents
Ctrl+Alt+Del Reboots the system Reboots the system
See: ◄BC Command-Line Options►
■ If you assign a string to a function key using the KEY statement and you
press that function key when INKEY$ is waiting for a keystroke, INKEY$
passes the string to the program. Enabled keystroke trapping takes
precedence over the INKEY$ function.
■ When you use INKEY$ with ISAM programs, Visual Basic performs implicit
CHECKPOINT operations to minimize data loss in the event of a power
failure. The CHECKPOINT is performed if INKEY$ fails to successfully
retrieve a character after 65,535 calls, and 20 seconds has expired.
A CHECKPOINT writes open database buffers to disk.