WM_SYSDEADCHAR

The WM_SYSDEADCHAR message is sent to the window with the keyboard focus when a WM_SYSKEYDOWN message is translated by the TranslateMessage function. WM_SYSDEADCHAR specifies the character code of a system dead key — that is, a dead key that is pressed while holding down the alt key.

WM_SYSDEADCHAR 
chCharCode = (TCHAR) wParam;    // character code 
lKeyData = lParam;              // key data 
 

Parameters

chCharCode
Value of wParam. Specifies the character code generated by the system dead key — that is, a dead key that is pressed while holding down the alt key.
lKeyData
Value of lParam. Specifies the repeat count, scan code, extended-key flag, context code, previous key-state flag, and transition-state flag, as shown in the following table.
Value Description
0–15 Specifies the repeat count for the current message. The value is the number of times the keystroke is auto-repeated as a result of the user holding down the key. If the keystroke is held long enough, multiple messages are sent. However, the repeat count is not cumulative.
16–23 Specifies the scan code. The value depends on the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
24 Specifies whether the key is an extended key, such as the right-hand alt and ctrl keys that appear on an enhanced 101- or 102-key keyboard. The value is 1 if it is an extended key; otherwise, it is 0.
25–28 Reserved; do not use.
29 Specifies the context code. The value is 1 if the alt key is held down while the key is pressed; otherwise, the value is 0.
30 Specifies the previous key state. The value is 1 if the key is down before the message is sent, or it is 0 if the key is up.
31 Specifies the transition state. The value is 1 if the key is being released, or it is 0 if the key is being pressed.

Return Values

An application should return zero if it processes this message.

Remarks

For enhanced 101- and 102-key keyboards, extended keys are the right alt and ctrl keys on the main section of the keyboard; the ins, del, home, end, page up, page down and arrow keys in the clusters to the left of the numeric keypad; and the divide (/) and enter keys in the numeric keypad. Other keyboards may support the extended-key bit in the lKeyData parameter.

QuickInfo

  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.

See Also

Keyboard Input Overview, Keyboard Input Messages, TranslateMessage, WM_DEADCHAR, WM_SYSKEYDOWN