The WM_KEYDOWN message is posted to the window with the keyboard focus when a nonsystem key is pressed. A nonsystem key is a key that is pressed when the ALT key is not pressed.
WM_KEYDOWN
nVirtKey = (int) wParam; // virtual-key code
lKeyData = lParam; // key data
Parameters
nVirtKey
Value of wParam. Specifies the virtual-key code of the nonsystem 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. The value is the number of times the keystroke is repeated as a result of the user holding down the key. |
| 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 always 0 for a WM_KEYDOWN message. |
| 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 always 0 for a WM_KEYDOWN message. |
Return Values
An application should return zero if it processes this message.
Default Action
If the F10 key is pressed, the DefWindowProc function sets an internal flag. When DefWindowProc receives the WM_KEYUP message, the function checks whether the internal flag is set and, if so, sends a WM_SYSCOMMAND message to the top-level window. The wParam parameter of the message is set to SC_KEYMENU.
Remarks
Because of the autorepeat feature, more than one WM_KEYDOWN message may be posted before a WM_KEYUP message is posted. The previous key state (bit 30) can be used to determine whether the WM_KEYDOWN message indicates the first down transition or a repeated down transition.
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.
See Also