Detecting Ctrl and Shift Keys on a Form using C# or VB.NET

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I am not a WinForm programmer anymore but that does not stop me from trying out code when a user asks me a question about it.

I recently got a request where the user wanted to detect Ctrl and Shift keys on his windows form. The keys to be detected were Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V and Ctrl+Shift+C

Here’s how the keys can be detected:

C#

private void Form1_KeyDown(object sender, KeyEventArgs e)
{
    if ((e.Control & e.Shift) && e.KeyCode == Keys.C)
    {
        MessageBox.Show("Ctrl+Shift+C");
    }
    else if (e.Control && e.KeyCode == Keys.C)
    {
        MessageBox.Show("Ctrl+C detected");
    }
    else if (e.Control && e.KeyCode == Keys.V)
    {
        MessageBox.Show("Ctrl+V detected");
    }
}

VB.NET

Private Sub Form1_KeyDown(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As KeyEventArgs)
    If (e.Control And e.Shift) AndAlso e.KeyCode = Keys.C Then
        MessageBox.Show("Ctrl+Shift+C")
    ElseIf e.Control AndAlso e.KeyCode = Keys.C Then
        MessageBox.Show("Ctrl+C detected")
    ElseIf e.Control AndAlso e.KeyCode = Keys.V Then
        MessageBox.Show("Ctrl+V detected")
    End If
End Sub

I have seen users using the KeyPress event to solve this requirement. Remember that non-characters keys like Ctrl do not raise the KeyPress event. I prefer either the KeyUp or KeyDown instead.

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About The Author

Suprotim Agarwal, Developer Technologies MVP (Microsoft Most Valuable Professional) is the founder and contributor for DevCurry, DotNetCurry and SQLServerCurry. He is the Chief Editor of a Developer Magazine called DNC Magazine. He has also authored two Books - 51 Recipes using jQuery with ASP.NET Controls. and The Absolutely Awesome jQuery CookBook.

Follow him on twitter @suprotimagarwal.