INPUT, INKEY$, or INPUT$(n) Don't Accept All ASCII Characters (35665)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft BASIC Compiler for MS-DOS and OS/2 6.0
Microsoft BASIC Compiler for MS-DOS and OS/2 6.0b
Microsoft QuickBASIC 4.0
Microsoft QuickBASIC 4.0b
Microsoft QuickBASIC 4.5

This article was previously published under Q35665

SYMPTOMS

Extended ASCII characters have values from 128 through 255, and can be typed by holding down the ALT key and pressing three digits on the numeric keypad. However, there are some extended ASCII characters that the INKEY$, INPUT$(1), and INPUT statements/functions cannot accept.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in Microsoft QuickBasic Versions 4.00, 4.00b, and 4.50 and in Microsoft Basic Compiler Versions 6.00 and 6.00b for MS-DOS and MS OS/2 (buglist6.00, buglist6.00b). This problem was corrected in Microsoft Basic Compiler Version 7.00 (fixlist7.00).

MORE INFORMATION

The only three ALT+KEY combinations that don't display are ALT+244, ALT+240 and ALT+253.

The following is a code example:

'This program will trap some of the ASCII characters entered with the
'ALT+xxx method, but not all. For example: ALT+205 will print a 'I' on
'the screen, but ALT+253 will not print a superscript 2 on the screen.

CLS
CASA:
  a$=INKEY$
  IF a$ <> "" THEN PRINT a$;
  GOTO CASA
END

Modification Type:	Minor	Last Reviewed:	1/8/2003
Keywords:	KB35665