INFO: Visual Basic SendKeys Statement Is Case-Sensitive (81466)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual Basic Standard Edition for Windows 2.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Standard Edition for Windows 3.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows 2.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows 3.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Standard Edition for Windows 1.0
This article was previously published under Q81466

SUMMARY

The SendKeys statement in Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows is case- sensitive with regards to the keystrokes sent. Sending an uppercase letter may be interpreted by the receiving application differently than the lowercase version of a letter.

MORE INFORMATION

The following line of code sends an ALT+F key combination to the application that currently has the focus: 
   SendKeys "%(F)"
NOTE: This is different from ALT+F: 
   SendKeys "%(f)"
This can be a problem because some applications distinguish between an uppercase F and lowercase f when sent by the SendKeys statement.

For example, Microsoft Word versions 1.0b and earlier for Windows (WINWORD.EXE) do not distinguish the difference. However, Microsoft Word version 2.0 for Windows does distinguish the lowercase f sent by SendKeys.

When SendKeys (from Visual Basic for Windows) sends the ALT+F key combination, WINWORD.EXE version 2.0 interprets the keystroke as ALT+Shift+f, at which Word for Windows will simply beep. However, SendKeys using ALT+f will correctly activate the File menu.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/12/2003
Keywords:kbinfo kbprogramming KB81466
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.