[RESOLVED] Capture Multiple Key Presses

[sciguyryan]

Hey guys!

I'm looking to trigger an event in my form that requires users to press a certain sequence of keys on my form, say red or blue. I'm unsure how to do this.

I know how to check for since key instances but not multiples so any help would be greatly appreciated as always.

Cheers.

[jmcilhinney]

You simply need to remember what's gone before, e.g.

private int keyPresses = 0;
 
private void Form1_KeyPress(object sender, KeyPressEventArgs e)
{
    switch (e.KeyChar)
    {
        case 'a':
            // 'a' is always the first key in the sequence.
            this.keyPresses = 1;
            break;
        case 'b':
            // if 'b' follows 'a' then progress, otherwise start over.
            this.keyPresses = (this.keyPresses == 1 ? 2 : 0);
            break;
        case 'c':
            // if 'c' follows 'a' and 'b' then progress, otherwise start over.
            this.keyPresses = (this.keyPresses == 2 ? 3 : 0);
            break;
        case 'd':
            // if 'd' follows 'a', 'b' and 'c' then complete the sequence.
            if (this.keyPresses == 3)
            {
                MessageBox.Show("You pressed abcd!");
            }
 
            // Start over.
            this.keyPresses = 0;
            break;
        default:
            // Start over on any other key.
            this.keyPresses = 0;
            break;
    }
}

[sciguyryan]

That worked perfectly. I figured it would be something along those lines but I couldn't get it right. Looks like my more complex solution was at fault. Oh well.

Thanks!

Edit: If anyone is interested here is the code I used. it's a slightly modified version of the one above and should give more customizability.

private Dictionary<int, char> secret_code = new Dictionary<int, char>()
{
  {0, 't'},
  {1, 'e'},
  {2, 's'},
  {3, 't'}
};
 
private void frmMain_KeyPress(object sender, KeyPressEventArgs e)
{
  if (e.KeyChar == secret_code[key_presses])
  {
    if (key_presses == (secret_code.Count() - 1))
    {
      this.key_presses = 0;
      MessageBox.Show("You sound the secret!", "Congratulations!", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information);
    }
    else
    {
      ++this.key_presses;
    }
  }
  else
  {
    this.key_presses = 0;
  }
}