How can I tell if an extended key is down?

[Dreamlax]

If you have a Compaq Easy Access Keyboard (or a keyboard with with customizable buttons at the top) then you should know what I mean.

On my keyboard it has 8 configurable buttons, but their functionality is very limited (executing a program / opening a web page / adjust volume). I want to make a program that allows it to do more than that, but 6 of the 8 keys return 255, the others return Asc("[") and Asc("]"). Anyone know if an API call can or anything that can get the key's actual value? Last time I used GetKeyboardState it made VB crash...

[sunnyl]

I've got a Presario laptop with those buttons, but I don't think you can catch them with ascii codes. You probably know compaq has their own little program to catch those, perhaps you can squeeze it out of a compaq techie.....

[Dreamlax]

Well Compaqs aren't known for their ease of programming... maybe the techie will tell me.

[sunnyl]

well you got me interested, and I came across this.

In the Components listing, there are controls called BttnAdv, CPQBCM and CPQREC. I had a brief look at it and it looks like its what you're after.

[Dreamlax]

Uhhh, they aren't in my list... dang . Oh well, it's not the end of the world, I guess I'll just have to make shortcut keys using the ones I already can program (such as the Windows and "Right-Click" button).

[sunnyl]

hmm...what model compaq do you have?

[Dreamlax]

A crap one. It's just an old Deskpro, but I stole the keyboard from work, and the driver was on a CD... thought it might have been on there but it's not...