KeyPress events - any way to press keys simultaneously?

Private Sub picShip_KeyPress(KeyAscii As Integer)
Select Case KeyAscii
Case Asc("n") 'left
If picShip.Left > 75 Then
picShip.Move (picShip.Left - 75)
End If
Case Asc("m") 'right
If (picShip.Left + picShip.Width) < (frmMain.Width - 75) Then
picShip.Move (picShip.Left + 75)
End If
Case Asc("z") 'shoot
shpBullet.Move (picShip.Left + (picShip.Width / 2)), picShip.Top
shpBullet.Visible = True
Dim shot As clsShootBullet
Set shot = New clsShootBullet

End Select
End Sub

I want to be able to shoot and move left at the same time for example.

You need to write your own keyboard handler routine to make this work. What you want to do is use the keyPreview property to handle keystrokes at the form level. Since no two keystrokes ever occur at exactly the same time, you need to allow a buffer arount the key pressed event. Instead of considering a key pressed at an instant, consider it as an instant plus 50 milliseconds. If another key is hit in that time, then consider the two instantaneous and execute a moving&shooting function.

Hope this helps, let me know if you need more info

-John

Altough I do not think you can detect if twos key are pressed at exactly the same time, you can detect if two keys are pressed simultaneously by setting variables and testing them in a timer. I used labels in the following example to illustrate the key status. You need three labels, one timer and one shape in your form to put it to work. Simple, you will see.

Code:

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Private Sub Form_KeyDown(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)
  Select Case KeyCode
    Case Asc("A")
      Label1.Caption = "a"
    Case Asc("S")
      Label2.Caption = "s"
    Case Asc("D")
      Label3.Caption = "d"
  End Select
End Sub

Private Sub Form_KeyUp(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)
  Select Case KeyCode
    Case Asc("A")
      Label1.Caption = ""
    Case Asc("S")
      Label2.Caption = ""
    Case Asc("D")
      Label3.Caption = ""
  End Select
End Sub

Private Sub Timer1_Timer()

  Shape1.Top = Shape1.Top + 75

  If Label1 <> "" Then
    Shape1.Left = Shape1.Left - 75
  End If

  If Label2 <> "" Then
    Shape1.BackColor = vbBlue
  Else
    Shape1.BackColor = vbRed
  End If

  If Label3 <> "" Then
    Shape1.Left = Shape1.Left + 75
  End If

  If Shape1.Top > ScaleHeight Then Shape1.Top = 0
End Sub

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I think you should use GetAsyncKeyState API to check which button is pressed if you have more than one button pressed simulateously.

Declare Function GetAsyncKeyState Lib "user32" (ByVal vKey As Long) As Integer

If one button is pressed and another immediately after, the 1st button is cut off (stops executing) and the second one starts executing. I want to be able to have the first one keep executing. There has to be a way to do this. Think of the 3D games that use the arrow keys and diagonal movement.

Code:

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If GetAsyncKeyState(vbKeyF1) And GetAsyncKeyState(vbKeyF2) Then Msgbox "F1 and F2 was pressed"

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This works always