Probably basic...

I'm trying to make my program execute "stuff" when I press a key such as F1 (or any other key I choose) I want to do this WITHOUT shortcuts, so that i can later do it without having an object heres what I have so far

VB Code:

Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
'adds the handler and sets address only works when it's in the text box
        AddHandler txtmacro.KeyPress, AddressOf key
    End Sub
Public Sub key(ByVal o As System.Object, ByVal e As KeyPressEventArgs)
'Checks to see when the letter "a" is pressed and then does "stuff"
If e.KeyChar = Microsoft.VisualBasic.ChrW(97) Then        
Stuff
 
        End If
End Sub

Now this works fine under 2 condittions
1)I'm typing in my text box
2)I use a key that has a common ascii code such as a-z A-Z or 0-9

When i put in "&H6F" for the key (which I thought was the F1 key) It doesnt give me any errors but it doesnt do the "stuff"

Also I would like for this to work at any time, and not just when the cursor is in the text box.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated
even if you have a completely differant way of doing this, as long as it works that's great.

Any questions please ask!!

Do you want your form to trap all keys first? even if you are in a Textbox or other control? If so you should set KeyPreview of your form to True, then:

VB Code:

Private Sub Form1_KeyDown(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles MyBase.KeyDown
        If  e.KeyCode = Keys.F1 Then
            ' Do the stuff here
        End If
        e.Handled = True
End Sub

Checkout Knowlege Base Article: KB320583

I attached a sample that involves creating a user control that inherits from a textbox

it provides two new events SpecialKeyUp and SpecialKeyDown
these events will fire when the control receives a WM_KEYUP, WM_KEYDOWN, WM_SYSKEYUP, WM_SYSKEYDOWN

Both events are declared like this

byval msg as Message, byval key as Keys

msg will be WM_KEYUP, WM_KEYDOWN, WM_SYSKEYUP or WM_SYSKEYDOWN

key will be the key that was pressed

Lunatic Thanks what you said works

Zero, I don't entirely understand what you said, (i'm very beginner) If you would like you can try to explain it better. Thanks !!

What if i want to do 2 keys such as

Shift+F1

I dont really know what i'm doing but i tried a couple things, and it always just does the thing for F1, and never does the thing for Shift+F1

for my example you need to download the attachment that i posted that will provide you with a simple control that inherits from the textbox, for a begginer you might be better off with Lunatic3's example.

VB Code:

'Same thing with my control --->
    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
 
        AddHandler CtrlTextbox1.SpecialKeyDown, AddressOf Key_Event
    End Sub
 
    Public Sub Key_Event(ByVal msg As Message, ByVal key As Keys)
        If key = (Keys.F1 Or Keys.Shift) Then
            SumFunction()
        End If
    End Sub
 
    Public Function SumFunction()
        MsgBox("<F1> and <Shift> Pressed")
    End Function

VB Code:

' Lunatic3's sample
 
        If e.KeyCode = Keys.F1 And e.Shift Then
            MsgBox("<F1> and <Shift> were pressed")
        End If
        e.Handled = True