[2003] Strings and Keys

In the program I have the user can select a hotkey from a combo box (Shift,ctrl,alt...ect) and when they save their settings I save the variable as a string

Code:

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_Hotkey = HotkeyCOMBO.selectedItem 'Saves users choice to string variable

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How do I get the string(_Hotkey) into a format that this can read

Code:

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If e.KeyData = _hotkey Then

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I searched the forums and one person was using a DataSource. Is that the only way to do it or can you convert it just by having the string of the key you need to use?

I would suggest that you do this the way VS does. In your UI, give the user a list of possible keys to choose from and then use CheckBoxes to select Ctrl, Shift and Alt. You can then store four values: Booleans for Ctrl, Shift and Alt and a String for the key. Your test will then look like this:

vb.net Code:

If e.KeyCode = DirectCast([Enum].Parse(GetType(Keys), key), Keys) AndAlso _
   e.Control = ctrl AndAlso _
   e.Shift = shift AndAlso _
   e.Alt = alt Then
    'The hotkey was detected.
End If

An even better idea would be to create a composite Keys value when the user makes there selection and store that:

vb.net Code:

Dim hotkey As Keys = DirectCast([Enum].Parse(GetType(Keys), Me.keyComboBox.Text), Keys)
 
If Me.ctrlCheckBox.Checked Then
    hotkey = hotkey Or Keys.Control
End If
 
If Me.shiftCheckBox.Checked Then
    hotkey = hotkey Or Keys.Shift
End If
 
If Me.altCheckBox.Checked Then
    hotkey = hotkey Or Keys.Alt
End If

You can then compare that value to e.KeyData in your KeyDown event handler.

A better idea still would be to populate your ComboBox with Keys values in the first place. If you put enumerated constants in a ComboBox then it will display their text labels, but the SelectedItem will still be a Keys value, so there's no need to parse a string: