Keypress Character Validation...Code Cleanup Help

[hipopony66]

I know that this is not the best way of doing this, so I am looking for suggestions for cleaning this up. Currently, it only allows the user to enter Alpha characters, spaces, and press the enter and backspace key in a textbox.

 'allow alpha characters, spacebar and backspace key only
        If (e.KeyChar < "A" OrElse e.KeyChar > "z") _
            AndAlso e.KeyChar <> ControlChars.Back AndAlso Asc(e.KeyChar) <> Keys.Enter AndAlso Asc(e.KeyChar) <> Keys.Space Then
            'Display error message
            MessageBox.Show("Only alphabetic characters are allowed in this field.", "Error", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Stop)
            txtLastname.Focus()
            e.Handled = True
        End If

I need to write something to allow the following keys only:

Alpha keys, "Enter" key, "Backspace" key, "period" key, "ampersand", "spacebar" key, "apostrope" key, and "hypen" key

I want to make sure I am doing this with manage code. Thanks for any assistance.

-Jeremy

[bmahler]

you can use the Keys enum and convert them to a char for example

If e.KeyChar = Chr(Keys.Enter)

[hipopony66]

I have modified my code as suggested, but this method does not appear to be working. Any ideas? Thanks

 'allow alpha characters, spacebar and backspace key only
        If (e.KeyChar < "A" OrElse e.KeyChar > "z") _
            AndAlso e.KeyChar <> ControlChars.Back AndAlso e.KeyChar <> Chr(Keys.Enter) AndAlso e.KeyChar <> Chr(Keys.Space) _
            AndAlso e.KeyChar <> Chr(Keys.Subtract) AndAlso e.KeyChar <> Chr(Keys.OemPeriod) AndAlso _
            e.KeyChar <> Chr(Keys.CapsLock) AndAlso e.KeyChar <> Chr(Keys.ControlKey) AndAlso e.KeyChar <> Chr(Keys.ShiftKey) _
            AndAlso e.KeyChar <> Chr(Keys.NumPad8) Then

            'Display error message
            MessageBox.Show("Only alphabetic characters are allowed in this field.", "Error", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Stop)
            txtLastname.Focus()
            e.Handled = True
        End If

[dbasnett]

    Private Sub aTextBox_KeyPress(ByVal sender As Object, _
                                  ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyPressEventArgs) _
                                  Handles TextBox1.KeyPress, TextBox2.KeyPress
        'enter all valid characters here
        Dim vldCHA As String = "ABCDEF-'"
        'and the special ones here
        Dim specCH() As Char = New Char() {Chr(Keys.Enter), Chr(Keys.Back)}
        If vldCHA.IndexOf(e.KeyChar) <> -1 Then Exit Sub
        If vldCHA.IndexOf(e.KeyChar.ToString.ToUpper) <> -1 Then Exit Sub
        If Array.IndexOf(specCH, e.KeyChar) <> -1 Then Exit Sub
        e.Handled = True 'bad character
    End Sub