Trapping arrow key strokes in an MDI form

[JohnSmith40272]

How can the arrow keys be trapped in an MDI form? Seems these are the only keys that are not usable. Something like this doesn’t work as they would in a regular form.

Private Sub Form1_KeyDown(sender As Object, e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles Me.KeyDown

If e.KeyCode = Keys.Right Then
'***Code ***
End If

If e.KeyData = Keys.Left Then
'***Code ***
End If

End Sub

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[Britney92]

I also have the same question and really, I would be very grateful for the quick answer, cuz now this inconvenience stops my work)) Thanks in advance!

[Hack]

Instead of keycode try keyvalue

Private Sub Form1_KeyDown(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles MyBase.KeyDown
		If e.KeyValue = Keys.Left Then
		*****Whatever Herer*****
		End If
End Sub

[JohnSmith40272]

Gee Hack, you had me excited there for a moment. I noticed right off at the end of your SUB procedure you had “MyBase.KeyDown” where mine was “Me.KeyDown”. I thought this is the answer. As it turns out, it still doesn’t work. I had tried “Key.Value” before, but I was sure your “MyBase” was going to do it. Like Britney92, my project is at a stand still until something is found. Thanks for your help.

[Hack]

This works just fine for me

    Private Sub Form1_KeyDown(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles Me.KeyDown
        Select Case e.KeyValue
            Case Keys.Left
                MessageBox.Show("You hit the left arrow key")
            Case Keys.Right
                MessageBox.Show("You hit the right arrow key")
            Case Keys.Up
                MessageBox.Show("You hit the up arrow key")
            Case Keys.Down
                MessageBox.Show("You hit the down arrow key")
        End Select
    End Sub

You do have KeyPreview set to True, right?

[JohnSmith40272]

Thanks Hack for your help. I tried testing your last code and it worked fine in a form by itself, but when I tried it within the program I’m working on it doesn’t work at all. When pressing the arrow keys it doesn’t even go into the KeyDown procedure at all, but does when all other keys are pressed. Do you have any ideas what may be causing this? I really appreciate your help.

[JohnSmith40272]

Hack, as I said in my previous post, the code works fine, but not within my program. I did some more testing again and it seems that the code will work until a child form becomes present and then the arrow keys will stop functioning. Just thought I'd throw that into the mix.