C# Signature:

[DllImport("user32.dll")]
static extern uint MapVirtualKey(uint uCode, uint uMapType);

C# User-Defined Types:

public const uint MAPVK_VK_TO_VSC = 0x00;
public const uint MAPVK_VSC_TO_VK = 0x01;
public const uint MAPVK_VK_TO_CHAR = 0x02;
public const uint MAPVK_VSC_TO_VK_EX = 0x03;
public const uint MAPVK_VK_TO_VSC_EX = 0x04;

VB Signature:

    ''' <summary>The MapVirtualKey function translates (maps) a virtual-key code into a scan
    ''' code or character value, or translates a scan code into a virtual-key code
    ''' </summary>
    ''' <param name="uCode">[in] Specifies the virtual-key code or scan code for a key.
    ''' How this value is interpreted depends on the value of the uMapType parameter</param>
    ''' <param name="uMapType">[in] Specifies the translation to perform. The value of this
    ''' parameter depends on the value of the uCode parameter.</param>
    ''' <returns>Either a scan code, a virtual-key code, or a character value, depending on
    ''' the value of uCode and uMapType. If there is no translation, the return value is zero</returns>
    ''' <remarks></remarks>
    <DllImport("User32.dll", SetLastError:=False, CallingConvention:=CallingConvention.StdCall, _
           CharSet:=CharSet.Auto)> _
    Public Shared Function MapVirtualKey(ByVal uCode As UInt32, ByVal uMapType As MapVirtualKeyMapTypes) As UInt32
    End Function

VB User-defined types:

    ''' <summary>The set of valid MapTypes used in MapVirtualKey
    ''' </summary>
    ''' <remarks></remarks>
    Public Enum MapVirtualKeyMapTypes As UInt32
    ''' <summary>uCode is a virtual-key code and is translated into a scan code.
    ''' If it is a virtual-key code that does not distinguish between left- and
    ''' right-hand keys, the left-hand scan code is returned.
    ''' If there is no translation, the function returns 0.
    ''' </summary>
    ''' <remarks></remarks>
    MAPVK_VK_TO_VSC = &H0

    ''' <summary>uCode is a scan code and is translated into a virtual-key code that
    ''' does not distinguish between left- and right-hand keys. If there is no
    ''' translation, the function returns 0.
    ''' </summary>
    ''' <remarks></remarks>
    MAPVK_VSC_TO_VK = &H1

    ''' <summary>uCode is a virtual-key code and is translated into an unshifted
    ''' character value in the low-order word of the return value. Dead keys (diacritics)
    ''' are indicated by setting the top bit of the return value. If there is no
    ''' translation, the function returns 0.
    ''' </summary>
    ''' <remarks></remarks>
    MAPVK_VK_TO_CHAR = &H2

    ''' <summary>Windows NT/2000/XP: uCode is a scan code and is translated into a
    ''' virtual-key code that distinguishes between left- and right-hand keys. If
    ''' there is no translation, the function returns 0.
    ''' </summary>
    ''' <remarks></remarks>
    MAPVK_VSC_TO_VK_EX = &H3

    ''' <summary>Not currently documented
    ''' </summary>
    ''' <remarks></remarks>
    MAPVK_VK_TO_VSC_EX = &H4
    End Enum

VB notes:

You don't have to use the user-defined type - I use it as a convenience for remembering

those magic numbers.

Note that I have specified UInt32 as the types of the variables - this would need to be

changed for 64-bit code.

Notes:

None.

Tips & Tricks:

Please add some!

Sample Code:

[DllImport("user32.dll")]
static extern uint MapVirtualKey(uint uCode, uint uMapType);

[DllImport("user32.dll")]
static extern void keybd_event(byte bVk, byte bScan, uint dwFlags, uint dwExtraInfo);

public const int KEYEVENTF_EXTENDEDKEY = 0x01;
public const int KEYEVENTF_KEYUP = 0x02;

byte key = 0x41;
uint scanCode = MapVirtualKey((uint)key, 0);
keybd_event(key, (byte)scanCode, 0, 0);
keybd_event(key, (byte)scanCode, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP, 0);

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