C# Signature:

[DllImport("user32.dll")]
static extern int ToAscii(uint uVirtKey, uint uScanCode, byte [] lpKeyState,
   byte[] lpwTransKey, uint fuState);
// or
[DllImport("user32.dll")]
static extern int ToAscii(uint uVirtKey, uint uScanCode, byte [] lpKeyState,
   [Out] StringBuilder lpChar, uint uFlags);

VB Signature:

<DllImport("user32")> _
Public Function ToAscii( _
     ByVal uVirtKey As Integer, _
     ByVal uScanCode As Integer, _
     ByVal lpKeyState() As Byte, _
     ByVal lpChar As StringBuilder, _
     ByVal uFlags As Integer)
End Function

'or..
Public Declare Function ToAscii Lib "user32" (ByVal uVirtKey As Win32CONST.KeyEvent, ByVal uScanCode As Integer, ByVal lpKeyState() As Byte, ByRef lpChar As Integer, ByVal uFlags As Win32CONST.ToAsciiFlags) As Integer

User-Defined Types:

Public Enum ToAsciiFlags As Integer
    MENU_IS_ACTIVE = 1
    MENU_IS_INACTIVE = 0
End Enum

Notes:

None.

Tips & Tricks:

Please add some!

Sample Code:

  <DllImport("User32.dll")> _
  Public Shared Function ToAscii(ByVal uVirtKey As Integer, ByVal uScanCode As Integer, ByVal lpbKeyState As Byte(), ByVal lpChar As Byte(), ByVal uFlags As Integer) As Integer
  End Function

  <DllImport("User32.dll")> _
  Public Shared Function GetKeyboardState(ByVal pbKeyState As Byte()) As Integer
  End Function

  Public Shared Function GetAsciiCharacter(ByVal uVirtKey As Integer, ByVal uScanCode As Integer) As Char
    Dim lpKeyState As Byte() = New Byte(255) {}
    GetKeyboardState(lpKeyState)
    Dim lpChar As Byte() = New Byte(1) {}
    If ToAscii(uVirtKey, uScanCode, lpKeyState, lpChar, 0) = 1 Then
      Return Chr(lpChar(0))
    Else
      Return New Char()
    End If
  End Function

Alternative Managed API:

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