How to Convert a System.Windows.Input.Key to a Char

Today i wanted to write a custom input control that hooks up to the KeyDown event of a CustomControl to collect the typed chars. In the KeyEventArgs you find a e.Key that is of type System.Windows.Input.Key. I tried to use the KeyConverter or cast it to a char or string, but nothing seems to work.

 
private string _text = string.Empty;
 
void MyControl_KeyDown(object sender, KeyEventArgs e)
{
  _text += e.Key;
}
 
 

The solution is to hook to another event called TextInput. The provided TextCompositionEventArgs has a Text property that is excatly what we want. The event handler will look like this:

 
void MyControl_TextInput(object sender, TextCompositionEventArgs e)
{
    _input += e.Text;
}
 
 

 Comments on this article

nandy	Commented on 6.May 2009 is it really working ?
Vimal	Commented on 19.May 2009 Can you explain it a bit more?
KingMarcusVi...	Commented on 27.May 2009 Can WPF application windows can process mouse events through SendMessage() notifications (with or without mouse pointer hovering above its window)?
George	Commented on 18.June 2009 First example is NOT WORK.
sara	Commented on 26.June 2009 I tried its not working.
Christian Moser	Commented on 26.June 2009 Hi, what exactly is not working? Did you register the eventhandler? TextInput += MyControl_TextInput; Do you receive the entered text in the _text string?
Mr Sda	Commented on 11.August 2009 Heres some keyboard input for you buddy. Your a boss eyed jack ass.
Agree	Commented on 6.September 2009 Agree with Mr.Sda
tarahgiv	Commented on 17.December 2009 Oh, good joke) Why do birds fly south for the winter? It's quicker than driving. ___________________________ <a href= http://ordervigerausa.fizwig.com/site_map.html >cealis order San Jose</a>
Jonathan	Commented on 7.January 2010 This does not work !!
Phil	Commented on 28.January 2010 TextBox will mark the key press as handled, use PreviewTextInput event.
ajay sharma	Commented on 2.March 2010 Code is not working....
COPYRIGHT	Commented on 23.August 2010 2 things: 1. you paki's are dumb as hell 2.COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AT ITS FINEST!!!!!!!!! MOSER IS GREASY AS HELL
Christian	Commented on 23.August 2010 Its funny that you guys find my articles so helpful considering I just copy and pasted random shit from other random sites that I found. Its all good though because those google ads are making me cash!!!
Christian M	Commented on 23.August 2010 I apprieciate your feedback but I cant explain it anymore in depth because I just copy and pasted this from another website