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# BUG: getch() Returns Incorrect Extended Key Codes

PSS ID Number: 107427

Article Last Modified on 10/16/2002

The information in this article applies to:

- The C Run-Time (CRT), when used with:
  - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 1.0
  - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 2.0
  - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 2.1
  - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 4.0
  - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 4.1
  - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 4.2
  - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 5.0
  - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 6.0
  - Microsoft Visual C++ .NET (2002)

This article was previously published under Q107427

## SYMPTOMS

The getch() run-time library function fails to return the correct extended character code for certain key sequences. There are two known situations in which incorrect codes are generated:

- The ALT key is combined with the ASCII characters A - Z. -or-
- The RIGHT CTRL key is combined with any of the function or editing keys.

With Visual C++ versions 2.x and later, only the first error (error with ALT key) occurs.

## STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

## MORE INFORMATION

In the sample code below, the ALT key combined with any ASCII character returns the ASCII character code instead of the extended character code. The RIGHT CTRL key combined with any of the function or editing keys also fails with Visual C++ 1.0, returning the code for the function or editing key alone. The LEFT CTRL key combined with a function key or editing key returns the correct code. The set of affected editing keys are: END, PAGE UP, PAGE DOWN, HOME, RIGHT ARROW, and LEFT ARROW.
The table below demonstrates some of the actual versus expected values that result when the sample below is run with the input shown:

    Input            Expected          Actual                VC 6.0

    ALT+C            0 - 2eH           63H    (C)             63H
    RT CTRL+F4       0 - 61H         0 - 3eH  (F4)           0 - 61H
    RT CTRL+PAGE UP  0 - 84H         0 - 49H  (PAGEUP)      e0 - 86H
    RT CTRL+END      0 - 75H         0 - 4fH  (END)          0 - 75H

### Sample Code

       /* Compile options needed: none
       */

       void main(void)
       {
          int testChar;

          do {
                testChar = getch();
                printf("%x - ", testChar);
                testChar = getch();
                printf("%x \n", testChar);
          } while (testChar != 0x001B);  /* Repeat until ESC key*/
       }

Additional query words: kbVC400bug

Keywords: kbBug kbCRT KB107427
Technology: kbAudDeveloper kbCRT kbvc100 kbVC200 kbVC210 kbVC32bitSearch kbVC400 kbVC410 kbVC420 kbVC500 kbVC500Search kbVC600 kbVCNET kbVCsearch