why shortcut keys working without Alt key pressing

[deepaksharma]

hello everyone
I have created some buttons on a form and in their format property I have created those shortcut key by adding & symbol in the caption which is activated by pressing alt+letter.
The problem with this is that the button becomes active only by pressing the letter without pressing alt.


Why is this happening.
Thank you.

[CJ_London]

a quick google of your question found a number of links such as this one

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/...-windows-forms

which explains why your buttons don't work as expected

[Micron]

That looks like it's for Windows forms and .Net?
I dare say the problem has something to do with the reams of key events in OP's db. Once you go down that rabbit hole you can expect some trouble, especially if what you are trying to do is too advanced for your level.

[deepaksharma]

feels like this is a lot of complex work related to .net firmware. As far as I have understood, perhaps Micron is also trying to say the same, yet I have written this code to perform alt+m in the key down event of the form but it is not working.

Private Sub Form_KeyDown(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)
If KeyCode = 18 And KeyCode = 77 Then
Call Me.butadd
End If
End Sub

[Welshgasman]

feels like this is a lot of complex work related to .net firmware. As far as I have understood, perhaps Micron is also trying to say the same, yet I have written this code to perform alt+m in the key down event of the form but it is not working.

Private Sub Form_KeyDown(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)
If KeyCode = 18 And KeyCode = 77 Then
Call Me.butadd
End If
End Sub

How can a keycode be both values????

[deepaksharma]

I have placed this code in key down event of another button (for example button "abc") to click "butadd" button for shortcut key. Now this shortcut key is working perfect.
But the problem is that this code works only when the user's focus is on the ABC button. Is there any way to which the user can be perform this code while keeping the focus on any part of the form.
Thank you.

Private Sub abc_KeyDown(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)
Select Case Shift
        Case acAltMask      'Alt pressed
        Select Case KeyCode
        Case 77
        Call butadd_Click       
End Select
End Select
End Sub

[deepaksharma]

Greetings to everyone,

I have watched a video on this link to solve this problem and have also seen a discussion related to shortcut keys on another link. In both the links, it is not clear why the shortcut key is being edited directly with the letter key without pressing the alt key and how it can be stopped.

Is there any solution to this? If not, then the second method I have adopted of key down event works perfectly but in this method I am not able to underline any letter of the word written on the button through formatting ( So that the user can understand that on pressing this letter along with Alt key then this button will work as a shortcut key)
What do you all have to say on this subject?
Please provide proper guidance.

video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPonUGTKIf0
Discussion Link - https://www.access-programmers.co.uk...ortcut.312507/

My Method

Private Sub Form_Open(CANCEL As Integer)
Me.KeyPreview = True
End Sub


Private Sub Form_KeyDown(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)
    Select Case Shift
        Case acAltMask        'Alt pressed
            
            Select Case KeyCode
                Case 77                          ' for one shortcut key
                    Me.butadd.SetFocus
                    Call butadd_Click
                    
                Case 82                           ' for Second shortcut key
                    Me.butreg.SetFocus
                    Call butreg_Click
                    
            End Select
    End Select
    
End Sub

Thanks.

[CJ_London]

To clarify what is being said.

if the form or a control that does not accept input (such as a button) has the focus, you do not need to use the alt key. However if a control that can accept input (such as a textbox) has the focus then you do need to use the alt key so access knows not to include the subsequent letter as part of the control contents.

so suggest create a visible textbox and
1-set left, top, width & height to zero to effectively hide it
2-ensure it is 1 in the tab order so it receives the focus when the form is opened (and/or set the focus to the control in the form open, load or current event)
3-include controlname.setfocus at the end of each button click (or alternatively focus if that is where you have the code) event to return the focus to the 'visible' textbox

[deepaksharma]

To clarify what is being said.

if the form or a control that does not accept input (such as a button) has the focus, you do not need to use the alt key. However if a control that can accept input (such as a textbox) has the focus then you do need to use the alt key so access knows not to include the subsequent letter as part of the control contents.

so suggest create a visible textbox and
1-set left, top, width & height to zero to effectively hide it
2-ensure it is 1 in the tab order so it receives the focus when the form is opened (and/or set the focus to the control in the form open, load or current event)
3-include controlname.setfocus at the end of each button click (or alternatively focus if that is where you have the code) event to return the focus to the 'visible' textbox

Thank you very much Cj_London,
I can't praise your brain enough. Now this program is doing the trick perfectly. thank you so much.