How to detect if multiple keys are pressed in C# forms

Question

I have looked for a solution to detect if multiple keys are pressed in C# (I couldn't find a solution!). I have this game with two players and I need to detect if a key is pressed to move them around. (I'm Using C# Forms) I've only found answers to detect if two keys are held down at the same time and they didn't help.

--EDIT--

How to detect if a key is pressed using KeyPressed (C#)

@jeffrycopps Sorry but that didn't help, the answers only tell you how to detect if all the selected keys are pressed, not if any key is pressed. — Zak The Hat
I didn't get your question well. Keys pressed and held down are same I guess. — jeffry copps
Crystal ball says that the real problem is that key repeat no longer works. Something you should never rely on in a game since the repeat rate and cadence is a user preference. Nothing that two bool variables cannot do. Set them to true with the KeyDown event and back to false with the KeyUp event. Use those bools in your game loop to determine where the game objects should move. It completely does not matter that more than one player presses keys at the same time, you get the events one after another. — Hans Passant
@jeffrycopps I don't have a skill at making myself clear, so I'll try to make it better this time.The link you gave me, the answer is coded to check if all the keys are pressed at the the same time, I need to check if multiple keys are pressed e.g. UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, W, A, S, D. I don't want it to check if they're pressed all at the same time. — Zak The Hat

TaW TaW · Accepted Answer · 2016-06-17T14:35:50

The source of the problems is that this simple request is simply not supported under Winforms.

Sounds weird? It is. Winforms is often painfully close to the hardware layers and while this may be quite interesting at times, it also may be just a pita..

((One hidden hint by Hans should be noted: In the KeyUp you get told which key was released so you can keep track of as many keys as you want..))

But now for a direct solution that desn't require you to keep a bunch of bools around and manage them in the KeyDown and KeyUp events..: Enter Keyboard.IsKeyDown.

With it code like this works:

Uses the Keyboard.IsKeyDown to determine if a key is down. e is an instance of KeyEventArgs.
if (Keyboard.IsKeyDown(Key.Return)) {
    btnIsDown.Background = Brushes.Red; }
...

Of course you can ceck for multiple key as well:

if (Keyboard.IsKeyDown(Key.A) && Keyboard.IsKeyDown(Key.W)) ...

The only requirement is that you borrow this from WPF:

First: Add the namespace:

using System.Windows.Input;

Then: Add two references to the project:

PresentationCore
WindowsBase

Now you can test the keyboard at any time, including the KeyPress event..

How to detect if multiple keys are pressed in C# forms

3 Answers