How to convert string to Keys

Question

try to implement combination of keypressing for my programm currently can detect required keypressed (in this post described how) but only predefined in code, but I want to store setting in condig file then read it and use if pressed.

Now can store it, and read as string - currently try to convert readed string to Keys, using next code:

Storing in config file:

<add key="open" value="ControlKey,N"
<add key="close" value="ControlKey,Q" />
<add key="clear" value="ControlKey,D" />
<add key="settings" value="ControlKey,S" />
<add key="colorKey" value="ControlKey,K" />
<add key="fontKey" value="ShiftKey,T" />
<add key="defaultKey" value="ControlKey,P" />

and using it

    private void textBox1_KeyDown(object sender, KeyEventArgs e)
    {
        TypeConverter converter = TypeDescriptor.GetConverter(typeof(Keys));
        string[] keyValueTemp;

        keyValueTemp = cm.GetValueString("open").ToString().Split(',');
        string key1 = keyValueTemp[0];
        string key2 = keyValueTemp[1];

        Keys keys1 = (Keys)converter.ConvertFromString(key1);
        Keys keys2 = (Keys)converter.ConvertFromString(key2);

        if (ModifierKeys == keys1 && e.KeyCode == keys2)
        {
            string keyPressed = e.KeyCode.ToString();
            MessageBox.Show(keyPressed);
        }
    }

But, has next result -

So - as you see - this convert control Key to Shiftkey, also try to use code if (ModifierKeys.ToString() == keyValueTemp[0] && e.KeyCode.ToString() == keyValueTemp[1]), but it's not work too.

if use this code

        if (e.Modifiers == Keys.Control && e.KeyCode == Keys.N)
        {
            string keyPressed = e.KeyCode.ToString();
            MessageBox.Show(keyPressed);
        }

all works

Q: how can i convert string to Keys and compare it with keyPressed events?

EDIT

So found my mistake

Keys key = (Keys)converter.ConvertFromString(keyValueTemp[0]);
Keys key2 = (Keys)converter.ConvertFromString(keyValueTemp[1]);
if (e.Modifiers == key && e.KeyCode == key2)
   {
       MessageBox.Show(e.KeyCode.ToString());
   }

forget to add e - from event handler

another way - as written by AccessDenied

 Keys key = (Keys)Enum.Parse(typeof(Keys), keyValueTemp[0], true);

Solution 1

Key comparision is done with enumerations, So what you have to do is a String to Enum conversion.

if (e.Modifiers == (Keys)Enum.Parse(typeof(Keys), "keys1", true)
    && e.KeyCode == (Keys)Enum.Parse(typeof(Keys), "keys2", true))
{
    string keyPressed = e.KeyCode.ToString();
    MessageBox.Show(keyPressed);
}

Solution 2

Keys key;
Enum.TryParse("Enter", out key);

Solution 3

I'll suggest you not to store keys in config as "ControlKey,N", rather store its value.

 Keys openKey = Keys.ControlKey | Keys.N;
 int value = (int)openKey;//95

It integer representation is 95, So store in app.config as

<add key="open" value="95">//ControlKey|N

Keys open = (Keys)int.Parse(cm.GetValueString("open").ToString());

Here open will be Keys.ControlKey | Keys.N

Then you can compare easily against e.KeyData

if(e.KeyData == open)
{
    //Control + N pressed
}

Comments

[hbk]

yep - it's work perfect, thanks, also found another solution - see EDIT

[Kurubaran]

@Kirill Glad it helped :)

[hbk]

but what wrong if i store my key in string like ControlKey,N ?

[Sriram Sakthivel]

Don't you think you're doing additional work by splititing it up with comma into two entries, parsing it to two Keys and checking with modifier and KeyCode. Isn't it better to store the value and compare against e.KeyData