Assigning shortcuts to button clicks in c#

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Im working on a project and my instructor wants the exit button to be assigned the shortcut alt-x. So far i have

C#

         private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
         {
             radAddition.Checked = true;
             radSmallRange.Checked = true;
             picCorrect.Visible = false;
             picWrong.Visible = false;
             this.KeyPreview = true;

         }
private void Form1_KeyDown(object sender, KeyEventArgs e)
         {
            if (e.Modifiers == Keys.Alt && e.KeyCode == Keys.X)
            {
                this.btnExit.PerformClick();
            }
         }
private void btnExit_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
         {
             DialogResult result;
             result = MessageBox.Show("Are you sure you want to exit?",
                 "Exiting",
                 MessageBoxButtons.YesNo);
             if (result == DialogResult.Yes)
             {
                 this.Close();
             }
         }

I just copied and pasted the stuff so not everything is relevant but everything relevant is there. But when i press alt-x noting happens! what am i doing wrong? thanks in advance!

Posted 30-Mar-15 10:41am

Member 11561872

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BacchusBeale 30-Mar-15 17:38pm

Did you register the event in the form? e.g this.KeyDown+=Form1_KeyDown

Member 11561872 30-Mar-15 17:44pm

Actually the below solution worked with enetering "E&xit" into the text property. However i do not know what registering the event does. I just did what i could find based on online research.

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phil.o · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-30T11:37:00

You created the event-handler for the KeyDown event, but we cannot see if you set this handler in the event's delegate list.
Moreover, as you want to use a shortcut with ALT key, there may be a simpler way to accomplish what you want to do.

Using your event handler:

Just insert this statement in your form's constructor:

C#

this.KeyDown += Form1_KeyDown;

You may also create a specialized method ConfirmExit, which you would call from both your event-handlers (in general, I really don't like direct implementations in event handlers).

C#

private void ConfirmExit()
{
   DialogResult result = MessageBox.Show("Are you sure you want to exit?", "Exiting", MessageBoxButtons.YesNo);
   if (result == DialogResult.Yes)
   {
      this.Close();
   }
}

private void Form1_KeyDown(object sender, KeyEventArgs e)
{
   if (e.Alt && e.KeyCode == Keys.X)
   {
      ConfirmExit();
   }
}

private void btnExit_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
   ConfirmExit();
}

One implementation, used in two different places. Clean and easy to read/follow.

Using a much simpler solution:
As you want to use the ALT key, you may use an in-built functionnality: in your button's Text property, prefix the letter you want to use as shortcut (the X key) with the ampersand sign (&).
Example:

C#

btnExit.Text = "E&xit";

You can do that in design mode from the property grid.
The letter X will be underlined, meaning that you can activate the button from keyboard by pressing ALT + X.
Of course, this is not a solution if:
- you want another combination key than ALT;
- or the letter you want as shortcut does not appear in the button's Text property.

Hope this helps.

Edited: simplified alt test in KeyDown handler.