SendInput() for keyboard - only lowercase

Question

I have following code:

INPUT Input = { 0 };
Input.type       = INPUT_KEYBOARD;
Input.mi.dwFlags = KEYEVENTF_EXTENDEDKEY;
Input.ki.wVk   = 'A'; // tried 0x41, ( UCHAR )VkKeyScan( 'A' )
SendInput( 1, &Input, sizeof( INPUT ) );

but it generates me only 'a'. How to force it to generate upper case as well?

Thanks.

You have to simulate holding a shift key, just like you would when typing — InspiredBy, Jul 11 '12 at 17:28
As Shenaniganz hinted at, you are simulating a key press. Do you have an upper-case "A" key _and_ a lower-case "a" key on your keyboard? — TheZ, Jul 11 '12 at 17:29
`INPUT` type contains a nameelss union, so you really should not assign to `mi` and `ki` members of the same variable. — rodrigo, Jul 11 '12 at 19:44
oh my! There was a bug. You should have answered the question and get all of these votes! thanks — tobi, Jul 11 '12 at 19:56
@tobi: Upvotes are nice, but this bug was not likely the cause of your problems, so technically it should not be an answer. — rodrigo, Jul 11 '12 at 21:29
@rodrigo I confused this topic with my another one xD http://stackoverflow.com/questions/11438677/sendinput-for-keyboard-only-uppercase/11439873#11439873 — tobi, Jul 12 '12 at 07:13
Take a look at [SetKeyboardState](http://msdn.microsoft.com/de-ch/library/windows/desktop/ms646314%28v=vs.85%29.aspx). I have used it in conjuction with PostMessage and WM_KEYDOWN in [this answer](http://stackoverflow.com/a/16255097/385995). — Mike Fuchs, Apr 27 '13 at 20:09

score 9 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:22

EDIT: some modifications according to rodrigo answer in comments.

INPUT Input = { 0 };
// shift key down
Input.type       = INPUT_KEYBOARD;
Input.ki.wVk   = VK_LSHIFT; 
SendInput( 1, &Input, sizeof( INPUT ) );

// 'a' key down
Input.type       = INPUT_KEYBOARD;
Input.ki.wVk   = 'A';
SendInput( 1, &Input, sizeof( INPUT ) );

// 'a' key release
Input.type       = INPUT_KEYBOARD;
Input.ki.dwFlags = KEYEVENTF_KEYUP;
Input.ki.wVk   = 'A';
SendInput( 1, &Input, sizeof( INPUT ) );

// shift key release
Input.type       = INPUT_KEYBOARD;
Input.ki.dwFlags = KEYEVENTF_KEYUP;
Input.ki.wVk   = VK_LSHIFT; 
SendInput( 1, &Input, sizeof( INPUT ) );

EDIT: here is another code with an example of turning caps/shift off after sending letter:

INPUT Event = { 0 };

const SHORT key = VkKeyScan('a');
const UINT mappedKey = MapVirtualKey( LOBYTE( key ), 0 );

// Press shift key
Event.type = INPUT_KEYBOARD;
Event.ki.dwFlags = KEYEVENTF_SCANCODE;
Event.ki.wScan = MapVirtualKey( VK_LSHIFT, 0 );
SendInput( 1, &Event, sizeof( Event ) );

// upper case 'A'
Event.type = INPUT_KEYBOARD;
Event.ki.dwFlags = KEYEVENTF_SCANCODE;
Event.ki.wScan = mappedKey;
SendInput( 1, &Event, sizeof( Event ) );

// release upper case 'A'
Event.type = INPUT_KEYBOARD;
Event.ki.dwFlags = KEYEVENTF_SCANCODE | KEYEVENTF_KEYUP;
Event.ki.wScan = mappedKey;
SendInput( 1, &Event, sizeof( Event ) );

// Release shift key
Event.type = INPUT_KEYBOARD;
Event.ki.dwFlags = KEYEVENTF_SCANCODE | KEYEVENTF_KEYUP;
Event.ki.wScan = MapVirtualKey( VK_LSHIFT, 0 );
SendInput( 1, &Event, sizeof( Event ) );

const SHORT key1 = VkKeyScan('A');
const UINT mappedKey1 = MapVirtualKey( LOBYTE( key1 ), 0 );

// lower case 'a'
Event.type = INPUT_KEYBOARD;
Event.ki.dwFlags = KEYEVENTF_SCANCODE;
Event.ki.wScan = mappedKey1;
SendInput( 1, &Event, sizeof( Event ) );

// release lower case 'a'
Event.type = INPUT_KEYBOARD;
Event.ki.dwFlags = KEYEVENTF_SCANCODE | KEYEVENTF_KEYUP;
Event.ki.wScan = mappedKey1;
SendInput( 1, &Event, sizeof( Event ) );

explanation here (I hope the explanation is correct): SendInput() for keyboard - only uppercase

Indeed, someone might. Good call to leave the question (and answer) here. — 0xC0000022L, Jul 11 '12 at 17:30

SendInput() for keyboard - only lowercase

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