SendKeys Ctrl-A not working

Question

I'm trying to send CTRL A (select all to an app in this case word but try as I might it doesn't work) I've tried quite a few combinations but all to no avail, any ideas?

        IntPtr appHandle = FindWindow(null, "Document1 - Microsoft Word");
        if (appHandle == IntPtr.Zero)
        {
            MessageBox.Show("Specified app is not running.");
            return;
        }

        SetForegroundWindow(appHandle);
        System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(500);

        //SendKeys.SendWait("111");
        SendKeys.SendWait("^A");
        //SendKeys.SendWait("^(A)"); //ctrl a
        //SendKeys.SendWait("(^A)");

score 45 · Answer 1 · edited Jul 31 '12 at 07:30

45

To specify that any combination of SHIFT, CTRL, and ALT should be held down while several other keys are pressed, enclose the code for those keys in parentheses. For example, to specify to hold down SHIFT while E and C are pressed, use +(EC). To specify to hold down SHIFT while E is pressed, followed by C without SHIFT, use +EC.

Answer is:

SendKeys.Send("^(a)");

edited Jul 31 '12 at 07:30

Tisho

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answered Jul 31 '12 at 07:17

Chola

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This is actually the best answer... unfortunate that OP didn't select one. – NotCoffeeTable May 10 '13 at 21:55
That's not the answer, it clearly states that if only one key is needed by the control key, there is no need for the parentheses. – EliSherer Oct 23 '14 at 08:58

score 16 · Answer 2 · edited Mar 21 '18 at 00:12

16

I got same problem I want select text an input text control

SendKeys.SendWait("^A") doesn't works nor Sendkeys.SendWait "^A" doessn't works

Sendkeys.SendWait("^a") works ok

for more info: http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/docs/functions/Send.htm

hth

edited Mar 21 '18 at 00:12

Valamas

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answered Nov 05 '10 at 15:14

TexWiller

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score 6 · Answer 3 · edited Aug 10 '17 at 11:57

6

SendKeys is case-sensitive. Try this:

SendKeys.Send("^a");

I'm not sure, but it seems like

SendKeys.Send("^A");

means Ctrl+Shift+A. At least it does work this way in some applications.

edited Aug 10 '17 at 11:57

Andrii Omelchenko

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answered Aug 16 '10 at 18:07

user392757

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The Shift code is +, so if you want capital A you would have to do ("+^a") – Dman Dec 24 '15 at 16:28

score 4 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 07 '10 at 09:25

4

Did you try

SendKeys.SendWait("^{A}");

answered Aug 07 '10 at 09:25

Cameron Hudson

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tried this and this doesn't work. Tried use alt key combos and they don't work for me either.... – ALI Aug 07 '10 at 16:36

score 2 · Answer 5 · answered Oct 05 '18 at 06:17

been through this.

The only working solution:

Find your element where you want to enter text

     element.SetFocus();

     Thread.Sleep(2000);

     SendKeys.SendWait("^{HOME}");  // Move to start of control

     SendKeys.SendWait("^+{END}"); // Select everything

     SendKeys.SendWait("{DEL}"); 

     SendKeys.SendWait("Value");

SendKeys Ctrl-A not working

5 Answers5