VB & VBA in a Nutshell: The Language

SendKeys Statement

Named Arguments

Yes

Syntax

SendKeys string[, wait]

string

Use: Required

Data Type: String

The keystrokes to send.

wait

Use: Optional

Data Type: Boolean

Expression evaluating to True or False denoting the wait mode.

Description

Programmatically simulates specified keys being typed at the keyboard.

Rules at a Glance

• SendKeys sends its keystrokes to the application and application window that has the focus.

• One or more characters represent each key.

• The default setting for wait is False. Setting wait to True informs the application to wait until the keystrokes have been processed before passing control back to the current procedure. A False setting returns control back to the current procedure as soon as the keys are sent.

• To send normal alphabetical or numeric characters, simply use the character or characters enclosed in quotation marks. For example, "SOME Text 123".

• The following characters represent special keys or have special meaning within the SendKeys string:

  Character	Special Key Representation
  +	Shift
  ^	Ctrl
  %	Alt
  ~	Enter
  [ ]	May be used by Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE)

  To use these characters literally, you must surround the character with braces. For example, to specify the percentage key, use {%}.

• Preceding a string with the special characters described in the table above allows you to send a keystroke combination beginning with Shift, Ctrl, or Alt. For example, to specify Ctrl followed by M, use ^M.

• If you need to specify that the Shift, Ctrl, or Alt ...