Touch-It Virtual Keyboard Version 4.9.2
Scancode, vk, ansi, unicode

Related links: Before starting (Localization).

These key types send a simple character or symbol. The type to choose depend on whether the layout should be localized or not (See below).

This figure shows the dialog for scancode keys. Others just differ in the Code field. Tick the Sorted check box to sort the dropdown list by alphabetic characters.

The Hexa check box when ticked displays the code in hexadecimal rather than decimal.

Differences between types
Scan code Scan codes are emitted by a computer keyboard to report pressed keys to a computer. A scancode number, or sequence of scancodes numbers, is assigned to each key on keyboard. The characters displayed are not meaningful and depend on the default input language selected in the Windows regional settings.
  • This is the type you should use to emulate alphanumeric part of the keyboard. When the key is pressed, it is translated to the right character according to Shift and AltGr states and the input language.
The drop down list shows the scan code and the up to three symbols based on the current input language.
Virtual key code Virtual key codes represent characters based on the current language and font and are independent from the keyboard layout.
  • This type should be used to emulate function keys (F1, enter, tab, numpad numbers, etc.).
  • Use it to emulate characters only if you don't need Shift or AltGr state support. ('a' and 'A' don't have same code). Restrict yourself to the Ascii codes (0..127).
  • Definitely avoid language dependant characters If you planned to distribute your templates world wide.
The drop down list shows the scan code and the up to three symbols based on the current input language.
Ansi code (obsolete) Ansi codes represent characters based on the current language and font and are independent from the keyboard layout. Ansi codes are the same than Virtual key codes. However Touch-It use a different technique to generate events.
  • This type should be used to send extended characters (eg. ©).
  • Use it to emulate characters only if you don't need Shift or AltGr state support. ('a' and 'A' don't have same code). Restrict yourself to the Ascii codes (0..127).
  • Definitely avoid language dependant characters If you planned to distribute your templates world wide.

The drop down list shows the Ansi codes and their symbols.

Ansi codes key is obsolete and can be replaced by an unicode key.

Unicode Unicodes represent characters or symbols for any installed languages independent from the keyboard layout. The first 256 codes are the ansi codes.
  • This type should be used to send extended characters or characters of a different language.
The drop down list shows the unicodes and their symbols.
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