Question

Is there an easy way to capture a ctrl+key1, key2 event in a winforms app similar to that in visual studio such as ctrl+e, c = comment out selected lines?

I am currently overriding my forms OnKeyDown event:

protected override void OnKeyDown(KeyEventArgs e)
    {
        base.OnKeyDown(e);

        if (e.Control && e.KeyCode.ToString() == "N")
        {
            //do something...
        }
    }

Answer 1

The article in the comment may have been for WPF but the idea in it can still be used

Construct a class such as

    public class MultiKeyGesture
    {
        private List<Keys> _keys;
        private Keys _modifiers;
        public MultiKeyGesture(IEnumerable<Keys> keys, Keys modifiers)
        {
            _keys = new List<Keys>(keys);
            _modifiers = modifiers;
            if (_keys.Count == 0)
            {
                throw new ArgumentException("At least one key must be specified.", "keys");
            }
        }

        private int currentindex;
        public bool Matches(KeyEventArgs e)
        {
            if (e.Modifiers == _modifiers && _keys[currentindex] == e.KeyCode)
                //at least a partial match
                currentindex++;
            else
                //No Match
                currentindex = 0;
            if (currentindex + 1 > _keys.Count)
            {
                //Matched last key
                currentindex = 0;
                return true;
            }
            return false;
        }
    }

but ignore the inheritance.

to use it

    private MultiKeyGesture Shortcut1 = new MultiKeyGesture(new List<Keys> { Keys.A, Keys.B }, Keys.Control);
    private MultiKeyGesture Shortcut2 = new MultiKeyGesture(new List<Keys> { Keys.C, Keys.D }, Keys.Control);
    private MultiKeyGesture Shortcut3 = new MultiKeyGesture(new List<Keys> { Keys.E, Keys.F }, Keys.Control);

    protected override void OnKeyDown(KeyEventArgs e)
    {
        base.OnKeyDown(e);
        if (Shortcut1.Matches(e))
            BackColor = Color.Green;
        if (Shortcut2.Matches(e))
            BackColor = Color.Blue;
        if (Shortcut3.Matches(e))
            BackColor = Color.Red;
    }