How to read in special keys with Win32::Console?

Question

When I press the Up-key, this script (Term::TermKey) outputs You pressed: .

#!/usr/bin/env perl
use warnings;
use 5.012;         


        

Answer 1

The up key does not result in a character. InputChar cannot possible return it. You need to use Input.

my $con_in = Win32::Console->new(STD_INPUT_HANDLE);
for (;;) {
   my @event = $con_in->Input();

   my $event_type = shift(@event);
   next if !defined($event_type) || $event_type != 1;  # 1: Keyboard

   my ($key_down, $repeat_count, $vkcode, $vscode, $char, $ctrl_key_state) = @event;
   if ($vkcode == VK_UP && ($ctrl_key_state & SHIFTED_MASK) == 0) {
      if ($key_down) {
         say "<Up> pressed/held down" for 1..$repeat_count;
      } else {
         say "<Up> released";
      }
   }
}

See KEY_EVENT_RECORD for more information about keyboard events.

See Virtual-Key Codes to identify keys.

---

Headers and definitions for above code:

use strict;
use warnings;
use feature qw( say );

use Win32::Console qw( STD_INPUT_HANDLE );

use constant {
   RIGHT_ALT_PRESSED  => 0x0001,
   LEFT_ALT_PRESSED   => 0x0002,
   RIGHT_CTRL_PRESSED => 0x0004,
   LEFT_CTRL_PRESSED  => 0x0008,
   SHIFT_PRESSED      => 0x0010,

   VK_UP => 0x26,
};

use constant SHIFTED_MASK =>
   RIGHT_ALT_PRESSED |
   LEFT_ALT_PRESSED |
   RIGHT_CTRL_PRESSED |
   LEFT_CTRL_PRESSED |
   SHIFT_PRESSED;