StringFormat::GetHotkeyPrefix method (gdiplusstringformat.h)

The StringFormat::GetHotkeyPrefix method gets an element of the HotkeyPrefix enumeration that indicates the type of processing that is performed on a string when a hot key prefix, an ampersand (&), is encountered.

Syntax

HotkeyPrefix GetHotkeyPrefix();

Return value

Type: HotkeyPrefix

This method returns an element of the HotkeyPrefix enumeration that indicates the type of hot key prefix processing that is performed on a string.

Remarks

Hot keys, also called access keys, are keys that are programmed to provide an end user with keyboard shortcuts to functionality and are activated by pressing the ALT key. The keys are application dependent and are identified by an underscored letter, typically in a menu name or menu item; for example, when you press ALT, the letter F of the File menu is underscored. The F key is a shortcut to display the File menu.

A client programmer designates a hot key in an application by using the hot key prefix, an ampersand (&), in a string that typically is displayed as the name of a menu or an item in a menu and by using the StringFormat::SetHotkeyPrefix method to set the appropriate type of processing. When a character in a string is preceded with an ampersand, the key that corresponds to the character becomes a hot key during the processing that occurs when the string is drawn on the display device. The ampersand is called a hot key prefix because it precedes the character to be activated. If HotkeyPrefixNone is passed to StringFormat::SetHotkeyPrefix, no processing of hot key prefixes occurs.

Note  The term hot key is used synonymously here with the term access key. The term hot key may have a different meaning in other Windows APIs.

 

Examples

The following example creates a StringFormat object, sets the type of hot key prefix processing to be performed on the string, and then gets the type of processing and stores it in a variable. The code then creates a second StringFormat object and uses the stored value to set the type of hot key prefix processing for the second StringFormat object. The code uses the second StringFormat object to draw a string that contains the hot key prefix character. The code also draws the string's layout rectangle.

VOID Example_GetHotkeyPrefix(HDC hdc)
{
   Graphics graphics(hdc);

   SolidBrush  solidBrush(Color(255, 255, 0, 0)); 
   FontFamily  fontFamily(L"Times New Roman");
   Font        font(&fontFamily, 24, FontStyleRegular, UnitPixel);
   
   // Create a StringFormat object, and set its hot key prefix.
   StringFormat stringFormat;
   stringFormat.SetHotkeyPrefix(HotkeyPrefixShow);

   // Get the hot key prefix from the StringFormat object.
   HotkeyPrefix hotkeyPrefix = stringFormat.GetHotkeyPrefix();

   // Create a second StringFormat object with the same hot key prefix.
   StringFormat stringFormat2;
   stringFormat2.SetHotkeyPrefix(hotkeyPrefix);

   // Use the second StringFormat object in a call to DrawString.
  graphics.DrawString(
      L"This &text has some &underlined characters.", 
      43,  // string length
      &font, 
      RectF(30, 30, 160, 200), 
      &stringFormat2, 
      &solidBrush);

   // Draw the rectangle that encloses the text.
   Pen pen(Color(255, 255, 0, 0));
   graphics.DrawRectangle(&pen, 30, 30, 160, 200);
}

Requirements

Requirement	Value
Minimum supported client	Windows XP, Windows 2000 Professional [desktop apps only]
Minimum supported server	Windows 2000 Server [desktop apps only]
Target Platform	Windows
Header	gdiplusstringformat.h (include Gdiplus.h)
Library	Gdiplus.lib
DLL	Gdiplus.dll

See also

HotkeyPrefix

StringFormat