.net - Visual C++ Watch for key sequence -

if have form application in c++, how set watches specific key sequence perform action? like, instance, watching user tap arrow keys in specific order, , when happens open form?

(aparrantly .net? i'm new doing forms, i'm little lost here.)

as long you're okay requiring main form have focus, simple version involves setting keypreview property true , adding handler previewkeydown:

#using <system::windows::forms.dll>  // brevity of example using namespace system; using namespace system::windows::forms;  public ref class form1 : form { private:     // desired key sequence     static array<keys>^ contra = { keys::up, keys::up, keys::down, keys::down,                                    keys::left, keys::right, keys::left, keys::right,                                    keys::b, keys::a, keys::launchapplication1};      // how far sequence user     int keyseqpos;      // other data     int lives;      void form1_previewkeydown(object^ sender, previewkeydowneventargs^ e)     {         if{keyseqpos < 0 || keyseqpos >= contra->length)         {             // reset position if it's invalid             keyseqpos = 0;         }          // use following test if don't care modifiers (ctrl, alt, shift)         // otherwise can test direct equality: e->keycode == contra[keyseqpos]         // caps lock, num lock, , scroll lock harder deal         if(e->keycode & keys.keycode == contra[keyseqpos])         {             keyseqpos++         }         else         {             keyseqpos = 0;             // alternatively, keep history , check see if             // suffix of matches prefix of code, setting keyseqpos             // length of match         }          if(keyseqpos == contra->length)         {             // key sequence complete, whatever want             lives += 3;         }     }      void initializecomponent()     {         // other initialization code          this->keypreview = true;         this->previewkeydown += gcnew previewkeydowneventhandler(this, &form1::form1_previewkeydown);     }  public:      form1()     {         initializecomponent();          keyseqpos = 0;         lives = 3;     } }