Send special character with SendKeys

Question

I am using textboxes to send text via SendKeys, but when I insert special characters in the textbox, my application crashes. For example, when I put in a '+' in the textbox, I get this error: SendKeys string '+' is not valid. I need a solution to send special characters with SendKeys, this is a part of my code: ``` SendKeys.Send(dropDownEffectsLeft1.SelectedItem.ToString() + dropDownEffectsRight1.SelectedItem.ToString() + txt1.Text); ``` It's all about the textbox called `txt1` I think I need something like a `Regex` to check if my `txt` contains any special characters, and that I will do with: ``` Regex specialChar = new Regex(@"^[a-zA-Z0-9_@.-]*$"); ``` I really appreciate your help.

Accepted Answer

From MSDN SendKeys:

The plus sign (+), caret (^), percent sign (%), tilde (~), and parentheses () have special meanings to SendKeys. To specify one of these characters, enclose it within braces ({}). For example, to specify the plus sign, use "{+}". To specify brace characters, use "{{}" and "{}}". Brackets ([ ]) have no special meaning to SendKeys, but you must enclose them in braces. In other applications, brackets do have a special meaning that might be significant when dynamic data exchange (DDE) occurs.

Code

So you just need a regex to replace those characters:

```
string txt = Regex.Replace(txt1.Text, "[+^%~()]", "{$0}");
SendKeys.Send(txt);
```

Test

I tested the code and I have an online test you can check out for the regex `[+^%~()]`

- Input: Plus + Caret ^ Percent % Tilde ~ Parenthis ( )

- Output Plus {+} Caret {^} Percent {%} Tilde {~} Parenthis {(} {)}

Send special character with SendKeys

Solution

Problem