Key codes and key labels
- Last Updated: February 11, 2026
- 2 minute read
- OpenEdge
- Version 13.0
- Documentation
All ABL keys have both a code and a label. The key code is an ABL internal identifier for the key. ABL stores all key codes in 16-bit words. The structure of a key code is as follows:
- Bits 0–8 — Unique code assigned to the key
- Bit 9 — The SHIFT key modifier (512)
- Bit 10 — The ALT or ESC key modifier (1024)
- Bit 11 — The CTRL key modifier (2048)
- Bits 12–15 — Reserved bits
This structure allows the AVM to respond to a wide variety of key combinations. For example, you can write a trigger that fires when the user presses CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+F1. The following figure shows how ABL generates key codes when different keys are pressed.
ABL uses this scheme wherever possible. However, some keys are assigned key codes that do not fit into this scheme. The following rules determine what key codes are outside of this scheme:
- If you press CTRL plus
an alphabetic character or the (@, \, ], ^, or _ special characters), the AVM turns
the
CTRLkey modifier off and maps to the appropriate character code. For example, CTRL+A is mapped to keycode 1, which accords with the ASCII standard (and therefore most 7–bit character code pages). - If you press SHIFT
plus a code page character, the AVM turns off the
SHIFTkey modifier and maps to the appropriate character code. For example, SHIFT+A is equivalent to A, and A is mapped to keycode 65, which accords with the ASCII standard (and therefore most 7–bit character code pages). Also, many code page characters (for example, the comma) do not have uppercase equivalents; therefore, theSHIFTkey modifier is turned off. - If you press ALT plus
an alphabetic character, the AVM maps to the uppercase alphabetic characters. For
example, ALT+A and ALT+a are both mapped to keycode 1089. The keycode
1089 corresponds to the keycode 65 (A) with the
ALTkey modifier turned on (65 + 1024 = 1089).
ABL provides more than one key label for certain key codes. The key labels in the following table are the preferred labels, but you can also use the labels in the "Alternate key codes and key labels" table.
| Key code | Key label |
|---|---|
| 0 | CTRL+@ |
| 1 through 7 | CTRL+A through CTRL+G |
| 8 | BACKSPACE |
| 9 | TAB |
| 10 through 12 | CTRL+J through CTRL+L |
| 13 |
ENTER (Windows) RETURN (UNIX) |
| 14 through 26 | CTRL+N through CTRL+Z |
| 27 | ESC |
| 28 | CTRL+\ |
| 29 | CTRL+] |
| 30 | CTRL+^ |
| 31 | CTRL+_ |
| 32 through 126 | Corresponding character |
| 127 | DEL |
| 128 through 255 | Corresponding extended character |
| 300 through 399 | F0 through F99 |
| 400 through 499 | PF0 through PF99 |
| 501 | CURSOR–UP |
| 502 | CURSOR–DOWN |
| 503 | CURSOR–RIGHT |
| 504 | CURSOR–LEFT |
| 505 | HOME |
| 506 | END |
| 507 | PAGE–UP |
| 508 | PAGE–DOWN |
| 509 | BACK–TAB |
| 510 | INS |
| 511 | HELP–KEY |
| 512 | DELETE |
| 513 | EXECUTE |
| 514 | PAGE |
| 515 | FIND |
| 516 | INS–LINE |
| 517 | DEL–LINE |
| 518 | LINE–ERASE |
| 519 | PAGE–ERASE |
| 520 | SHIFT+BACKSPACE |
| 521 | SHIFT+TAB |
| 522 | EXIT |
| 535 | ERASE |
| 536 | WHITE |
| 537 | BLUE |
| 538 | RED |
| 539 | RESET |
| 541 | CTRL+BREAK |
| 551 through 560 | U1 through U10 |
| 609 | MOUSE–SELECT–UP |
| 610 | MOUSE–MOVE–UP |
| 611 | MOUSE–MENU–UP |
| 612 | MOUSE–EXTEND–UP |
| 617 | MOUSE–SELECT–DOWN |
| 618 | MOUSE–MOVE–DOWN |
| 619 | MOUSE–MENU–DOWN |
| 620 | MOUSE–EXTEND–DOWN |
| 625 | MOUSE–SELECT–CLICK |
| 626 | MOUSE–MOVE–CLICK |
| 627 | MOUSE–MENU–CLICK |
| 628 | MOUSE–EXTEND–CLICK |
| 640 | MOUSE–MOVE |
| 649 | MOUSE–SELECT–DBLCLICK |
| 650 | MOUSE–MOVE–DBLCLICK |
| 651 | MOUSE–MENU–DBLCLICK |
| 652 | MOUSE–EXTEND–DBLCLICK |
| 812 through 911 | SHIFT+F0 through SHIFT+F99 |
| 912 through 1011 | SHIFT+ PF0 through SHIFT+PF99 |
| 1013 | SHIFT+CURSOR–UP |
| 1014 | SHIFT+CURSOR–DOWN |
| 1015 | SHIFT+CURSOR–RIGHT |
| 1016 | SHIFT+CURSOR–LEFT |
| 1017 | SHIFT+HOME |
| 1018 | SHIFT+END |
| 1019 | SHIFT+PAGE–UP |
| 1020 | SHIFT+PAGE–DOWN |
| 1021 | SHIFT+BACK–TAB |
| 1022 | SHIFT+INS |
| 1023 | SHIFT+HELP–KEY |
| 1024 | ALT+CTRL+@ |
| 1025 through 1031 | ALT+CTRL+A through ALT+CTRL+G |
| 1032 | ALT+BACKSPACE |
| 1033 | ALT+TAB |
| 1034 through 1036 | ALT+CTRL+J through ALT+CTRL+L |
| 1037 | ALT+RETURN |
| 1038 through 1050 | ALT+CTRL+N through ALT+CTRL+Z |
| 1051 | ALT+ESC |
| 1052 | ALT+CTRL+\ |
| 1053 | ALT+CTRL+] |
| 1054 | ALT+CTRL+^ |
| 1055 | ALT+CTRL+_ |
| 1057 through 1150 | ALT+ corresponding character |
| 1151 | ALT+DEL |
| 1152 through 1279 | ALT+ corresponding extended character |
| 1324 through 1423 | ALT+F0 through ALT+F99 |
| 1424 through 1523 | ALT+PF0 through ALT+PF99 |
| 1525 | ALT+CURSOR–UP |
| 1526 | ALT+CURSOR–DOWN |
| 1527 | ALT+CURSOR–RIGHT |
| 1528 | ALT+CURSOR–LEFT |
| 1529 | ALT+HOME |
| 1530 | ALT+END |
| 1531 | ALT+PAGE–UP |
| 1532 | ALT+PAGE–DOWN |
| 1533 | ALT+BACK–TAB |
| 1534 | ALT+INS |
| 1535 | ALT+HELP–KEY |
| 1536 | ALT+DELETE |
| 1537 | ALT+EXECUTE |
| 1538 | ALT+PAGE |
| 1539 | ALT+FIND |
| 1540 | ALT+INS–LINE |
| 1541 | ALT+DEL–LINE |
| 1542 | ALT+LINE–ERASE |
| 1543 | ALT+PAGE–ERASE |
| 1544 | ALT+SHIFT+BACKSPACE |
| 1545 | ALT+SHIFT+TAB |
| 1546 | ALT+EXIT |
| 1549 through 1558 | ALT+U1 through ALT+U10 |
| 1559 | ALT+ERASE |
| 1560 | ALT+WHITE |
| 1561 | ALT+BLUE |
| 1562 | ALT+RED |
| 1563 | ALT+RESET |
| 1565 | ALT+ctrl+BREAK |
| 1575 through 1584 | ALT+U1 through ALT+U10 |
| 1663 | SHIFT+ALT+DEL |
| 1664 through 1791 | SHIFT+ALT+ corresponding extended character |
| 1836 through 1935 | SHIFT+ALT+F0 through SHIFT+ALT+F99 |
| 1936 through 2035 | SHIFT+ALT+PF0 through SHIFT+ALT+PF99 |
| 2037 | SHIFT+ALT+CURSOR–UP |
| 2038 | SHIFT+ALT+CURSOR–DOWN |
| 2039 | SHIFT+ALT+CURSOR–RIGHT |
| 2040 | SHIFT+ALT+CURSOR–LEFT |
| 2041 | SHIFT+ALT+HOME |
| 2042 | SHIFT+ALT+END |
| 2043 | SHIFT+ALT+PAGE–UP |
| 2044 | SHIFT+ALT+PAGE–DOWN |
| 2045 | SHIFT+ALT+BACK–TAB |
| 2046 | SHIFT+ALT+INS |
| 2047 | SHIFT+ALT+HELP–KEY |
| 2056 | CTRL+BACKSPACE |
| 2057 | CTRL+TAB |
| 2075 | CTRL+ESC |
| 2080 through 2111 | CTRL+ corresponding character |
| 2171 through 2174 | CTRL+ corresponding character |
| 2175 | CTRL+DEL |
| 2209 through 2303 | CTRL+ corresponding extended character |
| 2348 through 2447 | CTRL+F0 through CTRL+F99 |
| 2448 through 2547 | CTRL+PF0 through CTRL+PF99 |
| 2549 | CTRL+CURSOR–UP |
| 2550 | CTRL+CURSOR–DOWN |
| 2551 | CTRL+CURSOR–RIGHT |
| 2552 | CTRL+CURSOR–LEFT |
| 2553 | CTRL+HOME |
| 2554 | CTRL+END |
| 2555 | CTRL+PAGE–UP |
| 2556 | CTRL+PAGE–DOWN |
| 2557 | CTRL+BACK–TAB |
| 2558 | CTRL+INS |
| 2559 | CTRL+HELP–KEY |
| 2560 | CTRL+DELETE |
| 2561 | CTRL+EXECUTE |
| 2562 | CTRL+PAGE |
| 2563 | CTRL+FIND |
| 2564 | CTRL+INS–LINE |
| 2565 | CTRL+DEL–LINE |
| 2566 | CTRL+LINE–ERASE |
| 2567 | CTRL+PAGE–ERASE |
| 2568 | CTRL+SHIFT+BACKSPACE |
| 2569 | CTRL+SHIFT+TAB |
| 2570 | CTRL+EXIT |
| 2573 | CTRL+SHIFT+RETURN |
| 2583 | CTRL+ERASE |
| 2584 | CTRL+WHITE |
| 2585 | CTRL+BLUE |
| 2586 | CTRL+RED |
| 2587 | CTRL+RESET |
| 2559 through 2608 | CTRL+U1 through CTRL+U10 |
| 2860 through 2859 | CTRL+SHIFT+F0 through CTRL+SHIFT+F99 |
| 2960 through 3059 | CTRL+SHIFT+PF0 through CTRL+SHIFT+PF99 |
| 3061 | CTRL+SHIFT+CURSOR–UP |
| 3062 | CTRL+SHIFT+CURSOR–DOWN |
| 3063 | CTRL+SHIFT+CURSOR–RIGHT |
| 3064 | CTRL+SHIFT+CURSOR–LEFT |
| 3065 | CTRL+SHIFT+HOME |
| 3066 | CTRL+SHIFT+END |
| 3067 | CTRL+SHIFT+PAGE–UP |
| 3068 | CTRL+SHIFT+PAGE–DOWN |
| 3069 | CTRL+SHIFT+BACK–TAB |
| 3070 | CTRL+SHIFT+INS |
| 3071 | CTRL+SHIFT+HELP–KEY |
| 3104 through 3135 | CTRL+ALT+ corresponding character |
| 3163 | CTRL+ALT+[ |
| 3164 | CTRL+ALT+\ |
| 3165 | CTRL+ALT+] |
| 3166 | CTRL+ALT+^ |
| 3167 | CTRL+ALT+_ |
| 3168 | CTRL+ALT+‘ |
| 3195 through 3198 | CTRL+ALT+ corresponding character |
| 3199 | CTRL+ALT+DEL |
| 3233 through 3327 | CTRL+ALT+ corresponding extended character |
| 3372 through 3471 | CTRL+ALT+F0 through CTRL+ALT+F10 |
| 3472 through 3571 | CTRL+ALT+PF0 through CTRL+ALT+PF99 |
| 3573 | CTRL+ALT+CURSOR–UP |
| 3574 | CTRL+ALT+CURSOR–DOWN |
| 3575 | CTRL+ALT+CURSOR–RIGHT |
| 3576 | CTRL+ALT+CURSOR–LEFT |
| 3577 | CTRL+ALT+HOME |
| 3578 | CTRL+ALT+END |
| 3579 | CTRL+ALT+PAGE–UP |
| 3580 | CTRL+ALT+PAGE–DOWN |
| 3581 | CTRL+ALT+BACK–TAB |
| 3582 | CTRL+ALT+INS |
| 3583 | CTRL+ALT+HELP–KEY |
| 3585 | CTRL+ALT+EXECUTE |
| 3586 | CTRL+ALT+PAGE |
| 3587 | CTRL+ALT+FIND |
| 3588 | CTRL+ALT+INS–LINE |
| 3589 | CTRL+ALT+DEL–LINE |
| 3590 | CTRL+ALT+LINE–ERASE |
| 3591 | CTRL+ALT+PAGE–ERASE |
| 3592 | CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+BACKSPACE |
| 3593 | CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+TAB |
| 3594 | CTRL+ALT+EXIT |
| 3597 | CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+RETURN |
| 3607 | CTRL+ALT+ERASE |
| 3608 | CTRL+ALT+WHITE |
| 3609 | CTRL+ALT+BLUE |
| 3610 | CTRL+ALT+RED |
| 3611 | CTRL+ALT+RESET |
| 3623 through 3632 | CTRL+ALT+U1 through CTRL+ALT+U10 |
| 3884 through 3983 | CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+F0 through CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+F99 |
| 3994 through 4083 | CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+PF0 through CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+PF99 |
| 4085 | CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+CURSOR–UP |
| 4086 | CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+CURSOR–DOWN |
| 4087 | CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+CURSOR–RIGHT |
| 4088 | CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+CURSOR–LEFT |
| 4089 | CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+HOME |
| 4090 | CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+END |
| 4091 | CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+PAGE–UP |
| 4092 | CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+PAGE–DOWN |
| 4093 | CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+BACK–TAB |
| 4094 | CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+INS |
| 4095 | CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+HELP–KEY |
The above table shows the key labels returned for each key code by the
KEYLABEL function. In addition to these key
labels, some key codes have alternative labels. Although the KEYLABEL function does not return these values, if you can pass any of
these labels to the KEYCODE function, the
corresponding key code is returned. The following table lists the alternate key
labels.
| Key code | Alternate key label |
|---|---|
| 7 | BELL |
| 8 | BS |
| 10 | LINEFEED, LF |
| 12 | FORMFEED, FF |
| 13 |
RETURN (Windows) ENTER (UNIX) |
| 27 | ESCAPE |
| 127 | CANCEL |
| 501 | UP, UP–ARROW |
| 502 | DOWN, DOWN–ARROW |
| 503 | RIGHT, RIGHT–ARROW |
| 504 | LEFT, LEFT–ARROW |
| 505 | ESC H |
| 507 | PGUP, PREV–PAGE, PREV–SCRN |
| 508 | PGDN, NEXT–PAGE, NEXT–SCRN |
| 509 |
SHIFT+TAB (UNIX) BACK–TAB (Windows) |
| 510 | INSERT, INS–CHAR, INS–C, INSERT–HERE |
| 512 | DEL–CHAR, DELETE–CHAR, DEL–C |
| 516 | INS–L, LINE–INS |
| 517 | DEL–L, LINE–DEL |