ASCII

ASCII and Extended Codes

MS-DOS code page 437:

ASCII Control 0 to 31 | ASCII Keyboard Character Codes 32 to 127
Code	Character [key]	Code	Character	Code	Character	Code	Character
0	(NUL)	32	[Spacebar]	64	@	96	`
1	? (SOH)	33	!	65	A	97	a
2	? (STX)	34	"	66	B	98	b
3	? (ETX)	35	#	67	C	99	c
4	? (EOT)	36	$	68	D	100	d
5	? (ENQ)	37	%	69	E	101	e
6	? (ACK)	38	&	70	F	102	f
7	• (BEL) BEEP	39	'	71	G	103	g
8	? [BackSpace] **	40	(	72	H	104	h
9	? (HT) [TAB] **	41	)	73	I	105	i
10	? (LineFeed) **	42	*	74	J	106	j
11	? (VT) **	43	+	75	K	107	k
12	? (FormFeed) **	44	,	76	L	108	l
13	? (CR) [Enter] **	45	-	77	M	109	m
14	? (SO)	46	.	78	N	110	n
15	¤ (SI)	47	/	79	O	111	o
16	? (DLE)	48	0	80	P	112	p
17	? (DC1)	49	1	81	Q	113	q
18	? (DC2)	50	2	82	R	114	r
19	? (DC3)	51	3	83	S	115	s
20	¶ (DC4)	52	4	84	T	116	t
21	§ (NAK)	53	5	85	U	117	u
22	? (SYN)	54	6	86	V	118	v
23	? (ETB)	55	7	87	W	119	w
24	? (CAN)	56	8	88	X	120	x
25	? (EM)	57	9	89	Y	121	y
26	? (SUB) EOF	58	:	90	Z	122	z
27	? (ESC) [Esc]	59	;	91	[	123	{
28	? (FS) **	60	<	92	\	124	|
29	? (GS) **	61	=	93	]	125	}
30	? (RS) **	62	>	94	^	126	~
31	? (US) **	63	?	95	_	127	¦ (DEL) *
IBM, International, graphical, mathematical and other characters
Code	Character	Code	Character	Code	Character	Code	Character
128	Ç	160	á	192	+	224	a
129	ü	161	í	193	-	225	ß
130	é	162	ó	194	-	226	G
131	â	163	ú	195	+	227	p
132	ä	164	ñ	196	-	228	S
133	à	165	Ñ	197	+	229	s
134	å	166	ª	198	¦	230	µ
135	ç	167	º	199	¦	231	t
136	ê	168	¿	200	+	232	F
137	ë	169	¬	201	+	233	T
138	è	170	¬	202	-	234	O
139	ï	171	½	203	-	235	d
140	î	172	¼	204	¦	236	8
141	ì	173	¡	205	-	237	f
142	Ä	174	«	206	+	238	e
143	Å	175	»	207	-	239	n
144	É	176	¦	208	-	240	=
145	æ	177	¦	209	-	241	±
146	Æ	178	¦	210	-	242	=
147	ô	179	¦	211	+	243	=
148	ö	180	¦	212	+	244	(
149	ò	181	¦	213	+	245	)
150	û	182	¦	214	+	246	÷
151	ù	183	+	215	+	247	˜
152	ÿ	184	+	216	+	248	°
153	Ö	185	¦	217	+	249	·
154	Ü	186	¦	218	+	250	·
155	¢	187	+	219	¦	251	v
156	£	188	+	220	_	252	n
157	¥	189	+	221	¦	253	²
158	P	190	+	222	¦	254	¦
159	ƒ	191	+	223	¯	255	NBSP ***

* DEL was used to erase paper tape data by punching out all of the 7 holes.

** Control characters 8 to 13 and 28 to 31 can move text formatting when printed and do not display

*** NBSP is a Non-breaking Space used to indent text. Some browsers may handle this character differently

More information about ASCII Control Characters

Unicode Character Table

Control Characters

• INKEY$ will return Control + letter key press combinations as the equivalent control characters or bold function keys listed below:

CTRL + A = CHR$(1)  ? StartHeader (SOH) CTRL + B = CHR$(2)  ? StartText (STX) CTRL + C = CHR$(3)  ? EndText (ETX) CTRL + D = CHR$(4)  ? EndOfTransmit (EOT) CTRL + E = CHR$(5)  ? Enquiry (ENQ) CTRL + F = CHR$(6)  ? Acknowledge (ACK) CTRL + G = CHR$(7) • Bell (BEL) CTRL + H = CHR$(8)  ? [Backspace] (BSP) CTRL + I = CHR$(9) ? Horiz.Tab [Tab] CTRL + J = CHR$(10) ? LineFeed(printer) (LF) CTRL + K = CHR$(11) ? Vert. Tab (VT) CTRL + L = CHR$(12) ? FormFeed(printer) (FF) CTRL + M = CHR$(13) ? [Enter] (CR) CTRL + N = CHR$(14)  ? ShiftOut (SO) CTRL + O = CHR$(15) ¤ ShiftIn (SI) CTRL + P = CHR$(16)  ? DataLinkEscape (DLE) CTRL + Q = CHR$(17)  ? DevControl1 (DC1) CTRL + R = CHR$(18)  ? DeviceControl2 (DC2) CTRL + S = CHR$(19)  ? DevControl3 (DC3) CTRL + T = CHR$(20) ¶ DeviceControl4 (DC4) CTRL + U = CHR$(21) § NegativeACK (NAK) CTRL + V = CHR$(22)  ? Synchronous Idle (SYN) CTRL + W = CHR$(23)  ? EndTXBlock (ETB) CTRL + X = CHR$(24)  ? Cancel (CAN) CTRL + Y = CHR$(25)  ? EndMedium (EM) CTRL + Z = CHR$(26)  ? End Of File(SUB) (EOF) Red symbols will format text and not PRINT the symbol. _PRINTSTRING can print in QB64

• Control characters 1 to 26 can be used to simulate Ctrl + letter key shortcuts in Windows programs using _SCREENPRINT.
• _CONTROLCHR OFF can also be used in QB64 to allow control characters to be printed without formatting the text.

ASCII in Text and Printing

• Characters 0(NULL) and 255(NBSP) can also be used to print spaces(32). Useful for making file names harder to delete too.
• Character 7 will create a BEEP sound when printed in QB64 or an error sound in QBasic using a SCREEN 0 window.
• Character 8 is returned when the Backspace key is pressed.
• Characters 9 thru 13 and 28 thru 31 can affect screen or file text placements and do not display the character when printed:

• Character 9 will Tab space the cursor 8 column spaces when printed.
• Character 10 moves the cursor or "line feeds" the printer head down one row.
• Character 11 vertical tabs the cursor back to top left position of page or screen. Acts like CLS.
• Character 12 acts like CLS when printed. "Form feeds" the page out of printers.
• Character 13 is the cursor or typing "carriage return" to the start of the line on left side. Returned when Enter key pressed.
• Character 28 designates a File Separator. Moves the print cursor one space right. Combination Ctrl + \
• Character 29 designates a Group Separator. Moves the print cursor one space left. Combination Ctrl + ]
• Character 30 designates a Record Separator. Moves the print cursor one row up. Combination Ctrl + ^
• Character 31 designates a Unit Separator. Moves the print cursor one row down. Combination Ctrl + _

• QB64 can display all of the control characters without formatting the text using _PRINTSTRING.
• Characters 13 and 10 can be combined to create the CrLf carriage return used in files or printing. crlf$ = CHR$(13) + CHR$(10).
• Character 16, the data link escape(DLE) character, can designate that a control character is being sent from a COM port.

Example: (DLE) <XON> (DLE) <XOFF> or (DLE) <STX> (DLE) <ETX>

• Character 17, Device Control 1, is used with COM ports to mark the start of a transmission as "XON". The character is read.
• Character 19, Device Control 3, is used with COM ports to mark the end of a transmission as "XOFF". The character is NOT read.
• Character 26 can be used to designate the end of a file. See EOF.
• Character 27 ? is returned when the Escape key is pressed.

Control character PRINT actions can be controlled using _CONTROLCHR OFF or ON in QB64.

SCREEN 12 COLOR 14: PRINT "Press Control + letter key combinations." DO K$ = INKEY$ IF LEN(K$) THEN code = ASC(K$) IF code < 32 THEN _PRINTSTRING (220, 100), "Ctrl + " + CHR$(code + 64) + " = " + K$ + " " END IF LOOP UNTIL K$ = CHR$(27) END

ASCII Character Usage

• Characters are one byte and take up one space(byte) in a STRING value or variable.
• Extended(non-keyboard) characters can be entered by holding down Alt key and entering the code number on the Number pad.
• PRINTs text characters and symbols or formats the screen, printer or file.
• BINARY files often store values below 256 in the one byte character. To read the value get the code with ASC.
• Numerical values placed into a BINARY or RANDOM file using a GET or PUT variable, they will be stored in _MK$ format.
• Characters 176 to 223 can be used to create screen borders or boundaries in an ASCII game. See: SCREEN (function)
• Character 253(small 2) can be found as the first character byte of a BSAVEd image file opened in BINARY mode.
• Character 255 can be used as the NBSP(non-breaking space) character on web pages to fill in extra spaces.
• Can be used to crudely encrypt a file so others cannot read it by shifting the code values. See CHR$ example 2.

(Return to Table of Contents)

ASC Codes

ASC cannot read empty INKEY$ = "" loop reads! Check for them before reading ASC key press codes!

' ASCII Keyboard Codes ' ' Esc F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 F12 Sys ScL Pause ' 27 +59 +60 +61 +62 +63 +64 +65 +66 +67 +68 +133 +134 - - - ' `~ 1! 2@ 3# 4$ 5% 6^ 7& 8* 9( 0) -_ =+ BkSp Ins Hme PUp NumL / * - ' 126 33 64 35 36 37 94 38 42 40 41 95 43 8 +82 +71 +73 - 47 42 45 ' 96 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 48 45 61 ' Tab Q W E R T Y U I O P [{ ]} \| Del End PDn 7Hme 8/? 9PU + ' 9 81 87 69 82 84 89 85 73 79 80 123 125 124 +83 +79 +81 +71 +72 +73 43 ' 113 119 101 114 116 121 117 105 111 112 91 93 92 55 56 57 ' CapL A S D F G H J K L  ;: '" Enter 4/?- 5 6/-? ' - 65 83 68 70 71 72 74 75 76 58 34 13 +75 +76 +77 E ' 97 115 100 102 103 104 106 107 108 59 39 52 53 54 n ' Shift Z X C V B N M ,< .> /? Shift  ? 1End 2/? 3PD t ' * 90 88 67 86 66 78 77 60 62 63 * +72 +79 +80 +81 e ' 122 120 99 118 98 110 109 44 46 47 49 50 51 r ' Ctrl Win Alt Spacebar Alt Win Menu Ctrl  ?-  ? -? 0Ins .Del ' * - * 32 * - - * +75 +80 +77 +82 +83 13 ' 48 46 ' ' Italics = LCase/NumLock On ____________ + = 2 Byte: CHR$(0) + CHR$(code) 'NOTE: The above commented table can be copied and pasted directly into the QB64 IDE

Use ASC(RIGHT$(key$, 1)) or ASC(key$, 2) in QB64 to read a two byte code when ASC(key$) = 0 * See the Two Byte Ctrl, Alt and Shift + Function key combinations below

' Demo displays all ASCII codes and 2 byte code combinations DO: K$ = INKEY$ IF K$ <> "" THEN 'ASC will return an error if an empty string is read! IF ASC(K$) > 0 THEN PRINT "CHR$(" + LTRIM$(STR$(ASC(K$))) + ")" 'display normal keypress codes ELSE PRINT "CHR$(0) + CHR$(" + LTRIM$(STR$(ASC(K$, 2))) + ")" 'display 2 byte codes END IF END IF LOOP UNTIL K$ = CHR$(27) 'escape key press exits

Note: In QB64 ASC(K$, 2) can read the second byte of the 2 byte code when ASC(K$) reads the first byte as 0.

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Two Byte Codes

Two Byte ASCII Keyboard Return Values

• INKEY$ returns both bytes when two byte keys or key combinations are pressed. The second byte = RIGHT$(keypress$, 1)
• If the character returned is a two byte code, ASC will return 0. Warning: ASC cannot read empty INKEY$ string values!
• In QB64 only, ASC(keypress$, 2) can return the second byte code. Don't read empty string values!
• String values returned can be compared in an IF or SELECT CASE routine by using the actual string definitions such as:

IF INKEY$ = CHR$(0) + CHR$(80) THEN row = row + 1 or IF INKEY$ = CHR$(0) + "P" THEN row = row + 1

Two Byte Character Codes Key CHR$(0) + "?" CHR$(0) + CHR$(16-50) [Alt] + letter CHR$(0) + CHR$(59) [F1] ";" CHR$(0) + CHR$(60) [F2] "<" CHR$(0) + CHR$(61) [F3] "=" CHR$(0) + CHR$(62) [F4] ">" CHR$(0) + CHR$(63) [F5] "?" CHR$(0) + CHR$(64) [F6] "@" CHR$(0) + CHR$(65) [F7] "A" CHR$(0) + CHR$(66) [F8] "B" CHR$(0) + CHR$(67) [F9] "C" CHR$(0) + CHR$(68) [F10] "D" CHR$(0) + CHR$(71) [Home] "G" CHR$(0) + CHR$(72) [?] Up Arrow "H" CHR$(0) + CHR$(73) [Page Up] "I" CHR$(0) + CHR$(75) [?] Left Arrow "K" CHR$(0) + CHR$(76) [5 NumberPad] "L" (NumLock off in QB64) CHR$(0) + CHR$(77) [?] Right Arrow "M" CHR$(0) + CHR$(79) [End] "O" CHR$(0) + CHR$(80) [?] Down Arrow "P" CHR$(0) + CHR$(81) [Page Down] "Q" CHR$(0) + CHR$(82) [Insert] "R" CHR$(0) + CHR$(83) [Delete] "S" CHR$(0) + CHR$(84-93) [Shift] + F1-10 CHR$(0) + CHR$(94-103) [Ctrl] + F1-10 CHR$(0) + CHR$(104-113) [Alt] + F1-10 CHR$(0) + CHR$(114-119) [Ctrl] + keypad CHR$(0) + CHR$(120-129) [Alt] + number CHR$(0) + CHR$(130 or 131) [Alt] + _/- or +/= "é" or "â" CHR$(0) + CHR$(133) [F11] "à" CHR$(0) + CHR$(134) [F12] "å" CHR$(0) + CHR$(135) [Shift] + [F11] "ç" CHR$(0) + CHR$(136) [Shift] + [F12] "ê" CHR$(0) + CHR$(137) [Ctrl] + [F11] "ë" CHR$(0) + CHR$(138) [Ctrl] + [F12] "è" CHR$(0) + CHR$(139) [Alt] + [F11] "ï" CHR$(0) + CHR$(140) [Alt] + [F12] "î"

In QB64, CVI can be used to get the _KEYDOWN 2-byte code value. Example: status = _KEYDOWN(CVI(CHR$(0) + "P"))

See Scancodes for other keyboard function keys.

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Code Examples

Example 1: Using arrow keys to move a text character. A change from a previous position tells program when to PRINT:

movey = 1: movex = 1 'text coordinates can never be 0 at$ = "@" 'text sprite could be almost any ASCII character LOCATE movey, movex: PRINT at$; DO px = movex: py = movey 'previous positions B$ = INKEY$ IF B$ = CHR$(0) + CHR$(72) AND movey > 1 THEN movey = movey - 1 'rows 1 to 23 only IF B$ = CHR$(0) + CHR$(80) AND movey < 23 THEN movey = movey + 1 IF B$ = CHR$(0) + CHR$(75) AND movex > 1 THEN movex = movex - 1 'columns 1 to 80 only IF B$ = CHR$(0) + CHR$(77) AND movex < 80 THEN movex = movex + 1 IF px <> movex OR py <> movey THEN 'only changes when needed LOCATE py, px: PRINT SPACE$(1); 'erase old sprite LOCATE movey, movex: PRINT at$; 'show new position END IF LOOP UNTIL B$ = CHR$(27) 'ESCape key exit END

Example 2: Routine displays all keypress codes including Ctrl, Alt and Shift combinations. Ctrl + letter = control codes 1 to 26.

SCREEN 13 tmp$ = " CHR$(###),\\,\ \ " tmp2$ = " CHR$(0) + CHR$(###) \ \" COLOR 14: LOCATE 3, 3: PRINT "The code can tell what key is pressed" COLOR 12: LOCATE 5, 14: PRINT CHR$(3); SPACE$(3); COLOR 13: PRINT CHR$(5); SPACE$(3); COLOR 12: PRINT CHR$(4); SPACE$(3); COLOR 13: PRINT CHR$(6) COLOR 10: LOCATE 7, 4: PRINT " Hit a key to find the ASCII Code" COLOR 5: LOCATE 13, 1: PRINT " Codes below 33 are called control keys" LOCATE 14, 1: PRINT " CHR$(0) + are 2 byte Extended key codes" COLOR 13: LOCATE 16, 1: PRINT " Extended: Press Alt + numberpad: Enter" LOCATE 18, 1: PRINT " Try some Ctrl, Alt, or Shift Combo's" COLOR 5: LOCATE 20, 1: PRINT " INKEY$ is used to detect the key entry" COLOR 2: LOCATE 22, 15: PRINT CHR$(1); " "; CHR$(2) COLOR 4: LOCATE 24, 10: PRINT "To Quit hit the TAB key"; COLOR 9 DO DO: SLEEP: A$ = INKEY$: LOOP UNTIL A$ <> "" 'legal ASC read keys IF ASC(A$) > 0 THEN ' normal key codes code% = ASC(A$) SELECT CASE code% CASE 7: Key$ = "Beep" CASE 8: Key$ = "Backspace" CASE 9: Key$ = "Tab Key" CASE 10: Key$ = "Line Feed" CASE 12: Key$ = "Form Feed" CASE 13: Key$ = "Enter" CASE 27: Key$ = "Escape" CASE 32: Key$ = "Space Bar" CASE 48 TO 57: Key$ = "Number" CASE 65 TO 90: Key$ = "Uppercase" CASE 97 TO 122: Key$ = "Lowercase" CASE ELSE: Key$ = "" END SELECT SELECT CASE code% 'check for unprintable control combo characters CASE 10 TO 13: Kcode% = 32 CASE ELSE: Kcode% = code% END SELECT COLOR 9: LOCATE 10, 5: PRINT USING tmp$; code%; CHR$(Kcode%); Key$; END IF IF ASC(A$) = 0 THEN 'two byte key codes code% = ASC(RIGHT$(A$, 1)) 'QBasic code 'code% = ASC(A$, 2) 'QB64 code alternative SELECT CASE code% CASE 16 TO 50: Key$ = "Alt+ letter" CASE 72: Key$ = CHR$(24) + " Arrow" CASE 75: Key$ = CHR$(27) + " Arrow" CASE 77: Key$ = CHR$(26) + " Arrow" CASE 80: Key$ = CHR$(25) + " Arrow" CASE 83: Key$ = "Delete" CASE 59: Key$ = "F1" CASE 60: Key$ = "F2" CASE 61: Key$ = "F3" CASE 62: Key$ = "F4" CASE 63: Key$ = "F5" CASE 64: Key$ = "F6" CASE 65: Key$ = "F7" CASE 66: Key$ = "F8" CASE 67: Key$ = "F9" CASE 68: Key$ = "F10" CASE 71: Key$ = "Home" CASE 73: Key$ = "Page " + CHR$(24) CASE 79: Key$ = "End" CASE 81: Key$ = "Page " + CHR$(25) CASE 82: Key$ = "Insert" CASE 83: Key$ = "Delete" CASE 84 TO 93: Key$ = "Shift+ F" CASE 94 TO 103: Key$ = "Ctrl+ F" CASE 104 TO 113: Key$ = "Alt+ F" CASE 114 TO 119: Key$ = "Ctrl + pad" CASE 120 TO 129: Key$ = "Alt+ number" CASE 132: Key$ = "Ctrl + pad" CASE 133: Key$ = "F11" CASE 134: Key$ = "F12" CASE 135: Key$ = "Shift+ F11" CASE 136: Key$ = "Shift+ F12" CASE 137: Key$ = "Ctrl+ F11" CASE 138: Key$ = "Ctrl+ F12" CASE 139: Key$ = "Alt+ F11" CASE 140: Key$ = "Alt+ F12" CASE ELSE: Key$ = "" END SELECT LOCATE 10, 5: PRINT USING tmp2$; code%; Key$ END IF LOOP UNTIL A$ = CHR$(9) SOUND 400, 4 SLEEP 3 SYSTEM

Code by Ted Weissgerber

Explanation: The routine checks for a keypress and SLEEP guarantees that ASC will never read an empty string from INKEY$. When the keypress is determined to be two bytes (ASC(A$) = 0) the second SELECT CASE routine is used. You can even display non-keyboard extended characters. Just press Alt + numberpad code, release and press enter.

Note: Ctrl + letter keys will list the contol keys as normal codes. EX: Ctrl + G will BEEP (CHR$(7)).

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References

Printable ASCII Table: _PRINTIMAGE (see Example 2 on page)

See also

• _KEYHIT, _KEYDOWN
• _MAPUNICODE, _MAPUNICODE (function)
• Code Pages (Various Unicode Languages)
• ASC (statement) (QB64 only)
• ASC, INSTR
• CHR$, INKEY$
• LEFT$, MID$, RIGHT$
• PRINT, SCREEN
• MKI$, MKL$, MKS$, MKD$, _MK$
• _PRINTSTRING, _SCREENPRINT
• _CONTROLCHR (turns control PRINT actions OFF/ON)
• Scancodes(keyboard), Unicode(character table)
• Text Using Graphics

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