FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.4.0"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.4.0-b92)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.4.0-b92, mixed mode)

FULL OPERATING SYSTEM VERSION :
Microsoft Windows 2000 [Version 5.00.2195]
Service Pack 2

EXTRA RELEVANT SYSTEM CONFIGURATION :
Standard US Keyboard

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
I have an application that records KeyEvents from a
KeyListener to play the keystrokes back with Robot.  This
seems to work in Linux, but in Windows I get an
IllegalArgumentException for some keys.

My attached source code will reproduce the error by waiting
5 seconds for you to switch to your favorite text editor,
then after 5 seconds it presses the keys "y.z"

Running in Linux I see the "y.z" keys typed into the text
editor.  In Windows I see the "y" key typed then the
exception is thrown.

For my test I am running on a dual boot system that boots
both Linux and Windows.  Both operating systems are running
JDK 1.4.  Although I have not thoroughly tested every
possible key I have noticed that a number of keys do not
work in Windows, including ".\;:"


STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
1. Run sample code
2. Switch to Notepad
3. Robot attempts to send "y.z" keys to notepad, throws
exception on the "." key.

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
I would expect to see the keys "y.z" typed into the notepad
window, I only get "y", then an exception.

ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :
java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Invalid key code
        at sun.awt.windows.WRobotPeer.keyPress(Native Method)
        at java.awt.Robot.keyPress(Robot.java:222)
        at TestRobot.main(TestRobot.java:14)

This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;

public class TestRobot {
    public static void main(String args[]) {
        try{
            Robot robot = new Robot();

            System.out.println("sending keys in 5 seconds...");
            Thread.currentThread().sleep(5000);
            
            robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_Y);
            robot.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_Y);
            robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_PERIOD);
            robot.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_PERIOD);
            robot.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_Z);
            robot.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_Z);
            
            System.out.println("DONE sending keys.");
        }catch(Exception e){
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
}

---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER WORKAROUND :
Use Linux instead of Windows.

Release Regression From : 1.3.1_03
The above release value was the last known release where this 
bug was known to work. Since then there has been a regression.

(Review ID: 145901) 
======================================================================

N/A

Important functionality not working - could impact testing.  
 xxxxx@xxxxx  2002-04-29

I wonder if this is caused by the way we iterate through the dynamically 
mapped keys on Windows on a robot keypress?  
dynamicKeyMapTable[] has java_awt_event_KeyEvent_VK_UNDEFINED for the jkey in 
each entry.  

 xxxxx@xxxxx  2002-04-29

I have observed the same behaviour on Windows (NT4.0) with 
the VK_COLON, VK_SEMICOLON, and VK_BACK_SLASH under build 
1.4.0-b92. A work around would be great to allow regression 
testing.

I'm not sure how valuable this data point is, but I did 
verify that this bug does not exist on Windows (NT4.0) 
using build 1.3.1._03-b03

Upgrading to DirectX 8.1 seems to make this problem go away.

Yes, I had the problem too when I developed a proof-of-
concept Ad-hoc Remote Control program in April 2002, it 
worked with Win2k perfectly even with swedish/chinese 
keyboard layout on JDK v1.3. But after migrated to JDK 
v1.4, some keystrokes (especially punctuation keys)could 
not be reproduced correctly. It is a pity that this bug 
seems hasn't been fixed in the latest 1.4.1 beta version.

I have the same problem in XP with jdk 1.4.2, jdk1.5.
All the punctuation.