Send Keys action doesn't work for combined modifier keys in an excel table

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Posted on by GK-05052047-0

The Send Keys action in PAD for passing "Control + Shift + #" (to convert the cell to date format) doesn't work for an excel table when Text to send is {Control}({Shift}({#})). The result is it just pass "{" in the first cell from the selected range of cells. However, it works for paste value only which is "Control + Shift + V" when passed text to send as {Control}({Shift}({V})).

Note: I tried the workaround with {LControlKey}({LShiftKey}({#})), still the same.

If this doesn't work, I am also looking out for an alternate solutions to convert a range of cells in an excel table to date format using any PAD actions.

Many thanks in advance!

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eetuRobo 4,535 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Does that key combination work if you do it manually (with out PAD but pressing the key combination yourself)?
It could be that your excel or keyboard has different language layout and that\s why the keybaboad shortcuts differ also.

So for example I have Finnish keyboard layout and in my excel the key combination is Ctrl + Shift + ,
So comma instead of #
And in PAD that's: {LControlKey}({LShiftKey}({Oemcomma}))

I tested that and it worked for me.

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GK-05052047-0 7 on at

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@eetuRobo
Thanks for your response.

Yes, the key works manually without PAD keys. However, it doesn't work in PAD send keys action.
I tried your PAD {LControlKey}({LShiftKey}({Oemcomma})) as well, didn't work. Checked the keyboard layout, it is US.

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eetuRobo 4,535 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Try with the "Send Text as hardware keys" Toggled ON in the Send keys -actions settings. and if its on try with it toggled OFF

What version of PAD are you using? It seems like the newest version 2.61.00148.25282 might have a bug that adds extra shift press every time it sends keys with hardware keys ON
https://community.powerplatform.com/forums/thread/details/?threadid=c20b3232-f0af-f011-bbd3-7c1e521c179e

Also for troubleshooting go to some site that captures the key presses like: https://www.ratatype.com/keyboard-test/
and use the send keys action to that site and check that your Send keys -action is actually pressing the correct keyboard buttons.

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GK-05052047-0 7 on at

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I had tried with the "Send Text as hardware keys" Toggled ON and OFF in the Send keys -actions settings still the same issue.
Yes, I have the latest version 2.61.00148.25282 of PAD. So it might be a bug.

However, I also tried your other solution "Run PowerShell Script" passing the below command.

It ended up with access denied to the path. I believe this is something my IT is blocking in running the "PowerShell script" action in PAD. Should I check with IT?

Below is the ScriptError value

Access to the path is denied.
+ CategoryInfo : ObjectNotFound: (:String) [], ParentContainsErrorRecordException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException

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