All Packages  Class Hierarchy  This Package  Previous  Next  Index

Class com.sun.java.swing.KeyStroke

java.lang.Object
   |
   +----com.sun.java.swing.KeyStroke

public class KeyStroke
extends Object
implements Serializable
A KeyStroke instance represents a key being typed on the keyboard -- it contains both a char code for the key and a modifier (alt, shift, ctrl, meta, or a combination).

KeyStroke objects are used to define high-level (semantic) action events. Instead of trapping every keystroke and throwing away the ones you are not interested in, those keystrokes you care about automatically initiate actions on the components they are registered with.

KeyStroke objects handle both character-code generating keystrokes you would trap with a KeyTyped event handler and key-code generating keystrokes (like Enter or F1) that you would trap with a KeyPressed event handler.

KeyStroke objects are immutable and unique.

All KeyStroke objects are cached. To get one, use getKeyStroke.

Warning: serialized objects of this class will not be compatible with future swing releases. The current serialization support is appropriate for short term storage or RMI between Swing1.0 applications. It will not be possible to load serialized Swing1.0 objects with future releases of Swing. The JDK1.2 release of Swing will be the compatibility baseline for the serialized form of Swing objects.

See Also:
registerKeyboardAction, getKeyStroke

Method Index

 o equals(Object)
Returns true if this object is identical to the specified object.
 o getKeyChar()
 o getKeyCode()
 o getKeyStroke(char)
Return a shared instance of a key stroke that is activated when the key is pressed.
 o getKeyStroke(char, boolean)
Return a shared instance of a key stroke, specifying whether the key is considered to be activated when it is pressed or when it is released.
 o getKeyStroke(int, int)
Return a shared instance of a key stroke given a char code and a set of modifiers -- the key is activated when it is pressed.
 o getKeyStroke(int, int, boolean)
Return a shared instance of a key stroke given a char code and a set of modifiers, specifying whether the key is activated when it is pressed or released.
 o getKeyStroke(String)
Return a shared instance of a key stroke matching a string representation.
 o getKeyStrokeForEvent(KeyEvent)
Return a keystroke from an event.
 o getModifiers()
 o hashCode()
Returns a numeric value for this object that is likely to be reasonably unique, so it can be used as the index value in a Hashtable.
 o isOnKeyRelease()
 o toString()
Returns a string that displays and identifies this object's properties.

Methods

 o getKeyStroke
 public static KeyStroke getKeyStroke(char keyChar)
Return a shared instance of a key stroke that is activated when the key is pressed.

Parameters:
keyChar - the character value for a keyboard key
Returns:
a KeyStroke object for that key
 o getKeyStroke
 public static KeyStroke getKeyStroke(char keyChar,
                                      boolean onKeyRelease)
Return a shared instance of a key stroke, specifying whether the key is considered to be activated when it is pressed or when it is released.

Parameters:
keyChar - the character value for a keyboard key
onKeyRelease - a boolean value. When true, specifies that the key is active when it is released.
Returns:
a KeyStroke object for that key
 o getKeyStroke
 public static KeyStroke getKeyStroke(int keyCode,
                                      int modifiers,
                                      boolean onKeyRelease)
Return a shared instance of a key stroke given a char code and a set of modifiers, specifying whether the key is activated when it is pressed or released.

The "virtual key" constants defined in java.awt.event.KeyEvent can be used to specify the key code. For example:

The modifiers consist of any combination of: Since these numbers are all different powers of two, any combination of them is an integer in which each bit represents a different modifier key.

Parameters:
keyCode - an int specifying the numeric code for a keyboard key
modifiers - an int specifying any combination of the key modifiers.
onKeyRelease - a boolean value. When true, specifies that the key is active when it is released.
Returns:
a KeyStroke object for that key
See Also:
KeyEvent, Event
 o getKeyStroke
 public static KeyStroke getKeyStroke(int keyCode,
                                      int modifiers)
Return a shared instance of a key stroke given a char code and a set of modifiers -- the key is activated when it is pressed.

The modifiers consist of any combination of:

Since these numbers are all different powers of two, any combination of them is an integer in which each bit represents a different modifier key.

Parameters:
keyChar - the character value for a keyboard key
modifiers - an int specifying any combination of the key modifiers.
Returns:
a KeyStroke object for that key
 o getKeyStrokeForEvent
 public static KeyStroke getKeyStrokeForEvent(KeyEvent anEvent)
Return a keystroke from an event.

This method obtains the keyChar from a KeyTyped event, and the keyCode from a KeyPressed or KeyReleased event, so you don't have to.

Parameters:
anEvent - the KeyEvent to obtain the KeyStroke from
Returns:
the KeyStroke that precipitated the event
 o getKeyStroke
 public static KeyStroke getKeyStroke(String representation)
Return a shared instance of a key stroke matching a string representation.

Parameters:
representation - a String specifying a KeyStroke
Returns:
a KeyStroke object matching the specification.
 o getKeyChar
 public char getKeyChar()
 o getKeyCode
 public int getKeyCode()
 o getModifiers
 public int getModifiers()
 o isOnKeyRelease
 public boolean isOnKeyRelease()
 o hashCode
 public int hashCode()
Returns a numeric value for this object that is likely to be reasonably unique, so it can be used as the index value in a Hashtable.

Returns:
an int that "represents" this object
Overrides:
hashCode in class Object
See Also:
Hashtable
 o equals
 public boolean equals(Object anObject)
Returns true if this object is identical to the specified object.

Parameters:
anObject - the Object to compare this object to
Returns:
true if the objects are identical
Overrides:
equals in class Object
 o toString
 public String toString()
Returns a string that displays and identifies this object's properties.

Returns:
a String representation of this object
Overrides:
toString in class Object

All Packages  Class Hierarchy  This Package  Previous  Next  Index