KeyListeners Require Focus...

[snowguy13]

In a program I'm writing, I use a KeyListener to perform certain actions. However, I tried adding a KeyListener to the entire top level JFrame, and no events were received. When I had the JFrame request focus, the KeyEvents were received. However, I couldn't tell the JFrame to constantly request the focus, because then a user would not be able to minimize the JFrame or activate another window, as the JFrame would immediately pop up (due to the requesting of the focus).

So, what I tried next was adding the KeyListener to a JPanel, then having that JPanel constantly request focus. However, this caused another problem: other JComponents in the JFrame could not adequately perform their functions because the JPanel requesting focus would steal the focus from the JComponents prematurely...

So, for the meantime I have removed the KeyListener, but I am still irked about its performance (and my lack of knowledge). Is there any way to have a KeyListener receive KeyEvents without the host JComponent having the focus?

Any help or suggestions would be appreciate. Thanks!

[copeg]

Check out how to use KeyBindings....they are probably more appropriate for your situation
How to Use Key Bindings (The Java™ Tutorials > Creating a GUI With JFC/Swing > Using Other Swing Features)

[snowguy13]

Check out how to use KeyBindings...

Ah, yes, this is perfect! Thank you!