Shortcuts

Shortcuts

It exists two kind of methods, corresponding to different needs :

• setShortcut(), useful to replace a mouse click
• setAccelerator(), used to directly go to a functionnality

Let us explain it with the following example where we will have a File Menu with sub items to Load or Save a file.

Using setShortcut() will allow to replace the mouse clicks as is:

• ALT+F to access to the File Menu
• ALT+L to access to the Load item
• ALT+S to access to the Save item

So, to load a file, you will have to type ALT+F then ALT+L (as you would have been to click two times using the mouse).

Using setAccelerator() will allow to access directly to a functionnality (it is actually a shortcut):

• CTRL+L to access directly to the Load item
• CTRL+S to access directly to the Save item

Here is how to proceed ...

// FileMenu initialization
fileMenu = new GMenu("File");
fileMenu.getJMenu().setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_F); // ALT+F to access to this menu
 
// Moad Item initialization
itemLoad = new GMenuItem("Load ...");
// ALT+L to access to it when File menu is active
itemLoad.setShortcut(KeyEvent.VK_L);
// CTRL+L to access directly to it
itemLoad.setAccelerator(KeyEvent.VK_L, ActionEvent.CTRL_MASK);
fileMenu.add(itemLoad);
 
itemSave = new GMenuItem("Save ...");
// ALT+S to access to it when File menu is active
itemSave.setShortCut(KeyEvent.VK_S);
// CTRL+S to access directly to it
itemSave.setAccelerator(KeyEvent.VK_S, ActionEvent.CTRL_MASK);
fileMenu.add(itemSave);

Return to the introduction ↑ Go to the next page →