Name: rm29839 Date: 12/17/97


There is a line of code in KeyEvent in the constructor.
    public MenuShortcut(int key, boolean useShiftModifier) {
        // Convenience conversion for programmers who confuse key posts with
        // ASCII characters -- do not internationalize! They *should* be
        // using KeyEvent virtual keys, such as VK_A.

        if (key >= 'a' && key <= 'z') {
            key = (int)Character.toUpperCase((char)key);
        }

        this.key = key;
        this.usesShift = useShiftModifier;
}
        
Since above you are comparing the key with the chars
a-z function keys and certain other keys are converted
to uppercase. Example;The F5 key is converted to
uppercase X when given to the shortcut.
The conveniance line above needs to be removed!
(Review ID: 22038)
======================================================================


import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;

public class test extends Frame implements ActionListener {
    MenuItem mi;
    
    public test () {
MenuBar menubar = new MenuBar();
Menu menu = new Menu("File");

// Add a menu item using the VK_F1 for a function key.
//
mi = new MenuItem("A", new MenuShortcut(KeyEvent.VK_F1));

menu.add(mi);
mi.addActionListener(this);

menubar.add(menu);

setMenuBar(menubar);
setBounds(0, 0, 200, 200);
show();
    }
    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event) {
if ( event.getSource() == mi ) {
System.out.println("Beep!");
}
    }
    public static void main(String args[]) {
new test();
    }
}

         Description of Problem:

Function keys cannot be used as menu shortcuts.
 
      
         Problem Analysis:
      
         MenuShortcut contains a "convenience conversion" that breaks the
java spec. and causes this bug. Some code has been added to
the MenuShortCut constructor for "programmers who confuse key
posts with ASCII characters" - essentially so that MenuShortCuts
can be called with lowercase ASCII chars instead of KeyEvent virtual
keys like it is supposed to be. This conversion is:

if (key >= 'a' && key <= 'z') {
            key = (int)Character.toUpperCase((char)key);
            this.key = key;
            this.usesShift = useShiftModifier;
         }

So, if MenuShortCut is called correctly with a KeyEvent.VK and
this KeyEvent.VK happens to have a value between 'a' and 'z',
then the key is converted to something else. Function keys
have KeyEvent.VK values that translate to between 'a' and 'z'
(e.g. F1 = 0x70 = 'p') hence this problem.

 

keith.troy@Ireland 1999-09-02