ON KEY block
Syntax
ON KEY (key-name)
instruction [...]ON KEY basics
An ON KEY (key-name) block defines an action with a hidden
action view (no default button is visible), that executes a sequence of instructions when the user
presses the specified key.
The ON KEY block is supported for backward compatibility with TUI mode
applications. In new developments, consider using ON
ACTION with accelerators defined in action defaults.
An ON KEY block can specify up to four accelerator keys. Each key creates a
specific action object that will be identified by the key name in lowercase.
For example, ON KEY(F5,F6) creates two actions with the names
f5 and f6. Each action object will get an
acceleratorName attribute assigned, with the corresponding accelerator name. The
specified keys must be one of the virtual
keys.
The KEY() clause allows a comma-separated list of keys. Up to four keys can be
specified. For new developments, consider using a single key, or prefer ON ACTION handlers with a single accelerator
definition in action defaults.
In GUI mode, action defaults are applied for ON KEY actions by using the name of
the action (the key name). You can define secondary accelerator keys, as well as default decoration
attributes like button text and image, by using the key name as action identifier. The action name
is always in lowercase letters.
Check carefully ON KEY CONTROL-? statements to avoid having duplicate
accelerators for multiple actions due to the accelerators defined by action defaults. Additionally,
ON KEY statements used with ESC, TAB,
UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT,
HELP, NEXT, PREVIOUS, INSERT,
CONTROL-M, CONTROL-X, CONTROL-V,
CONTROL-C and CONTROL-A should be avoided for use in GUI programs,
because it's very likely to clash with default accelerators defined in the factory action defaults
file provided by default.
ON KEY actions are not decorated with a default button in the action
frame (the default action view). You can show the default button by configuring a
text attribute with the action
defaults.ON KEY (CONTROL-Z)
CALL open_zoom()ON KEY(INTERRUPT)
In a singular dialog like INPUT, ON KEY (INTERRUPT) is mapped
to the automatic "cancel" action. As result, the front-end sees only a "cancel" action and the code
of the ON KEY(INTERRUPT) is executed when the user clicks on the Cancel button.
In a multiple dialog, ON KEY (INTERRUPT) creates a regular user-defined action,
without any accelerator key.
Avoid to combine ON KEY (INTERRUPT) with ON ACTION cancel. In a
singular dialog, if both are used, the code of the last declared handler will be executed when the
user cancels the dialog.