Flash CS3 Documentation

ActionScript 2.0 Language Reference > ActionScript classes > Key > getAscii (Key.getAscii method)

getAscii (Key.getAscii method)

Returns the ASCII code of the last key pressed or released. The ASCII values returned are English keyboard values. For example, if you press Shift+2, Key.getAscii() returns @ on a Japanese keyboard, which is the same as it does on an English keyboard.

A Flash application can only monitor keyboard events that occur within its focus. A Flash application cannot detect keyboard events in another application.

Availability: ActionScript 1.0; Flash Player 5

Returns

Number - The ASCII value of the last key pressed. This method returns 0 if no key was pressed or released, or if the key code is not accessible for security reasons.

Example

The following example calls the getAscii() method any time a key is pressed. The example creates a listener object named keyListener and defines a function that responds to the onKeyDown event by calling Key.getAscii().The keyListener object is then registered to the Key object, which broadcasts the onKeyDown message whenever a key is pressed while the SWF file plays.

var keyListener:Object = new Object();
keyListener.onKeyDown = function() {
    trace("The ASCII code for the last key typed is: "+Key.getAscii());
};
Key.addListener(keyListener);

When you use this example, be sure to select Control > Disable Keyboard Shortcuts in the test environment.

The following example adds a call to Key.getAscii() to show how the two methods differ. The main difference is that Key.getAscii() differentiates between uppercase and lowercase letters, and Key.getCode() does not.

var keyListener:Object = new Object();
keyListener.onKeyDown = function() {
    trace("For the last key typed:");
    trace("\tThe Key code is: "+Key.getCode());
    trace("\tThe ASCII value is: "+Key.getAscii());
    trace("");
};
Key.addListener(keyListener);

When you use this example, be sure to select Control > Disable Keyboard Shortcuts in the test environment.

See also

isAccessible (Key.isAccessible method)

Flash CS3

Comments

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nosignal said on Jun 13, 2007 at 8:16 PM :

"Control > Disable Keyboard Shortcuts" not available to me (in Flash CS3). This tip is suggested in many help pages, but it is never available.

The best I could do was output to a text box instead of output via a trace, and then execute the swf outside of the Flash Development environment.

tderich said on Jun 19, 2007 at 4:23 PM :

Control > Disable Keyboard Shortcuts is referring to the menus at the top of the SWF output window.

 

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