KeyListener - Please Help

[D Miller]

I have compiled the following code in JBuilder, and it works exactly like I want it to. But, in IE and appletviewer it doesn't work at all. It will not accept any key strokes. The timer should start when the space bar is pressed when working properly. Thanks.

  
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.applet.*;
public class counter extends Applet implements ActionListener, KeyListener{
  Timer timer;
  Label startLabel;
  int count = 0;
  public void init(){
//    setEnabled(true);
    setLayout(new BorderLayout());
    startLabel = new Label("Press the space bar to begin.",Label.CENTER);
    startLabel.setFont(new Font("SansSerif",Font.PLAIN,22));
    setBackground(new Color(204,238,255));
    add(startLabel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
    addKeyListener(this);
    timer = new Timer(1000, this);
    timer.setRepeats(true);
    requestFocus();
    System.out.println("I am focusable" + isFocusable());
    System.out.println("init complete");
  }
  public void start(){
    requestFocusInWindow();
    System.out.println("start complete");
  }
  //called every time the Timer fires
  public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e){
    startLabel.setText("" + count);
    count++;
  }
  public void keyTyped(KeyEvent e){
    Character c = new Character(e.getKeyChar());
    int asciicode = c.hashCode();
    System.out.println("key typed");
    if(e.getKeyChar() == 32){
      if(!timer.isRunning()){
          timer.start();
      }
      else
        timer.stop();
    }
  }
  public void keyPressed(KeyEvent e){}
  public void keyReleased(KeyEvent e){}
}

[Grub de Bliek]

The problem is the initial focus. I once had that problem too, and solved it with a workaround. Didn't solve it that is...
Anyway, it's something with the AWT-Event thread. When initialising and starting the applet you're not in the awt-event thread.
I changed your code a bit as example, and added a second Timer that gets the focus after 2 seconds. Without timer it works too, but then the user have to click once on the applet.
If you want to solve this problem correctly you've to find an expert with the AWT-Event thread.

import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.awt.event.KeyAdapter;
import java.awt.event.KeyEvent;
import javax.swing.JApplet;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.Timer;
public class Counter extends JApplet {
private int count = 0;
private Timer timer;
private JLabel startLabel;
public void init() {
startLabel = new JLabel("Press bar...");
getContentPane().add(startLabel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
timer = new Timer(1000, new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
startLabel.setText("" + count);
count++;
}
});
timer.setRepeats(true);
super.addKeyListener(new KeyAdapter() {
public void keyTyped(KeyEvent e) {
Character c = new Character(e.getKeyChar());
int asciicode = c.hashCode();
System.out.println("key typed");
if (e.getKeyChar() == 32) {
if (!timer.isRunning()) {
timer.start();
} else
timer.stop();
}
}
});
// new timer to demonstrate the problem:
Timer focusTimer = new Timer(1000, new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
System.out.println(
"currentThread(): " + Thread.currentThread());
requestFocus();
System.out.println("hasFocus(): " + hasFocus());
}
});
timer.setRepeats(true);
focusTimer.start();
}
public void start() {
System.out.println("currentThread(): " + Thread.currentThread());
requestFocus();
System.out.println("hasFocus(): " + hasFocus());
}
}

[D Miller]

Thanks for your help. I had a feeling there was not real easy solution. I appreciate your response.