Learning ActionScript 2.0 in Flash
Keyboard Keys and Key Code Values

Keyboard Keys and Key Code Values

The following tables list all the keys on a standard keyboard and the corresponding key code values and ASCII key code values that are used to identify the keys in ActionScript:

• Letters A to Z and standard numbers 0 to 9 
• Keys on the numeric keypad 
• Function keys 
• Other keys 

You can use key constants to intercept the built-in behavior of keypresses. For more information on the on() handler, see on handler in the ActionScript 2.0 Language Reference. To capture key code values and ASCII key code values using a SWF file and key presses, you can use the following ActionScript code:

var keyListener:Object = new Object();
keyListener.onKeyDown = function() {
    trace("DOWN -> Code: " + Key.getCode() + "\tACSII: " + Key.getAscii() + "\tKey: " + chr(Key.getAscii()));
};
Key.addListener(keyListener);

For more information on the Key class, see Key in ActionScript 2.0 Language Reference. To trap keys when you test a SWF file in the authoring environment (Control > Test Movie), make sure that you select Control > Disable Keyboard Shortcuts.

Letters A to Z and standard numbers 0 to 9

The following table lists the keys on a standard keyboard for the letters A to Z and the numbers 0 to 9, with the corresponding key code values that are used to identify the keys in ActionScript:

Keys on the numeric keypad

The following table lists the keys on a numeric keypad, with the corresponding key code values that are used to identify the keys in ActionScript:

Function keys

The following table lists the function keys on a standard keyboard, with the corresponding key code values that are used to identify the keys in ActionScript:

Other keys

The following table lists keys on a standard keyboard other than letters, numbers, numeric keypad keys, or function keys, with the corresponding key code values that are used to identify the keys in ActionScript:

For additional key code and ASCII values, use the ActionScript at the beginning of this appendix and press the desired key to trace its key code.