There is no “easy” way to translate a virtual key to a actual key sequence or back again, at least not that I’ve been able to find.
The two main ways of dispatching key events is either via java.awt.Robot or directly through the system event queue. Which you want to use will depend on what it is you want to achieve.
Components generally won’t be able to distinguish between key strokes sent from the keyboard of those your generate your self.
The sample below is convoluted, I’m sorry, I found no better way to achieve the requirements I needed.
public class TestKeyEvents {
public static void main(String[] args) {
new TestKeyEvents();
}
public TestKeyEvents() {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
@Override
public void run() {
try {
UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
} catch (Exception ex) {
}
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Test");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.add(new TestPane());
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
new Thread(new KeyDispatcher()).start();
}
});
}
public class TestPane extends JPanel {
public TestPane() {
setLayout(new BorderLayout());
JTextArea area = new JTextArea(10, 30);
area.setWrapStyleWord(true);
area.setLineWrap(true);
add(area);
}
}
public class KeyDispatcher implements Runnable {
@Override
public void run() {
try {
Thread.sleep(1000);
} catch (InterruptedException ex) {
}
dispatchKeyEventsViaEventQueue();
dispatchKeyEventsViaRobot();
}
protected void dispatchKeyEventsViaEventQueue() {
if (EventQueue.isDispatchThread()) {
String text = "This is a key sequence dispatched via the event queue\n";
KeySequence keySequence = getKeySequence(text);
List<KeyEvent> events = new ArrayList<>();
List<Integer> modifers = new ArrayList<>();
for (Key key : keySequence) {
events.clear();
System.out.println(key);
switch (key.getStrokeType()) {
case Press:
switch (key.getKeyCode()) {
case KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT:
case KeyEvent.VK_ALT:
case KeyEvent.VK_CONTROL:
case KeyEvent.VK_META:
if (!modifers.contains(key.getKeyCode())) {
modifers.add(key.getKeyCode());
}
break;
default:
events.add(new KeyEvent(new JPanel(), KeyEvent.KEY_PRESSED, System.currentTimeMillis(), getModifiers(modifers), key.getKeyCode(), key.getKeyChar()));
break;
}
break;
case Release:
switch (key.getKeyCode()) {
case KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT:
case KeyEvent.VK_ALT:
case KeyEvent.VK_CONTROL:
case KeyEvent.VK_META:
if (!modifers.contains(key.getKeyCode())) {
modifers.remove(key.getKeyCode());
}
break;
default:
events.add(new KeyEvent(new JPanel(), KeyEvent.KEY_RELEASED, System.currentTimeMillis(), getModifiers(modifers), key.getKeyCode(), key.getKeyChar()));
break;
}
break;
case Type:
events.add(new KeyEvent(new JPanel(), KeyEvent.KEY_PRESSED, System.currentTimeMillis(), getModifiers(modifers), key.getKeyCode(), key.getKeyChar()));
events.add(new KeyEvent(new JPanel(), KeyEvent.KEY_RELEASED, System.currentTimeMillis(), getModifiers(modifers), key.getKeyCode(), key.getKeyChar()));
events.add(new KeyEvent(new JPanel(), KeyEvent.KEY_TYPED, System.currentTimeMillis(), getModifiers(modifers), KeyEvent.VK_UNDEFINED, key.getKeyChar()));
break;
}
for (KeyEvent evt : events) {
Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getSystemEventQueue().postEvent(evt);
}
}
} else {
try {
SwingUtilities.invokeAndWait(new Runnable() {
@Override
public void run() {
dispatchKeyEventsViaEventQueue();
}
});
} catch (Exception exp) {
exp.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
protected void dispatchKeyEventsViaRobot() {
try {
Robot robot = new Robot();
String text = "This is a key sequence dispatched via java.awt.Robot\n";
KeySequence keySequence = getKeySequence(text);
List<KeyEvent> events = new ArrayList<>();
for (Key key : keySequence) {
events.clear();
System.out.println(key);
switch (key.getStrokeType()) {
case Press:
robot.keyPress(key.getKeyCode());
break;
case Release:
robot.keyRelease(key.getKeyCode());
break;
case Type:
robot.keyPress(key.getKeyCode());
robot.keyRelease(key.getKeyCode());
break;
}
}
} catch (AWTException exp) {
exp.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
protected int getModifiers(List<Integer> mods) {
int result = 0;
for (int mod : mods) {
result &= mod;
}
return result;
}
public static class Key {
public enum StrokeType {
Type,
Press,
Release
}
private StrokeType strokeType;
private int keyCode;
private char keyChar;
public Key(StrokeType type, int keyCode, char keyChar) {
this.strokeType = type;
this.keyCode = keyCode;
this.keyChar = keyChar;
}
public StrokeType getStrokeType() {
return strokeType;
}
public int getKeyCode() {
return keyCode;
}
public char getKeyChar() {
return keyChar;
}
@Override
public String toString() {
return getStrokeType().name() + " " + getKeyChar() + " (" + getKeyCode() + ")";
}
}
public static KeySequence getKeySequence(String text) {
KeySequence ks = new KeySequence();
for (char c : text.toCharArray()) {
addKeySequence(ks, c);
}
return ks;
}
public static void addKeySequence(KeySequence ks, char character) {
switch (character) {
case 'a':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_A, character);
break;
case 'b':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_B, character);
break;
case 'c':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_C, character);
break;
case 'd':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_D, character);
break;
case 'e':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_E, character);
break;
case 'f':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_F, character);
break;
case 'g':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_G, character);
break;
case 'h':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_H, character);
break;
case 'i':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_I, character);
break;
case 'j':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_J, character);
break;
case 'k':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_K, character);
break;
case 'l':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_L, character);
break;
case 'm':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_M, character);
break;
case 'n':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_N, character);
break;
case 'o':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_O, character);
break;
case 'p':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_P, character);
break;
case 'q':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_Q, character);
break;
case 'r':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_R, character);
break;
case 's':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_S, character);
break;
case 't':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_T, character);
break;
case 'u':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_U, character);
break;
case 'v':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_V, character);
break;
case 'w':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_W, character);
break;
case 'x':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_X, character);
break;
case 'y':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_Y, character);
break;
case 'z':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_Z, character);
break;
case 'A':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_A, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'B':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_B, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'C':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_C, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'D':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_D, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'E':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_E, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'F':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_F, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'G':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_G, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'H':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_H, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'I':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_I, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'J':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_J, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'K':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_K, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'L':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_L, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'M':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_M, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'N':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_N, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'O':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_O, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'P':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_P, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'Q':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_Q, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'R':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_R, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'S':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_S, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'T':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_T, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'U':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_U, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'V':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_V, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'W':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_W, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'X':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_X, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'Y':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_Y, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case 'Z':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_Z, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case '`':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_BACK_QUOTE, character);
break;
case '0':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_0, character);
break;
case '1':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_1, character);
break;
case '2':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_2, character);
break;
case '3':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_3, character);
break;
case '4':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_4, character);
break;
case '5':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_5, character);
break;
case '6':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_6, character);
break;
case '7':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_7, character);
break;
case '8':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_8, character);
break;
case '9':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_9, character);
break;
case '-':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_MINUS, character);
break;
case '=':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_EQUALS, character);
break;
case '~':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_BACK_QUOTE, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case '!':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_EXCLAMATION_MARK, character);
break;
case '@':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_AT, character);
break;
case '#':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_NUMBER_SIGN, character);
break;
case '$':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_DOLLAR, character);
break;
case '%':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_5, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case '^':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_CIRCUMFLEX, character);
break;
case '&':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_AMPERSAND, character);
break;
case '*':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_ASTERISK, character);
break;
case '(':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_LEFT_PARENTHESIS, character);
break;
case ')':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_RIGHT_PARENTHESIS, character);
break;
case '_':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_MINUS, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case '+':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_PLUS, character);
break;
case '\t':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_TAB, character);
break;
case '\n':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_ENTER, character);
break;
case '[':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_OPEN_BRACKET, character);
break;
case ']':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_CLOSE_BRACKET, character);
break;
case '\\':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_BACK_SLASH, character);
break;
case '{':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_OPEN_BRACKET, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case '}':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_CLOSE_BRACKET, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case '|':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_BACK_SLASH, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case ';':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_SEMICOLON, character);
break;
case ':':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_COLON, character);
break;
case '\'':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_QUOTE, character);
break;
case '"':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_QUOTEDBL, character);
break;
case ',':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_COMMA, character);
break;
case '<':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_LESS, character);
break;
case '.':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_PERIOD, character);
break;
case '>':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_GREATER, character);
break;
case "https://stackoverflow.com/":
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_SLASH, character);
break;
case '?':
ks.press(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_SLASH, character);
ks.release(KeyEvent.VK_SHIFT, '\0');
break;
case ' ':
ks.type(KeyEvent.VK_SPACE, character);
break;
default:
throw new IllegalArgumentException("Cannot type character " + character);
}
}
public static class KeySequence implements Iterable<Key> {
private List<Key> keys;
public KeySequence() {
keys = new ArrayList<>(25);
}
public void type(int keyCode, char keyChar) {
keys.add(new Key(Key.StrokeType.Type, keyCode, keyChar));
}
public void press(int keyCode, char keyChar) {
keys.add(new Key(Key.StrokeType.Press, keyCode, keyChar));
}
public void release(int keyCode, char keyChar) {
keys.add(new Key(Key.StrokeType.Release, keyCode, keyChar));
}
public Iterator<Key> iterator() {
return keys.iterator();
}
}
}