Application keyboard shortcuts
Your application should provide a way for the user to bind any application function or ARexx macro to a key or combination of keys.
Gadgets
Use a logical letter from the gadget label as the keyboard shortcut. For instance, a gadget labelled "Smoothing" could use the S key as its keyboard control, while a "Left Offset" gadget may use the O key.
Place an underscore under the letter in the gadget label that activates the gadget. (Note: although the letter is capitalized on the label, the default action should react to the lower-case letter. Some gadgets have a different action for the shifted version of the letter. See the list on the next page.)
Three Rules
- All action should occur on the downpress of the key.
- The same visual feedback should be given for keyboard activation as is given for mouse activation.
- Avoid assigning the Enter key to a gadget.
Feedback from Keystroke-Activated Gadgets
Action button | On the downpress of the key, the gadget should appear to be pressed in. On release of the key, the gadget should come back out. (Note: at the time this manual was published, GadTools did not support this function.) |
Check box | Toggle the state of the check mark. |
Scrolling list | Unshifted would cycle forwards through the choices. Shifted would cycle backwards through the choices. |
Radio button | Unshifted would cycle forwards through the choices. Shifted would cycle backwards through the choices. |
Cycle gadget | Unshifted would cycle forwards through the choices. Shifted would cycle backwards through the choices. |
Selection gadget | Unshifted would cycle forwards through the choices. Shifted would cycle backwards through the choices. |
Scroll gadget | Unshifted would cycle forwards through the choices. Shifted would cycle backwards through the choices. |
Slider | Unshifted would increase the level by one unit. Shifted would decrease the level by one unit. |
Text box | Activate the gadget for entry. |
Numeric entry | Activate the gadget for entry. |
Menus
Use a Right-Amiga combination as the default keyboard shortcut for a menu item. Here is a list of the defaults in the English language for an application that has standard menus. This should be localized to the language at hand for non-English applications.
Project Menu | |
Right-Amiga + N | New |
Right-Amiga + O | Open... |
Right-Amiga + S | Save |
Right-Amiga + A | Save As... |
Right-Amiga + P | |
Right-Amiga + Q | Quit Program |
Edit Menu | |
Right-Amiga + X | Cut |
Right-Amiga + C | Copy |
Right-Amiga + V | Paste |
Right-Amiga + Z | Undo |