lastkey() function as in clipper

[Pontelo]

Is there some function that acts as lastkey() function in old clipper ? I would like some kind of function, ie., one that you can call any time anywhere while running the system.
Thanks

 

[Zathras]

You can come close:

Create a global variable called (e.g.) LastKey
Then set KeyPreview to True in your form properties.
Finally trap the KeyPress event like this:

procedure TForm1.FormKeyPress(Sender: TObject; var Key: Char);
begin
  LastKey := Key;
end;

Anytime you need the last key, it's there in the global var.

For example:

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
  Edit1.Text := LastKey;
end;

 

[Pontelo]

Zathras
Thank you.I thought we had some function we can access instead of writing code to every form where we eventually need this.

 

[Zathras]

There may very well be. There are so many functions in so many units it is nearly impossible to know them all.

But I'm curious. I have never had a requirement for such a function that I can recall in the past 30 years. Can you provide an example of why you feel this is needed?

 

[Pontelo]

We have a system written in clipper. It have 8 years and a lot of customers. Like all DOS system, it has a lot of hotkeys - and our customers are familiar with them. I´m an old clipper programmer too. So, as I rewrite modules, the hot keys used today go together. LastKey is quite usefull qhen you treat hotkeys. I found a component called DOSMOVE, from IBM´s guys. One component per form, and it transform TABS and arrow up and down to ENTER as we are familiar. I´ve implemented LastKey on it, as a property, before install it. I´m testing, but seems to run OK. I´m Delphi novice. Probably i´ll change many ways to do things along the time (at least i hope so !). Besides, in Business System, TAB is not productive, since users are most of the time using numeric keyboard.
Excuse my bad english.

 

[enonod]

Hello I was also a Clipper programmer, but I guess it's dead now.

Try this link

http://www.swissdelphicenter.ch/torry/showcode.php?id=680

which is in the tips section of Torry's Delphi Pages.

It shows code containing WM_Laskey as a keyboard event.
It could be it's already present.

Hope it's useful

 

[Pontelo]

enonod,
that function is to check if event came from keyboard or mouse
it´s something like you say isFromKeyboard() or isFromMouse().
I think this problem was solved with DOSMOVE component.
Thank you anyway for your attention.