gcc/libjava/java/awt/KeyEventDispatcher.java

/* KeyEventDispatcher.java -- dispatches key events
   Copyright (C) 2002, 2005  Free Software Foundation, Inc.

This file is part of GNU Classpath.

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it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
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As a special exception, the copyright holders of this library give you
permission to link this library with independent modules to produce an
executable, regardless of the license terms of these independent
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package java.awt;

import java.awt.event.KeyEvent;

/**
 * An instance of this interface coordinates with a KeyboardFocusManager to
 * target and dispatch all key events. This allows retargeting, consuming,
 * changing, or otherwise manipulating the key event before sending it on to
 * a target.
 *
 * <p>By default, the KeyboardFocusManager is the sink for all key events not
 * dispatched by other dispatchers. Therefore, it is unnecessary for the user
 * to register the focus manager as a dispatcher.
 *
 * @author Eric Blake (ebb9@email.byu.edu)
 * @see KeyboardFocusManager#addKeyEventDispatcher(KeyEventDispatcher)
 * @see KeyboardFocusManager#removeKeyEventDispatcher(KeyEventDispatcher)
 * @since 1.4
 * @status updated to 1.4
 */
public interface KeyEventDispatcher
{
  /**
   * Called by the KeyboardFocusManager to request that a key event be
   * dispatched. The dispatcher is free to retarget the event, consume it,
   * dispatch it, or make other changes. This is usually done to allow
   * delivery of key events to objects other than the window in focus, such
   * as for navigating non-focusable components. If this dispatcher chooses
   * to dispatch the event itself, it should call <code>redispatchEvent</code>
   * to avoid infinite recursion.
   *
   * <p>If the return value is false, the KeyEvent is passed to the next
   * dispatcher in the chain, ending with the KeyboardFocusManager. If the
   * return value is true, the event has been consumed (although it might
   * have been ignored), and no further action will be taken on the event. Be
   * sure to check whether the event was consumed before dispatching it
   * further.
   *
   * @param e the key event
   * @return true if the event has been consumed
   * @see KeyboardFocusManager#redispatchEvent(Component, AWTEvent)
   */
  boolean dispatchKeyEvent(KeyEvent e);
} // interface KeyEventDispatcher