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# QAccel Class Reference

The QAccel class handles keyboard accelerator and shortcut keys. More...

`#include <qaccel.h>`

Inherits QObject.

List of all member functions.

## Public Members

- QAccel ( QWidget * parent, const char * name = 0 )
- QAccel ( QWidget * watch, QObject * parent, const char * name = 0 )
- ~QAccel ()
- bool isEnabled () const
- void setEnabled ( bool enable )
- uint count () const
- int insertItem ( const QKeySequence & key, int id = -1 )
- void removeItem ( int id )
- void clear ()
- QKeySequence key ( int id )
- int findKey ( const QKeySequence & key ) const
- bool isItemEnabled ( int id ) const
- void setItemEnabled ( int id, bool enable )
- bool connectItem ( int id, const QObject * receiver, const char * member )
- bool disconnectItem ( int id, const QObject * receiver, const char * member )
- void repairEventFilter () (obsolete)
- void setWhatsThis ( int id, const QString & text )
- QString whatsThis ( int id ) const

## Signals

- void activated ( int id )
- void activatedAmbiguously ( int id )

## Static Public Members

- QKeySequence shortcutKey ( const QString & str )
- QString keyToString ( QKeySequence k ) (obsolete)
- QKeySequence stringToKey ( const QString & s ) (obsolete)

## Protected Members

- virtual bool eventFilter ( QObject *, QEvent * ) (obsolete)

## Detailed Description

The QAccel class handles keyboard accelerator and shortcut keys.

A keyboard accelerator triggers an action when a certain key combination is pressed. The accelerator handles all keyboard activity for all the children of one top-level widget, so it is not affected by the keyboard focus.

In most cases, you will not need to use this class directly. Use the QAction class to create actions with accelerators that can be used in both menus and toolbars. If you're only interested in menus use QMenuData::insertItem() or QMenuData::setAccel() to make accelerators for operations that are also available on menus. Many widgets automatically generate accelerators, such as QButton, QGroupBox, QLabel (with QLabel::setBuddy()), QMenuBar and QTabBar. Example:

            QPushButton p( "&Exit", parent ); // automatic shortcut ALT+Key_E
            QPopupMenu *fileMenu = new fileMenu( parent );
            fileMenu->insertItem( "Undo", parent, SLOT(undo()), CTRL+Key_Z );

A QAccel contains a list of accelerator items that can be manipulated using insertItem(), removeItem(), clear(), key() and findKey().

Each accelerator item consists of an identifier and a QKeySequence. A single key sequence consists of a keyboard code combined with modifiers (SHIFT, CTRL, ALT or UNICODE_ACCEL). For example, `CTRL + Key_P` could be a shortcut for printing a document. The key codes are listed in qnamespace.h. As an alternative, use UNICODE_ACCEL with the unicode code point of the character. For example, `UNICODE_ACCEL + 'A'` gives the same accelerator as Key_A.

When an accelerator key is pressed, the accelerator sends out the signal activated() with a number that identifies this particular accelerator item. Accelerator items can also be individually connected, so that two different keys will activate two different slots (see connectItem() and disconnectItem()).

The activated() signal is not emitted when two or more accelerators match the same key. Instead, the first matching accelerator sends out the activatedAmbiguously() signal. By pressing the key multiple times, users can navigate between all matching accelerators. Some standard controls like QPushButton and QCheckBox connect the activatedAmbiguously() signal to the harmless setFocus() slot, whereas activated() is connected to a slot invoking the button's action. Most controls, like QLabel and QTabBar, treat activated() and activatedAmbiguously() as equivalent.

Use setEnabled() to enable or disable all the items in an accelerator, or setItemEnabled() to enable or disable individual items. An item is active only when both the QAccel and the item itself are enabled.

The function setWhatsThis() specifies a help text that appears when the user presses an accelerator key in What's This mode.

A QAccel object passes key events to the QWidget::topLevelWidget() containing parent, and hence to any child widgets of that window. The accelerator will be deleted when parent is deleted, and will consume relevant key events until then.

Example:

            QAccel *a = new QAccel( myWindow );        // create accels for myWindow
            a->connectItem( a->insertItem(Key_P+CTRL), // adds Ctrl+P accelerator
                            myWindow,                  // connected to myWindow's
                            SLOT(printDoc()) );        // printDoc() slot

See also QKeyEvent, QWidget::keyPressEvent(), QMenuData::setAccel(), QButton::accel, QLabel::setBuddy(), QKeySequence, GUI Design Handbook: Keyboard Shortcuts, and Miscellaneous Classes.

## Member Function Documentation

### QAccel::QAccel ( QWidget * parent, const char * name = 0 )

Constructs a QAccel object called name, with parent parent. The accelerator operates on parent.

### QAccel::QAccel ( QWidget * watch, QObject * parent, const char * name = 0 )

Constructs a QAccel object called name, that operates on watch, and is a child of parent.

This constructor is not needed for normal application programming.

### QAccel::~QAccel ()

Destroys the accelerator object and frees all allocated resources.

### void QAccel::activated ( int id )`[signal]`

This signal is emitted when an accelerator key is pressed. id is a number that identifies this particular accelerator item.

See also activatedAmbiguously().

### void QAccel::activatedAmbiguously ( int id )`[signal]`

This signal is emitted when an accelerator key is pressed. id is a number that identifies this particular accelerator item.

See also activated().

### void QAccel::clear ()

Removes all accelerator items.

### bool QAccel::connectItem ( int id, const QObject * receiver, const char * member )

Connects the accelerator item id to the slot member of receiver.

            a->connectItem( 201, mainView, SLOT(quit()) );

Of course, you can also send a signal as member.

See also disconnectItem().

Example: t14/gamebrd.cpp.

### uint QAccel::count () const

Returns the number of accelerator items in this accelerator.

### bool QAccel::disconnectItem ( int id, const QObject * receiver, const char * member )

Disconnects an accelerator item with id id from the function called member in the receiver object.

See also connectItem().

### bool QAccel::eventFilter ( QObject *, QEvent * )`[virtual protected]`

This function is obsolete. It is provided to keep old source working. We strongly advise against using it in new code. serves no purpose anymore

Reimplemented from QObject.

### int QAccel::findKey ( const QKeySequence & key ) const

Returns the identifier of the accelerator item with the key code key, or -1 if the item cannot be found.

### int QAccel::insertItem ( const QKeySequence & key, int id = -1 )

Inserts an accelerator item and returns the item's identifier.

key is a key code and an optional combination of SHIFT, CTRL and ALT. id is the accelerator item id.

If id is negative, then the item will be assigned a unique negative identifier less than -1.

            QAccel *a = new QAccel( myWindow );        // create accels for myWindow
            a->insertItem( CTRL + Key_P, 200 );        // Ctrl+P, e.g. to print document
            a->insertItem( ALT + Key_X, 201 );         // Alt+X, e.g. to quit
            a->insertItem( UNICODE_ACCEL + 'q', 202 ); // Unicode 'q', e.g. to quit
            a->insertItem( Key_D );                    // gets a unique negative id < -1
            a->insertItem( CTRL + SHIFT + Key_P );     // gets a unique negative id < -1

Example: t14/gamebrd.cpp.

### bool QAccel::isEnabled () const

Returns TRUE if the accelerator is enabled; otherwise returns FALSE.

See also setEnabled() and isItemEnabled().

### bool QAccel::isItemEnabled ( int id ) const

Returns TRUE if the accelerator item with the identifier id is enabled. Returns FALSE if the item is disabled or cannot be found.

See also setItemEnabled() and isEnabled().

### QKeySequence QAccel::key ( int id )

Returns the key sequence of the accelerator item with identifier id, or an invalid key sequence (0) if the id cannot be found.

### QString QAccel::keyToString ( QKeySequence k )`[static]`

This function is obsolete. It is provided to keep old source working. We strongly advise against using it in new code.

Creates an accelerator string for the key k. For instance CTRL+Key_O gives "Ctrl+O". The "Ctrl" etc. are translated (using QObject::tr()) in the "QAccel" context.

The function is superfluous. Cast the QKeySequence k to a QString for the same effect.

### void QAccel::removeItem ( int id )

Removes the accelerator item with the identifier id.

### void QAccel::repairEventFilter ()

This function is obsolete. It is provided to keep old source working. We strongly advise against using it in new code. serves no purpose anymore

### void QAccel::setEnabled ( bool enable )

Enables the accelerator if enable is TRUE, or disables it if enable is FALSE.

Individual keys can also be enabled or disabled using setItemEnabled(). To work, a key must be an enabled item in an enabled QAccel.

See also isEnabled() and setItemEnabled().

### void QAccel::setItemEnabled ( int id, bool enable )

Enables the accelerator item with the identifier id if enable is TRUE, and disables item id if enable is FALSE.

To work, an item must be enabled and be in an enabled QAccel.

See also isItemEnabled() and isEnabled().

### void QAccel::setWhatsThis ( int id, const QString & text )

Sets a What's This help text for the accelerator item id to text.

The text will be shown when the application is in What's This mode and the user hits the accelerator key.

To set What's This help on a menu item (with or without an accelerator key), use QMenuData::setWhatsThis().

See also whatsThis(), QWhatsThis::inWhatsThisMode(), QMenuData::setWhatsThis(), and QAction::whatsThis.

### QKeySequence QAccel::shortcutKey ( const QString & str )`[static]`

Returns the shortcut key sequence for str, or an invalid key sequence (0) if str has no shortcut sequence.

For example, shortcutKey("E&xit") returns ALT+Key_X, shortcutKey("&Quit") returns ALT+Key_Q and shortcutKey("Quit") returns 0. (In code that does not inherit the Qt namespace class, you must write e.g. Qt::ALT+Qt::Key_Q.)

We provide a list of common accelerators in English. At the time of writing, Microsoft and Open Group do not appear to have issued equivalent recommendations for other languages.

### QKeySequence QAccel::stringToKey ( const QString & s )`[static]`

This function is obsolete. It is provided to keep old source working. We strongly advise against using it in new code.

Returns an accelerator code for the string s. For example "Ctrl+O" gives CTRL+UNICODE_ACCEL+'O'. The strings "Ctrl", "Shift", "Alt" are recognized, as well as their translated equivalents in the "QAccel" context (using QObject::tr()). Returns 0 if s is not recognized.

This function is typically used with tr(), so that accelerator keys can be replaced in translations:

        QPopupMenu *file = new QPopupMenu( this );
        file->insertItem( p1, tr("&Open..."), this, SLOT(open()),
                          QAccel::stringToKey(tr("Ctrl+O", "File|Open")) );

Notice the `"File|Open"` translator comment. It is by no means necessary, but it provides some context for the human translator.

The function is superfluous. Construct a QKeySequence from the string s for the same effect.

See also QObject::tr() and Internationalization with Qt.

Example: i18n/mywidget.cpp.

### QString QAccel::whatsThis ( int id ) const

Returns the What's This help text for the specified item id or QString::null if no text has been specified.

See also setWhatsThis().

This file is part of the Qt toolkit. Copyright © 1995-2002 Trolltech. All Rights Reserved.