Thread: KeyListeners Require Focus...

In a program I'm writing, I use a KeyListener to perform certain actions. However, I tried adding a KeyListener to the entire top level JFrame, and no events were received. When I had the JFrame request focus, the KeyEvents were received. However, I couldn't tell the JFrame to constantly request the focus, because then a user would not be able to minimize the JFrame or activate another window, as the JFrame would immediately pop up (due to the requesting of the focus).

So, what I tried next was adding the KeyListener to a JPanel, then having that JPanel constantly request focus. However, this caused another problem: other JComponents in the JFrame could not adequately perform their functions because the JPanel requesting focus would steal the focus from the JComponents prematurely...

So, for the meantime I have removed the KeyListener, but I am still irked about its performance (and my lack of knowledge). Is there any way to have a KeyListener receive KeyEvents without the host JComponent having the focus?

Any help or suggestions would be appreciate. Thanks!

Check out how to use KeyBindings....they are probably more appropriate for your situation
How to Use Key Bindings (The Java™ Tutorials > Creating a GUI With JFC/Swing > Using Other Swing Features)

Check out how to use KeyBindings...

Ah, yes, this is perfect! Thank you!