Learn to set menu and button hotkeys in Java Q: How do you set menu and button hotkeys in Java? I use JDK 1.1.4; is the method to do this in JDK 1.2 any different? A: It’ll work with both JDK 1.1 and JDK 1.2. Please note that with JDK 1.1, you’ll need to use a Swing version more recent than 1.0.2. import java.awt.*; import javax.swing.*; import java.awt.event.*; public class ShortCutKeys extends JApplet { JButton button; JCheckBox checkBox; JMenuBar menuBar; JMenu fileMenu; JMenuItem exitMenuItem; JPanel panel; public void init() { Container container = this.getContentPane(); Handler eventHandler = new Handler(); checkBox = new JCheckBox("Hello Mom!"); checkBox.setMnemonic(java.awt.event.KeyEvent.VK_M); checkBox.addActionListener(eventHandler); button = new JButton("Hello Dad!"); button.setMnemonic(java.awt.event.KeyEvent.VK_D); button.addActionListener(eventHandler); panel = new JPanel(); panel.setLayout(new FlowLayout()); panel.add(checkBox); panel.add(button); exitMenuItem = new JMenuItem("Exit"); exitMenuItem.setMnemonic('x'); exitMenuItem.addActionListener(eventHandler); fileMenu = new JMenu("File"); fileMenu.setMnemonic('f'); fileMenu.add(exitMenuItem); menuBar = new JMenuBar(); menuBar.add(fileMenu); container.add(menuBar, BorderLayout.NORTH); container.add(panel, BorderLayout.CENTER); } class Handler implements ActionListener { public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae) { if (ae.getSource() == checkBox) { System.err.println("Action Performed on CHECKBOX"); } else if (ae.getSource() == button) { System.err.println("Action Performed on BUTTON"); } else if (ae.getSource() == exitMenuItem) { System.exit(0); } } } public static void main(String[] args) { JFrame frame = new JFrame("Short Cut Keys"); ShortCutKeys sck = new ShortCutKeys(); sck.init(); frame.getContentPane().add(sck); frame.addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter() { public void windowClosing(WindowEvent we) { System.exit(0); } } ); frame.setSize(300, 100); frame.show(); } } Random Walk Computing is the largest Java/CORBA consulting boutique in New York, focusing on solutions for the financial enterprise. Known for their leading-edge Java expertise, Random Walk consultants publish and speak about Java in some of the most respected forums in the world.