JComboBox consumes Escape Key

Question

Hi,
I have a JDialog on which I am putting various components. I have used to the following code so that the cancel() method is called when the esacpe key is pressed.
String CANCEL_ACTION_KEY = "CANCEL_ACTION_KEY";
AbstractAction cancelAction = new AbstractAction(){
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e){
cancel();
this.getRootPane().getActionMap().put(CANCEL_ACTION_KEY, cancelAction);
KeyStroke escapeKeyStroke = KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_ESCAPE, 0, false);
InputMap dialogInputMap = this.getRootPane().getInputMap
JComponent.WHEN_ANCESTOR_OF_FOCUSED_COMPONENT);
dialogInputMap.put(escapeKeyStroke, CANCEL_ACTION_KEY);
This works for all the components except for the JComboBox. Is there any way I can get the JComboBox not to consume the key event if it is not open? (i.e. of the combo box is open, i want to be able to cancel the second time escape is pressed.)
The JComboBox is in a panel on another panel inside the JDialog. It's a type of wizard, and the componets are loaded dynamically by reflection, so the JComboBox doesn't have a reference to the action (or the cancel method).
Maybe there's a way I could override one of the JComboBox's methods so it doesn't consume the key event if it is closed? (hence sending it up to the root pane?)
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Rob

Answer 1

I've got it!
Cheers for the reply vinny.... but the answer just came to me this morning. It's so simple! I override the processEvent method of the ComboBox like so: (super is the ComboBox)
public void processKeyEvent(KeyEvent e)
if((e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_ESCAPE) && !super.isPopupVisible()){
return; //don't process the event
super.processKeyEvent(e);
So, if the list is visible, escape will process the event and close the list .
If escape is pressed again, list is not visible so the ComboBox will not process the event, sending it up to it's parent. Perfect operation.
In my JDialog I have the following code to catch the escape key:
private void addCancelByEscape()
AbstractAction closeDialogAction = new AbstractAction(){
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e){
cancel();
String actionName = "close-dialog";
KeyStroke stroke = KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_ESCAPE, 0);
JLayeredPane layeredPane = this.getLayeredPane();
layeredPane.getActionMap().put(actionName, closeDialogAction);
layeredPane.getInputMap(JComponent.WHEN_IN_FOCUSED_WINDOW).put(stroke, actionName);
This seems to work a treat. I also have a JTree on the dialog, and this seems to consume the escape key aswell. I've overridden the processKeyEvent for that (similar to above) and it works aswell! Thanks for the help.
I might be including editable JComboBoxes soon.... if I come across any info or help i'll let you know....