outside hotkey

[Dennis]

I want to get a key pressed outside of the frame. (hotkeys like "F1", "F2" ...)

import java.awt.event.KeyEvent;
import java.awt.event.KeyListener;
import javax.swing.JFrame;

public class hotkey extends JFrame implements KeyListener
{
	public hotkey()
	{
		addKeyListener(this);
		
		setSize(100, 100);
		setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
		setVisible(true);
	}
	
	public void keyPressed(KeyEvent e) {
		if(e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_F2)
			System.out.println("hotkey: F2, pressed");
	}

	public void keyReleased(KeyEvent e) {
	}

	public void keyTyped(KeyEvent e) {
	}
	
	public static void main(String[] args)
	{
		new hotkey();
	}
}

get only the keys pressed inside of the JFrame.

Does someone know how its possible to get the keys pressed outside of the frame.

Thanks,
Dennis

[Norm]

Does "outside" mean when another component has the focus?
Not sure that is possible. Sort of like listening to some one else's business that's none of yours.

[Dennis]

I mean with "outside" the frame: override [OS]-hotkey functions for use it in the java application.

[Norm]

Does the frame have the focus?

[tyroceur]

I mean with "outside" the frame: override [OS]-hotkey functions for use it in the java application.

If you want it across the entire OS, then you will have to go down lower into JNI. Really, that kind of task would be better done in another language, as Java isn't designed to work at the low-levels.
One thing you can do is create C code and hook up your C code to your Java code through JNI. You can find tutorials on this which will tell you how you can do this.

Hope that helps :)