Catching TAB via KeyEvent?

I thought it'd be simple, but apparently not... Wanted to catch the TAB key in one of my Java programs, and added a KeyListener to do the job. The problem is... it catches every single key other than TAB. I've used both KeyPressed, KeyReleased and KeyTyped, but none of them trigger on TAB. Is there a secret to catching TAB, or is it something very weird on my end? The code (as simple as can be, so not sure you even need it):

Code:

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    head.addKeyListener(new KeyAdapter()
    {
      public void keyReleased(KeyEvent ke)
      {
        System.out.println("Key released: "+ke);
      }
      public void keyTyped(KeyEvent ke)
      {
        System.out.println("Key typed: "+ke);
      }
      public void keyPressed(KeyEvent ke)
      {
        System.out.println("Key pressed: "+ke);
      }
    }
    );

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Here's the output for pressing "a":

Code:

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Key pressed: java.awt.event.KeyEvent[KEY_PRESSED,keyCode=65,keyText=A,keyChar='a',keyLocation=KEY_LOCATION_STANDARD,rawCode=65,primaryLevelUnicode=97,scancode=30] on frame0
Key typed: java.awt.event.KeyEvent[KEY_TYPED,keyCode=0,keyText=Unknown keyCode:0x0,keyChar='a',keyLocation=KEY_LOCATION_UNKNOWN,rawCode=0,primaryLevelUnicode=0,scancode=0] on frame0
Key released: java.awt.event.KeyEvent[KEY_RELEASED,keyCode=65,keyText=A,keyChar='a',keyLocation=KEY_LOCATION_STANDARD,rawCode=65,primaryLevelUnicode=97,scancode=30] on frame0

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Tabbing is probably being grabbed by the JVM to move the focus around.
Don't know right now how to intercept it for the program.

It's a graphical program, so the listener isn't focused on a specific component; it's added directly to the Frame, if that makes a difference.

Quote:

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The code (as simple as can be, so not sure you even need it):

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A few lines of code doesn't help us because we don't know the context of how it is being used. In the future post a Short, Self Contained, Correct Example

Quote:

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Is there a secret to catching TAB,

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Why do you want to do this because tabs are used by the focus subsystem? See How to Use the Focus Subsystem (The Java™ Tutorials > Creating a GUI With JFC/Swing > Using Other Swing Features) for more information on how this works. Maybe you should be using the focus subsystem to solve your problem.

However, I believe, you should be able to access tab KeyStrokes by using Global Event Listeners « Java Tips Weblog.

As I said in the above post, it's a completely graphical program; there are no textfields or buttons or any such components. There's only a single frame that the listener is added to, and the entire GUI is drawn to that frame.

It still doesn't explain why you are listening for tab KeyStrokes. Anyway you've been given some ideas. You can also look in the Swing tutorial for the section on 'How to Use Key Bindings" which may help.

The reason I wanted to catch tab is because I wanted the program to react to the tab key getting pressed... Anyway, the KeyEventPostProcessor caught it properly. Thanks!