Report keyboard presses Tracks and outputs the key-codes, ASCII values, and modifier-key values of key presses on the computer keyboard. Cycling '74 Max Interaction ASCII Code of Key Pressed TEXT_HERE Platform-Specific Keyboard Code of Key Pressed TEXT_HERE ASCII Code of Key Pressed The key and keyup objects may be used to capture key presses on your computer keyboard. The objects will receive keyboard output only if its patcher window has focus (i.e., it is the topmost window).

Note to Max for Live users: Given that the key object will only receive output if its patcher window has focus and the many uses that the keyboard already has within the Live application (both assigned keys and user-assignable keys), the use of the key object in Max for Live is strongly discouraged. Platform-Specific Keyboard Code of Key Pressed TEXT_HERE Modifier Keys of Key Pressed TEXT_HERE Platform-Independent Keyboard Code of Key Pressed TEXT_HERE TEXT_HERE TEXT_HERE Report keystrokes The input to key comes directly from the computer keyboard. There are no inlets. Output is sent each time a key is depressed on the computer keyboard. For multi-key combinations (such as option-E followed by E on a Mac US keyboard), only the last key depressed will produce output.

Out left outlet: The Unicode value of the depressed key, in UTF-16. This outlet provides the ASCII value of the pressed key (i.e., it outputs the text character rather than the code for the key that was depressed).
Out second outlet: The platform-specific key code of the typed key. The codes are specific to individual physical keyboards as well operating system. The values are derived from Apple's key-code definitions (e.g., a=0, s=1, d=2, f=3). This outlet is useful in situations where you want to identify the position of the key rather than the key which was pressed (for example, when implementing a musical keyboard using the computer keyboard). The values reported for a given key position will be fixed regardless of the language chosen, and regardless of the modifiers pressed (e.g., the value reported when the key to the right of the left shift key is pressed will be 6 whether an English or a German keyboard layout is chosen.

Out third outlet: The output value is a set of bits representing the state of various modifier keys when the key was depressed. The value can be sent through the & object to create toggles set by each modifier key. The numerical output of the right outlet is listed along with the argument to the & object that will create a toggle:
key events: Outputs 128. Toggle = & 128 (reports 0 on Windows if a mouse button is down, always reports 0 on Macintosh)
Windows Control key: Outputs 384. Toggle = & 256 (system uses this so it is not reported)
Macintosh Command key: Outputs 384. Toggle = & 256 (system uses this so it is not reported)
Shift key: Outputs 640. Toggle = & 512
Caps Lock key (on): Outputs 1152. Toggle = & 1024
Windows Alt key: Outputs 2176. Toggle = & 2048 (on Windows the system uses this so it is not reported)
Macintosh Option key: Outputs 2176. Toggle = & 2048
Windows R. Mouse Button: Outputs 4224. Toggle = & 4096
Macintosh Control key: Outputs 4224. Toggle = & 4096

Out fourth outlet: The platform-independent key code of the typed key, as described here.