How to trigger a macro on arrow keys?

You could try a Worksheet_SelectionChange event. When a different cell(s) is selected, the macro is triggered.

Edit: You could also look into some OnKey events, but I'm not that great at those, myself. If you search the board, some threads should come up.

Kirsty,

Where would I write the code for the event(s) you listed above? I generally write all my code first and then assign them to buttons via right-clicking, however I can't do that for the Worksheet_SelectionChange event, or onKey events.

I figured it'd be an onKey event of some flavour, as I've done similar things in Access, although in Access you've got the properties window that lists all the available events and allows you to assign procedures from there. How do you do this in Excel?

Selection_Change would go in the WorkSheet module. Right click the sheet tab and choose "View Code"

lenze

OnKey might be a good bet. The only problem with the Selection_Change event is that you will be responding to an action that has already taken place. This may or may not matter in your case. Throw all of the following into ThisWorkbook class and manually run Private Sub Workbook_Activate() or save, close, and reopen the workbook. Or download and open the example and then start clicking your arrow keys to see the results.

clut_042407.zip

<table width="100%" border="1" bgcolor="White" style="filterrogid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.Gradient(endColorstr='#C0CFE2', startColorstr='#FFFFFF', gradientType='0');"><tr><TD><font size="2" face=Courier New>  <font color="#0000A0">Option</font> <font color="#0000A0">Explicit</font>

  <font color="#0000A0">Private</font> <font color="#0000A0">Sub</font> Workbook_Activate()
       Application.OnKey "{LEFT}", "ThisWorkbook.OnLeftArrowKeyPress"
       Application.OnKey "{RIGHT}", "ThisWorkbook.OnRightArrowKeyPress"
       Application.OnKey "{UP}", "ThisWorkbook.OnUpArrowKeyPress"
       Application.OnKey "{DOWN}", "ThisWorkbook.OnDownArrowKeyPress"
  <font color="#0000A0">End</font> <font color="#0000A0">Sub</font>

  <font color="#0000A0">Private</font> <font color="#0000A0">Sub</font> Workbook_Deactivate()
       Application.OnKey "{LEFT}", ""
       Application.OnKey "{RIGHT}", ""
       Application.OnKey "{UP}", ""
       Application.OnKey "{DOWN}", ""
  <font color="#0000A0">End</font> <font color="#0000A0">Sub</font>

  <font color="#0000A0">Friend</font> <font color="#0000A0">Sub</font> OnLeftArrowKeyPress()
       MsgBox "You pressed the Left arrow key..."
  <font color="#0000A0">End</font> <font color="#0000A0">Sub</font>

  <font color="#0000A0">Friend</font> <font color="#0000A0">Sub</font> OnRightArrowKeyPress()
       MsgBox "You pressed the Right arrow key..."
  <font color="#0000A0">End</font> <font color="#0000A0">Sub</font>

  <font color="#0000A0">Friend</font> <font color="#0000A0">Sub</font> OnUpArrowKeyPress()
       MsgBox "You pressed the Up arrow key..."
  <font color="#0000A0">End</font> <font color="#0000A0">Sub</font>

  <font color="#0000A0">Friend</font> <font color="#0000A0">Sub</font> OnDownArrowKeyPress()
       MsgBox "You pressed the Down arrow key..."
  <font color="#0000A0">End</font> <font color="#0000A0">Sub</font>
</FONT></td></tr></table><button onclick='document.all("4242007182829125").value=document.all("4242007182829125").value.replace(/<br \/>\s\s/g,"");document.all("4242007182829125").value=document.all("4242007182829125").value.replace(/<br \/>/g,"");window.clipboardData.setData("Text",document.all("4242007182829125").value);'>Copy to Clipboard</BUTTON><textarea style="position:absolute;visibility:hidden" name="4242007182829125" wrap="virtual">
Option Explicit

Private Sub Workbook_Activate()
Application.OnKey "{LEFT}", "ThisWorkbook.OnLeftArrowKeyPress"
Application.OnKey "{RIGHT}", "ThisWorkbook.OnRightArrowKeyPress"
Application.OnKey "{UP}", "ThisWorkbook.OnUpArrowKeyPress"
Application.OnKey "{DOWN}", "ThisWorkbook.OnDownArrowKeyPress"
End Sub

Private Sub Workbook_Deactivate()
Application.OnKey "{LEFT}", ""
Application.OnKey "{RIGHT}", ""
Application.OnKey "{UP}", ""
Application.OnKey "{DOWN}", ""
End Sub

Friend Sub OnLeftArrowKeyPress()
MsgBox "You pressed the Left arrow key..."
End Sub

Friend Sub OnRightArrowKeyPress()
MsgBox "You pressed the Right arrow key..."
End Sub

Friend Sub OnUpArrowKeyPress()
MsgBox "You pressed the Up arrow key..."
End Sub

Friend Sub OnDownArrowKeyPress()
MsgBox "You pressed the Down arrow key..."
End Sub</textarea>

clut_042407.zip

Thank you very much for your replies. The onKey example looks to be the perfect solution. I'll implement it later and let you know if it does the trick.

I'd like to see this RPG when you're done with it.

Well the arrow keys work perfectly. They really add to the game (it was quite fiddly before having up, down, left and right buttons to click). Thank you again.

I'd like to see this RPG when you're done with it.

Click to expand...

MrByte,

Much of the work on the game is done. I wanted to keep it small, simple, and most importantly playable... which I feel it is.

I do need a playtester or two to help iron out balancing issues and things in the game. If you'd like to help with this (and by extension get an early peek at the game) let me know and I'll pm you a link when it's ready.

Currently most of the core coding is done. It just needs error checking, and handling, and user-proofing (hiding sheets not currently in use etc).

Sign me up if you wish. See email link below...