Python keydown combinations (ctrl + key or shift + key)

Question

I have some python code with keydown events happening, I am basically wondering if it is possible to have two keys pressed at a time, like ctrl+a or something like that. Is this possible, or will I have to find a workaround?

Answer 1

Use pygame.key.get_mods() to get state of special keys like Control or Shift.

get_mods() gives one integer and you have to use bitwise operators to compare it with constants like KMOD_SHIFT

See documentation: pygame.key

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EDIT: example

import pygame
import pygame.locals

pygame.init()

screen = pygame.display.set_mode((300,200))

running = True

while running:
    for event in pygame.event.get():
        if event.type == pygame.QUIT:
            running = False
        elif event.type == pygame.KEYDOWN:
            if event.key == pygame.K_ESCAPE:
                running = False
            elif event.key == pygame.K_a and pygame.key.get_mods() & pygame.KMOD_SHIFT:
                print "pressed: SHIFT + A"

pygame.quit()

BTW: you can use KMOD_LSHIFT or KMOD_RSHIFT to test only left shift or only right shift.

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EDIT:

BTW: example how to use get_pressed()

• you have to use K_LSHIFT and K_LSHIFT to check both shifts.
• it print "pressed: SHIFT + A" again and again if you keep SHIFT+A pressed.

.

import pygame
import pygame.locals

pygame.init()

screen = pygame.display.set_mode((300,200))

running = True

while running:

    #
    # events
    #

    for event in pygame.event.get():
        if event.type == pygame.QUIT:
            running = False
        elif event.type == pygame.KEYDOWN:
            if event.key == pygame.K_ESCAPE:
                running = False

    #
    # others
    #

    all_keys = pygame.key.get_pressed()

    #print 'shift:', all_keys[pygame.K_LSHIFT], all_keys[pygame.K_RSHIFT]

    if all_keys[pygame.K_a] and (all_keys[pygame.K_LSHIFT] or all_keys[pygame.K_RSHIFT]):
        print "pressed: SHIFT + A"

pygame.quit()

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BTW: get_pressed() and get_mods() give actual information only if pygame.event.get() was use before.

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EDIT:

How to recognize A, CTRL+A, SHIFT+A, ALT+A, CTRL+SHIFT+A, CTRL+ALT+A, SHIFT+ALT+A, , CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+A

import pygame
import pygame.locals

pygame.init()

screen = pygame.display.set_mode((300,200))

running = True

while running:
    for event in pygame.event.get():
        if event.type == pygame.QUIT:
            running = False
        elif event.type == pygame.KEYDOWN:
            if event.key == pygame.K_ESCAPE:
                running = False

            elif event.key == pygame.K_a:

                mods = pygame.key.get_mods()

                if mods & pygame.KMOD_CTRL and mods & pygame.KMOD_SHIFT and mods & pygame.KMOD_ALT:
                    print "pressed: CTRL+SHIFT+ALT + A"
                elif mods & pygame.KMOD_CTRL and mods & pygame.KMOD_SHIFT:
                    print "pressed: CTRL+SHIFT + A"
                elif mods & pygame.KMOD_CTRL and mods & pygame.KMOD_ALT:
                    print "pressed: CTRL+ALT + A"
                elif mods & pygame.KMOD_SHIFT and mods & pygame.KMOD_ALT:
                    print "pressed: SHIFT+ALT + A"
                elif mods & pygame.KMOD_SHIFT:
                    print "pressed: SHIFT + A"
                elif mods & pygame.KMOD_CTRL:
                    print "pressed: CTRL + A"
                elif mods & pygame.KMOD_ALT:
                    print "pressed: ALT + A"
                else:
                    print "pressed: A"


pygame.quit()

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BTW: On my computer is problem with Right Alt because it is used for native chars. It doesn't work with KMOD_ALT and KMOD_RALT.