Is it possible to assign keyboard shortcuts to trigger certain parts of my app in app designer, and if so, how?

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I was wondering if it's possible to assign user defined keyboard shortcuts to parts of the app in app designer.
For example,using a menu item with ctrl+L, or simply just L. Not sure if this is possible, but if anyone knows, please share
Thanks!

Accepted Answer

rbme17
rbme17 on 7 Apr 2020
Edited: rbme17 on 27 Oct 2020
04/07/2020: Implement Basic Key Press Functionality
I found out what to do based on Mohammad Sami's reply to my question.
(1) Go to callbacks in the app designer window for the entire UIFigure in deisgn view
(2) In the 'keyboard' menu, go to KeyPressFcn and select <add KeyPressFcn callback> (should be at the top of the list). This will create a callback in code view for you to edit.
(3) In the callback, there will be a preset variable called 'key'. Set up a swtich/case for which key's you'd like to perform specific functions. 'key' will always providing the physical key pressed as a string in lowercase letters.
% Key press function: UIFigure
function UIFigureKeyPress(app, event)
key = event.Key;
switch key
case 'p'
app.PlotMyData(app);
app.Message.Value = key; % return key value
case 'f1'
app.ChangeData(app);
app.Message.Value = key;
case 'shift'
app.ChangeColor(app);
app.Message.Value = key;
case '1'
app.Message.Value = 'Pressed 1';
end
end
(4) As a side note for those who may not know, you can get a look at what the value of 'key' will be by creating a text box, and setting the value to key (shown above). This will help you designate keys for functions you may have.
Hope this helps someone else as well.
Edit (10/27/2020): Use Modifiers (e.g. shift Q, control P, etc...) along with Key Press
The following code shows an example of how to use modifiers such as 'shift', 'control', and 'alt' with the keypress functionality.
You don't have to use a switch/case and can accomplish the same goal by using if/elseif/else of whatever you'd like. This is just one way I thought of doing this. This allows for things like ctrl+q, shift+p, etc.
Make sure to press them quickly in succession or it will only register one key press, either the modifier or the letter/number/etc. Hope this helps!
% Key press function: UIFigure
function UIFigureKeyPress(app, event)
key = event.Key;
if isequal(event.Modifier,'shift')
switch key
case 'f1'
app.ChangeData(app);
app.Message.Value = key;
case ...
...
end
elseif isequal(event.Modifier,'control')
switch key
case 'q'
app.Message.Value = 'quitting'; % write to text area of GUI
% insert a quit function %
case ...
...
end
else % no modifier used (e.g. just a key press, 'k','f4', etc.)
...
end
end
  7 Comments
ol Poot
ol Poot on 23 Oct 2023
Edited: ol Poot on 24 Oct 2023
the code above worked amazingly for me. Except, for me, the modified keys need " " not ' '
Tom Parish
Tom Parish on 2 Nov 2023
I am trying to use this same method to update Values from exiting buttons.
Is the app.ChangeData a button or a callback function?
In my usecase i have a State button app.STOPbutton and a callback app.StopButtonValueChanged. I am trying to update a global variable with a keyboard press that is already actiavted when the State button app.STOPButton is pressed through the app.StopButton Changed callback.
Any guidance is appreciated.
function figure1KeyPress(app, event)
key = event.Key;
switch key
case 's'
app.STOPButtonValueChanged(app);
app.Message.Value = key; % return key value
case 'o'
app.SafetySwitchValueChanged(app);
app.Message.Value = key; % return key value
case 'r'
app.RESUMEButton(app);
app.Message.Value = key;
end
end

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More Answers (1)

Abhisek Pradhan
Abhisek Pradhan on 2 Apr 2020
There is similar question in following link on configuring a GUI button to keypress. Hope it helps.https://in.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/12034-gui-button-with-keyboard-shortcut
  1 Comment
rbme17
rbme17 on 6 Apr 2020
Hi Abhisek Pradhan,
Thanks for your response!
It seems like the solution provided implements 'uicontrol', which according to the MATLAB help database, is only suited for GUIDE. I am working with app designer, so I don't think it'll work for me.

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