Checking if a player has started typing a message or command

I am trying to check if a player begins typing a command or message. In a hacky way, I could check if the player has pressed the key 't' or '/' (chat or command) but that raises a new problem: What if the player has edited one/both of those controls in their minecraft settings? Is it possible (will likely use Reflection if it is indeed possible) to check if they typed the chat or command button?

 

Huh, I don't recall there being a packet that notifies the server the client has pressed the chat or command button. What would this 'hacky' check even be?

 

Traks
The best way I can explain this check is with code.

Code:java

private void onKeyPress(KeyEvent e) { // Listen to the KeyEvent.
    if (e == KeyEvent.KEY_PRESSED) { // Check if a key was pressed
        switch (e.getKeyCode()) { // the Key code represents an integer id for the key pressed
        case e.VK_SLASH:
        case e.VK_T:
            // if the key was t, or /, execute some code. Mark the player with a boolean flag, such as 'isTyping'.
            break;
        case e.VK_ENTER: // if the command or message was sent
        case e.VK_ESCAPE: // or if command or message was aborted
            // if isTyping is true, set isTyping to false.
            break;
        default:
            if (!isTyping) {/*Execute code; this is in the 'default', but really i would be checking for a specific key*/; break;}
        }
    }
 
    // set isTyping to false onQuit
}

I hope you can see why it will not work. I am checking for specific keys but I have no idea what key the player may use to chat. Generally players do not edit these keys but I never can be sure.

 

KeyEvent isn't a Bukkit event... It's a class in the java.awt.event package..

 

Traks
I know. But, can I not still use it in Bukkit Context?

 

AoH_Ruthless
This is on the server.... if it is a plugin

 

The_Coder
Can you elaborate? I think I know what you mean but I'm not sure:

I was already under the impression that is handled client-side but if you are confirming this, thank you. However, I am wondering if and how I can retrieve this using Reflection.

 

You have to understand that the server isn't notified every time the client presses a key... KeyEvent is something a program running client-side would hear, but unless the client tells the server everytime a key is pressed, the server has no way of knowing, so no this isn't possible Sorry!

 

Plugins run server side.

 

ZanderMan9
Alright thank you for clarifying this

The_Coder
I am not trying to track a player moving.

 

KeyEvent is generally used by methods in KeyListener, which in turn is used by Component s. I don't think net.minecraft.server or CraftBukkit/Bukkit classes handle them in any way...

 

AoH_Ruthless

He means that because this is a plugin for a server, and will not affect or have any interaction with the client, you can't detect key presses this way. The only way for this to be possible is if the client was to issue a keypress event on each keystroke, which the server then picks up, which is not implemented in Bukkit.

 

Dragonphase
Yeah, I understand the post now but didn't before it was edited. Thank you still for pointing this out and thank you for the clarifying edit The_Coder

 

There is a chat event but that is just about it for players typing

 

The_Coder
Yeah, but I believe both PlayerChatEvent and its asynchronous counterpart are only executed when the player sends the chat message.

 

AoH_Ruthless
yep

 

You are basically trying to get the client presses by checking if the keys were presses server side.. which wont work.
Basically theres no way to get the key presses themselves from the client by the server currently. Theres no packet for it.

 

The only way of doing this is on the client side. so mods is my guess