CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#inputxnakeypress
CodinRonin
CodinRonin

Reputation: 195

Way to implement handling duration of a keypress

I'm using XNA (C#) to develop a 2D platformer. I was wondering for the best way to handle holding down a specific button. For example the more you hold down the larger the laser beam gets.

So far, since I'm already using the input mechanism that holds the 2 last states of the Keyboard, I can make an extra check each update cycle to increase the duration. But, this approach is rather limited since it only handles a specific button (fire button i.e.) and it should do the trick, but i was wondering if maybe there's a more general solution to the problem.

Upvotes: 1

Views: 546

Answers (3)

Blau
Blau

Reputation: 5762

float ElapsedSecondsPerFrame = (float) gametime.Elapsed.TotalSeconds;

KeyFirePressedTime = Keyboard.GetState().IsKeyDown(FireKey) 
                         ? (KeyFirePressedTime + ElapsedSecondsPerFrame ) 
                         : 0;

Generic method

Dictionary<int, float> PressedKeysTime = new ...


void Update(float Elapsed)
{
      List<int> OldPressedKeys = PressedKeysTime.Keys.ToList();
      foreach (int key in Keyboard.GetState().GetPressedKeys.Cast<int>())
      {
           if (!PressedKeysTime.ContainsKey(key)) 
           {
                PressedKeysTime[key] = 0;
           } else {
               OldPressedKeys.Remove(key);
               PressedKeysTime[key] += Elapsed;
           }
      }
      foreach (int keynotpressed in OldPressedKeys) 
          PressedKeysTime.Remove(keynotpressed);

}

Upvotes: 1

Dave Cousineau
Dave Cousineau

Reputation: 13148

here's a simple pseudo-code example:

// to cancel immediately
if key is pressed this frame, but was released last frame
   begin effect

else if key is pressed this frame, and also was last frame
   increase magnitude of effect

else if key is released this frame and effect is active
   end effect


// or to gradually decrease
if key is pressed this frame, and effect is inactive
   begin effect

else if key is pressed this frame, and effect is active
   increase magnitude of effect

else if key is released this frame and effect is active
   decrease magnitude of effect
   if magnitude decreased enough, end effect

To specifically measure the duration as you say would be something like this:

public void Update(GameTime pGameTime)
{
   private TimeSpan mKeyDuration = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(0);

   ...

   if key is pressed this frame
      mKeyDuration += pGameTime.ElapsedGameTime;

   else if key was pressed last frame
      mKeyDuration = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(0);

   ...
}

Upvotes: 0

Cyral
Cyral

Reputation: 14153

To Detect a single keypress...

lastKeyboardState = CurrentKeyState;
CurrentKeyState = Keyboard.GetState();

if ((CurrentKeyState.IsKeyUp(Keys.Enter)) && (lastKeyboardState.IsKeyDown(Keys.Enter))
        {
            //Enter was pressed
        }

To detect a key being held down...

lastKeyboardState = CurrentKeyState;
CurrentKeyState = Keyboard.GetState();
if (CurrentKeyState.IsKeyDown(Keys.Enter)
        {
            //Enter was pressed (You could do BeamSize++ here
        }

That seems the best way to do it. Is that the method you are already using?

Upvotes: 0

Related Questions