Lingo Dictionary > O-R > optionDown |  |

optionDown

Syntax

    the optionDown

Description

System property; determines whether the user is pressing the Alt key (Windows) or the Option key (Macintosh) (`TRUE`) or not (`FALSE`).

In Windows, `optionDown` doesn't work in projectors if Alt is pressed without another nonmodifier key. Avoid using `optionDown` if you intend to distribute a movie as a Windows projector and need to detect only the modifier key press; use `controlDown` or `shiftDown` instead.

On the Macintosh, pressing the Option key changes the `key` value, so use `keyCode` instead.

For a movie playing back with the Director player for Java, this function returns `TRUE` only if a second key is pressed at the same time as the Alt or Option key. If the Alt or Option key is pressed by itself, `optionDown` returns `FALSE`.

The Director player for Java supports key combinations with the Alt or Option key. However, the browser receives the keys before the movie plays and responds to and intercepts any key combinations that are also browser keyboard shortcuts.

Example

This handler checks whether the user is pressing the Alt or the Option key and if so, calls the handler named `doOptionKey`:

    on keyDown
    	if (the optionDown) then doOptionKey(key)
    end keyDown

See also

`controlDown`, `commandDown`, `key()`, `keyCode()`, `shiftDown`