Can I create a AS3 menu without buttons?

Hi.

Adding to what Ned suggested, here is a suggestion of how this be can be achieved.

P.S.: Forgot to mention that the Esc key won't work while testing the app inside of Animate CC. You have to run the SWF from the OS file explorer.

Preview:

AS3 code:

import flash.display.MovieClip;
import flash.events.KeyboardEvent;
import flash.ui.Keyboard;
import fl.transitions.Tween;
import fl.motion.easing.*;
var menu:MovieClip = sideMenu;
var optionsFrames:Vector.<uint> = new <uint>[1, 2];
var optionsNames:Vector.<String> = new <String>
[
     "Option 1",
     "Option 2",
     "Option 3",
     "Option 4",
     "Option 5",
     "Option 6",
     "Option 7",
     "Exit",
];
var optionsKeys:Vector.<uint> = new <uint>
[
     Keyboard.NUMPAD_1,
     Keyboard.NUMPAD_2,
     Keyboard.NUMPAD_3,
     Keyboard.NUMPAD_4,
     Keyboard.NUMPAD_5,
     Keyboard.NUMPAD_6,
     Keyboard.NUMPAD_7
];
var exitKeys:Vector.<uint> = new <uint>
[
     Keyboard.ESCAPE,
     Keyboard.SPACE
];
function start():void
{
     setMenu();
     stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN, keyHandler);
}
function setMenu():void
{
     for (var i:int = 0, total:int = menu.numChildren; i < total; i++)
          (menu.getChildAt(i) as MovieClip).txt.text = optionsNames;
}
function callMenu():void
{
     var tween:Tween = new Tween(menu, "x", Back.easeOut, menu.x, stage.stageWidth - menu.width, 0.5, true);
}
function dismissMenu():void
{
     var tween:Tween = new Tween(menu, "x", Sine.easeIn, menu.x, stage.stageWidth, 0.5, true);
}
function highlightOption(index:int):void
{
     for (var i:int = 0, total:int = menu.numChildren; i < total; i++)
     {
          var option:MovieClip = menu.getChildAt(i) as MovieClip;
          if (i != index)
               option.gotoAndStop(optionsFrames[0]);
          else
               option.gotoAndStop(optionsFrames[1]);
     }
}
function keyHandler(e:KeyboardEvent):void
{
     if (e.type == KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN)
     {
          if (exitKeys.indexOf(e.keyCode) == -1)
          {
               callMenu();
               highlightOption(-1);
          }
          if (exitKeys.indexOf(e.keyCode) > -1)
          {
               dismissMenu();
               highlightOption(menu.numChildren - 1);
          }
          else if (optionsKeys.indexOf(e.keyCode) > -1)
               highlightOption(optionsKeys.indexOf(e.keyCode));
     }
}
start();

FLA download:

flash_cs6_as3_menu_with_key_navigation.zip - Google Drive

I hope this helps.

Regards,

JC