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Participant
November 11, 2016
Answered

Can't use the Space bar for Keyboard Shortcuts?

  • November 11, 2016
  • 4 replies
  • 7515 views

I recently upgraded to Animate, and I can't seem to bind the space key in the keyboard shortcuts. Nothing happens when I try pressing the space key to bind it, and using other combinations such as Ctrl+Space don't work either.

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    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer themarten999

    Solution. GetAutoHotkey and add code:

    ; play/pause toggle Adobe Animate

    #IfWinActive, ahk_class Adobe Animate CC 2017

    SPACE:: 

    ControlSend, ahk_parent, {Enter}

    #IfWinActive, ahk_exe Animate.exe

    Send {Play}

    return

    This will let you use the Space bar for Play/Pause toggle when the window is open/active. Also doesn't affect type tool (can still use spaces when typing).

    Let me know if it works for you.

    4 replies

    kglad
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    May 3, 2023

    locked.

    Participant
    November 23, 2019

    Could not get space key to make animation play or move one frame up/back (Sideways keys). Disovered that when the playhead is at the far left end, these shortcut keys don't work. But if you start your animation just a few frames forward of the left side, these keys work again. Took me 3 hours to figure it out. After 2 reboots and a dozen Google searches(which did not have this answer.) Hope this helps.

    Ryan Holladay
    Participant
    February 16, 2018

    LOL. Wow. What an insanely solution for a ridiculous oversight.

    Asymetrical
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 16, 2018

    It's not an oversight, you have to remember in addition to being able to play video and code programs it's ALSO a drawing program. In Animate, the spacebar is used to pan around as noted above and if it didn't behave that way like every single other drawing program does someone would complain about that too. It's done on purpose. Just because you don't like the way a program works doesn't mean it's ridiculous. You can use the Enter key easily enough for the same function.

    Ryan Holladay
    Participant
    February 17, 2018

    How about this one...I just exported my project as a Quicktime. And instead of a black background (which is how I created it) it converts it to white. Im sure there is a very logical explanation for this haha

    themarten999Correct answer
    Participant
    July 3, 2017

    Solution. GetAutoHotkey and add code:

    ; play/pause toggle Adobe Animate

    #IfWinActive, ahk_class Adobe Animate CC 2017

    SPACE:: 

    ControlSend, ahk_parent, {Enter}

    #IfWinActive, ahk_exe Animate.exe

    Send {Play}

    return

    This will let you use the Space bar for Play/Pause toggle when the window is open/active. Also doesn't affect type tool (can still use spaces when typing).

    Let me know if it works for you.

    johntronn
    Known Participant
    November 25, 2017

    Hello themarten999

    Great tip on using the AutoHotkey software to enable Spacebar shortcuts. I have one question for you if you don't mind. I am trying to assign the Spacebar as a shortcut to playback (play/pause) my animation in the timeline. However, since the spacebar is also a shortcut for activating the pan tool when your cursor is hovering over the Stage, this will not work. So what I would like to do is make the shortcut "Alt Spacebar" become my shortcut for timeline playback. Unfortunately, I have tried adding the word "Alt" in several different ways into the script you provided for the original poster but I can't seem to get the script to work. I have just started using AutoHotkey after reading your post so I really don't know much about scripting with it.

    Thanks

    Participant
    November 27, 2017

    Use the Hand tool to pan the canvas, shortcut H.

    Or use your touch screen.

    Don't know why adding Alt doesn't work in the script. Not an expert either. Good luck.