keyLocation.LEFT / .RIGHT won't work on a Mac keyboard

[marekplichta]

I want to differentiate the LEFT SHIFT key on the keyboard from the RIGHT SHIFT key. The code below will do that on my PC Laptop but not on my Macbook Pro. Someone knows a workaround or the reason why?

Thanks!
-Marek
PS: the sample  code below is not from me.

PPS: when I trace event.keyLocation I always get 0 no matter which SHIFT key I press.

package {
  import flash.display.*;
  import flash.events.*;
  import flash.ui.*;            

  public class RightShift extends Sprite {
    public static const A_KEY:int = 65;

    public function RightShift() {
          super()  
      stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN, keyDownListener);
    }

    private function keyDownListener (event:KeyboardEvent):void {    
     
      if (event.keyCode == Keyboard.SHIFT) {    
     trace("is SHIFT");   //works on Mac and PCso far  
                    
        if (event.keyLocation == KeyLocation.LEFT) {  
          trace("The left Shift key was pressed");   //works on PC but doesn't work on mac os x   
        } 
        else if (event.keyLocation == KeyLocation.RIGHT) { 
       trace("The right Shift key was pressed");  //works on PC but doesn't work on mac os x 
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

[Colin Holgate]

Even using the OS's Keyboard Viewer, the two shift keys are triggered at the same time. That's true on my MacBook Pro internal keyboard, an extended keyboard, and the same is true with the extended keyboard on my G5.

Maybe it's just not supported by the system?

[marekplichta]

>Maybe it's just not supported by the system?

It is! When you go to the Expose Preferences you can chosse between left and right SHIFT for a hotkey.

[Colin Holgate]

That does seem to be the case. I'll ask around.

You know, you could cause havoc on someone by setting Exposé to trigger when the shift keys are pressed...

[marekplichta]

Any news on my SHIFT case?

Can I send this somehow to Adobe so they can fix this someday? How would I do that?

[Colin Holgate]

I did ask the right people, but so far they haven't responded. You could also go here and log it as a bug:

http://bugs.adobe.com/flashplayer/