Reading the user's keystrokes

[contestcen]

How can I read a user's keystrokes in JavaScript? Every example I have seen requires you to create an input area, and then it associates the keystroke events with that area. I don't want anything like that. I want the user to be able to press a key at any time, no matter where the cursor happens to be, and get the desired action. For example, a user might press a question mark "?" and the webpage could display some help text, or maybe the user could type "X" and the page would cancel the previous action.

[Philip M]

<script type = "text/javascript">

document.onkeyup = function(ev) {	
var key;
ev = ev || event;
key = ev.keyCode;
alert ("Keycode = " + key);

if (key == 13) {
alert ("You pressed the ENTER key");
}

if( ev.ctrlKey || ev.shiftKey ) {
//alert ("You pressed the Control key or the Shift Key");
return false;  // disregard
}

which = String.fromCharCode(key).toUpperCase();
if (key>=48 && key<=90) {
alert ("You pressed the " + which + " key");  
}

}
</script>

You should think carefully before introducing non-standard behaviour into your web pages. As you say, the script will trigger no matter where in the page the cursor is positioned.

Quizmaster: What is a 12-sided solid figure called?
Contestant: Well, I know that ten sides is a hexagon. So I'll say an octogon.