From kde-i18n-doc  Tue Aug 28 22:08:15 2007
From: Luciano Montanaro <mikelima () cirulla ! net>
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2007 22:08:15 +0000
To: kde-i18n-doc
Subject: Shortcuts, XMLGui and locale
Message-Id: <200708290008.15393.mikelima () cirulla ! net>
X-MARC-Message: https://marc.info/?l=kde-i18n-doc&m=118837331425832

I need some clarification about the best way to specify shortcuts for use in 
kde programs.

Shorcuts may be specified in a KDE program by specifiying them in the 
programui.rc of a program or by explicitly using the setShortcut() method of 
the QAction class. 

Most applications seem to use the setShortcut method, some use mostly the uirc 
file. Is there a good reason to use one over the other?

Using the uirc option has the advantage that less code is needed; if the user 
overrides a shortcut, the rc file has the last word anyway. Moreover, the 
action could be specified together with the action definiton. It may also 
make customization of the shortcuts a little easier.

The definition of the shortcut in C++ has the advantage that the program may 
still be usable without an rc file. But is this an important case?

Am I missing something important here, or are the shortcut defined in C++ due 
to historical reason?

Another issue that may be important to investigate is if the shortcuts should 
be translatable. Since layout varies with the language, some shortcuts may be 
awkward or impossible to type on a particular keyboard; or it may be useful 
to add alternatives for certain languages. 

Languages with non-latin layouts come to my mind: I've not used a Greek 
keyoard to type greek, but I remember in Greece a key combination is used to 
switch between US and greek layout. I think Ctrl-key sequences send the 
proper keycode, but it may be useful to add a greek letter shortcut for 
unqualified shortcuts (single letter shortcuts, say directions in games).

Well, what do you think?
Luciano