ANY-maze Help > The ANY-maze reference > The Protocol page > The elements of a protocol > Behaviour > Keys > Testing multiple keys

Testing multiple keys

If the multiple key test window appears to stop working, then close it and reopen it again. This can occur if you press the tab key.

Introduction

If you need to use more than one key to record behaviours in your protocol, you should test that the keys you want to use can all be used together. Because of the way computer keyboards work, some combination of keys won't be registered if all the keys are pressed down at the same time.

To test which keys can be used together, ANY-maze includes the Multiple key test window, which can be accessed by selecting the Keys element in the protocol list and clicking the Multiple key test window link shown in the Settings pane.

Using the multiple key test window

To test a combination of keys, you should perform the following steps:

Press and hold down each key one after the other, and check that as you do this, each key is shown as pressed in the window. For example, to test R H and L, press the R key and hold it down, then press the H key and hold it down too, finally press the L key - in the end, all three keys should be held down.

Hold down all the keys, then release and press each one in turn checking that each one is shown as released and pressed in the window as you do this. For example, hold down the R, H and L keys. Then release the R key and check it's shown as released, then press it again and check it's shown as pressed. Next release the H key and check it's shown as released, then press it again and check it's shown as pressed. Finally, repeat the same process for the L key.

Press all the keys together and check that they're all shown as pressed in the window.

While testing keys, your computer may beep - this is normal and you can ignore it.

ANY-maze help topic T0363