Provided by: allegro5-doc_5.2.3.0-1_all 
NAME
ALLEGRO_EVENT - Allegro 5 API
SYNOPSIS
#include <allegro5/allegro.h>
typedef union ALLEGRO_EVENT ALLEGRO_EVENT;
DESCRIPTION
An ALLEGRO_EVENT is a union of all builtin event structures, i.e. it is an object large
enough to hold the data of any event type. All events have the following fields in
common:
type (ALLEGRO_EVENT_TYPE)
Indicates the type of event.
any.source (ALLEGRO_EVENT_SOURCE *)
The event source which generated the event.
any.timestamp (double)
When the event was generated.
By examining the type field you can then access type-specific fields. The any.source
field tells you which event source generated that particular event. The any.timestamp
field tells you when the event was generated. The time is referenced to the same starting
point as al_get_time(3alleg5).
Each event is of one of the following types, with the usable fields given.
ALLEGRO_EVENT_JOYSTICK_AXIS
A joystick axis value changed.
joystick.id (ALLEGRO_JOYSTICK *)
The joystick which generated the event. This is not the same as the event source
joystick.source.
joystick.stick (int)
The stick number, counting from zero. Axes on a joystick are grouped into
"sticks".
joystick.axis (int)
The axis number on the stick, counting from zero.
joystick.pos (float)
The axis position, from -1.0 to +1.0.
ALLEGRO_EVENT_JOYSTICK_BUTTON_DOWN
A joystick button was pressed.
joystick.id (ALLEGRO_JOYSTICK *)
The joystick which generated the event.
joystick.button (int)
The button which was pressed, counting from zero.
ALLEGRO_EVENT_JOYSTICK_BUTTON_UP
A joystick button was released.
joystick.id (ALLEGRO_JOYSTICK *)
The joystick which generated the event.
joystick.button (int)
The button which was released, counting from zero.
ALLEGRO_EVENT_JOYSTICK_CONFIGURATION
A joystick was plugged in or unplugged. See al_reconfigure_joysticks(3alleg5) for
details.
ALLEGRO_EVENT_KEY_DOWN
A keyboard key was pressed.
keyboard.keycode (int)
The code corresponding to the physical key which was pressed. See the [Key codes]
section for the list of ALLEGRO_KEY_* constants.
keyboard.display (ALLEGRO_DISPLAY *)
The display which had keyboard focus when the event occurred.
Note: this event is about the physical keys being pressed on the keyboard. Look
for ALLEGRO_EVENT_KEY_CHAR events for character input.
ALLEGRO_EVENT_KEY_UP
A keyboard key was released.
keyboard.keycode (int)
The code corresponding to the physical key which was released. See the [Key codes]
section for the list of ALLEGRO_KEY_* constants.
keyboard.display (ALLEGRO_DISPLAY *)
The display which had keyboard focus when the event occurred.
ALLEGRO_EVENT_KEY_CHAR
A character was typed on the keyboard, or a character was auto-repeated.
keyboard.keycode (int)
The code corresponding to the physical key which was last pressed. See the [Key
codes] section for the list of ALLEGRO_KEY_* constants.
keyboard.unichar (int)
A Unicode code point (character). This may be zero or negative if the event was
generated for a non-visible "character", such as an arrow or Function key. In that
case you can act upon the keycode field.
Some special keys will set the unichar field to their standard ASCII values: Tab=9,
Return=13, Escape=27. In addition if you press the Control key together with A to
Z the unichar field will have the values 1 to 26. For example Ctrl-A will set
unichar to 1 and Ctrl-H will set it to 8.
As of Allegro 5.0.2 there are some inconsistencies in the treatment of Backspace (8
or 127) and Delete (127 or 0) keys on different platforms. These can be worked
around by checking the keycode field.
keyboard.modifiers (unsigned)
This is a bitfield of the modifier keys which were pressed when the event occurred.
See "Keyboard modifier flags" for the constants.
keyboard.repeat (bool)
Indicates if this is a repeated character.
keyboard.display (ALLEGRO_DISPLAY *)
The display which had keyboard focus when the event occurred.
Note: in many input methods, characters are not entered one-for-one with physical
key presses. Multiple key presses can combine to generate a single character, e.g.
apostrophe + e may produce 'é'. Fewer key presses can also generate more
characters, e.g. macro sequences expanding to common phrases.
ALLEGRO_EVENT_MOUSE_AXES
One or more mouse axis values changed.
mouse.x (int)
x-coordinate
mouse.y (int)
y-coordinate
mouse.z (int)
z-coordinate. This usually means the vertical axis of a mouse wheel, where up is
positive and down is negative.
mouse.w (int)
w-coordinate. This usually means the horizontal axis of a mouse wheel.
mouse.dx (int)
Change in the x-coordinate value since the previous ALLEGRO_EVENT_MOUSE_AXES event.
mouse.dy (int)
Change in the y-coordinate value since the previous ALLEGRO_EVENT_MOUSE_AXES event.
mouse.dz (int)
Change in the z-coordinate value since the previous ALLEGRO_EVENT_MOUSE_AXES event.
mouse.dw (int)
Change in the w-coordinate value since the previous ALLEGRO_EVENT_MOUSE_AXES event.
mouse.pressure (float)
Pressure, ranging from 0.0 to 1.0.
mouse.display (ALLEGRO_DISPLAY *)
The display which had mouse focus.
Note: Calling al_set_mouse_xy(3alleg5) also will result in a change of axis values,
but such a change is reported with ALLEGRO_EVENT_MOUSE_WARPED(3alleg5) events
instead which are identical except for their type.
Note: currently mouse.display may be NULL if an event is generated in response to
al_set_mouse_axis(3alleg5).
ALLEGRO_EVENT_MOUSE_BUTTON_DOWN
A mouse button was pressed.
mouse.x (int)
x-coordinate
mouse.y (int)
y-coordinate
mouse.z (int)
z-coordinate
mouse.w (int)
w-coordinate
mouse.button (unsigned)
The mouse button which was pressed, numbering from 1.
mouse.pressure (float)
Pressure, ranging from 0.0 to 1.0.
mouse.display (ALLEGRO_DISPLAY *)
The display which had mouse focus.
ALLEGRO_EVENT_MOUSE_BUTTON_UP
A mouse button was released.
mouse.x (int)
x-coordinate
mouse.y (int)
y-coordinate
mouse.z (int)
z-coordinate
mouse.w (int)
w-coordinate
mouse.button (unsigned)
The mouse button which was released, numbering from 1.
mouse.pressure (float)
Pressure, ranging from 0.0 to 1.0.
mouse.display (ALLEGRO_DISPLAY *)
The display which had mouse focus.
ALLEGRO_EVENT_MOUSE_WARPED
al_set_mouse_xy(3alleg5) was called to move the mouse. This event is identical to
ALLEGRO_EVENT_MOUSE_AXES otherwise.
ALLEGRO_EVENT_MOUSE_ENTER_DISPLAY
The mouse cursor entered a window opened by the program.
mouse.x (int)
x-coordinate
mouse.y (int)
y-coordinate
mouse.z (int)
z-coordinate
mouse.w (int)
w-coordinate
mouse.display (ALLEGRO_DISPLAY *)
The display which had mouse focus.
ALLEGRO_EVENT_MOUSE_LEAVE_DISPLAY
The mouse cursor left the boundaries of a window opened by the program.
mouse.x (int)
x-coordinate
mouse.y (int)
y-coordinate
mouse.z (int)
z-coordinate
mouse.w (int)
w-coordinate
mouse.display (ALLEGRO_DISPLAY *)
The display which had mouse focus.
ALLEGRO_EVENT_TOUCH_BEGIN
The touch input device registered a new touch.
touch.display (ALLEGRO_DISPLAY)
The display which was touched.
touch.id (int)
An identifier for this touch. If supported by the device it will stay the same for
events from the same finger until the touch ends.
touch.x (float)
The x coordinate of the touch in pixels.
touch.y (float)
The y coordinate of the touch in pixels.
touch.dx (float)
Movement speed in pixels in x direction.
touch.dy (float)
Movement speed in pixels in y direction.
touch.primary (bool)
Whether this is the only/first touch or an additional touch.
SINCE
5.1.0
ALLEGRO_EVENT_TOUCH_END
A touch ended.
Has the same fields as ALLEGRO_EVENT_TOUCH_BEGIN(3alleg5).
SINCE
5.1.0
ALLEGRO_EVENT_TOUCH_MOVE
The position of a touch changed.
Has the same fields as ALLEGRO_EVENT_TOUCH_BEGIN(3alleg5).
SINCE
5.1.0
ALLEGRO_EVENT_TOUCH_CANCEL
A touch was cancelled. This is device specific but could for example mean that a finger
moved off the border of the device or moved so fast that it could not be tracked any
longer.
Has the same fields as ALLEGRO_EVENT_TOUCH_BEGIN(3alleg5).
SINCE
5.1.0
ALLEGRO_EVENT_TIMER
A [timer]ALLEGRO_TIMER(3alleg5) counter incremented.
timer.source (ALLEGRO_TIMER *)
The timer which generated the event.
timer.count (int64_t)
The timer count value.
ALLEGRO_EVENT_DISPLAY_EXPOSE
The display (or a portion thereof) has become visible.
display.source (ALLEGRO_DISPLAY *)
The display which was exposed.
display.x (int)
display.y (int)
The top-left corner of the rectangle which was exposed.
display.width (int)
display.height (int)
The width and height of the rectangle which was exposed.
Note: The display needs to be created with ALLEGRO_GENERATE_EXPOSE_EVENTS flag for
these events to be generated.
ALLEGRO_EVENT_DISPLAY_RESIZE
The window has been resized.
display.source (ALLEGRO_DISPLAY *)
The display which was resized.
display.x (int)
display.y (int)
The position of the top-level corner of the display.
display.width (int)
The new width of the display.
display.height (int)
The new height of the display.
You should normally respond to these events by calling al_acknowledge_resize(3alleg5).
Note that further resize events may be generated by the time you process the event, so
these fields may hold outdated information.
ALLEGRO_EVENT_DISPLAY_CLOSE
The close button of the window has been pressed.
display.source (ALLEGRO_DISPLAY *)
The display which was closed.
ALLEGRO_EVENT_DISPLAY_LOST
When using Direct3D, displays can enter a "lost" state. In that state, drawing calls are
ignored, and upon entering the state, bitmap's pixel data can become undefined. Allegro
does its best to preserve the correct contents of bitmaps (see the
ALLEGRO_NO_PRESERVE_TEXTURE flag) and restore them when the device is "found" (see
ALLEGRO_EVENT_DISPLAY_FOUND(3alleg5)). However, this is not 100% fool proof (see
discussion in al_create_bitmap(3alleg5)'s documentation).
Note: This event merely means that the display was lost, that is, DirectX suddenly
lost the contents of all video bitmaps. In particular, you can keep calling
drawing functions -- they just most likely won't do anything. If Allegro's
restoration of the bitmaps works well for you then no further action is required
when you receive this event.
display.source (ALLEGRO_DISPLAY *)
The display which was lost.
ALLEGRO_EVENT_DISPLAY_FOUND
Generated when a lost device is restored to operating state. See
ALLEGRO_EVENT_DISPLAY_LOST(3alleg5).
display.source (ALLEGRO_DISPLAY *)
The display which was found.
ALLEGRO_EVENT_DISPLAY_SWITCH_OUT
The window is no longer active, that is the user might have clicked into another window or
"tabbed" away. In response to this event you might want to call
al_clear_keyboard_state(3alleg5) (possibly passing display.source as its argument) in
order to prevent Allegro's keyboard state from getting out of sync.
display.source (ALLEGRO_DISPLAY *)
The display which was switched out of.
ALLEGRO_EVENT_DISPLAY_SWITCH_IN
The window is the active one again.
display.source (ALLEGRO_DISPLAY *)
The display which was switched into.
ALLEGRO_EVENT_DISPLAY_ORIENTATION
Generated when the rotation or orientation of a display changes.
display.source (ALLEGRO_DISPLAY *)
The display which generated the event.
event.display.orientation
Contains one of the following values:
• ALLEGRO_DISPLAY_ORIENTATION_0_DEGREES
• ALLEGRO_DISPLAY_ORIENTATION_90_DEGREES
• ALLEGRO_DISPLAY_ORIENTATION_180_DEGREES
• ALLEGRO_DISPLAY_ORIENTATION_270_DEGREES
• ALLEGRO_DISPLAY_ORIENTATION_FACE_UP
• ALLEGRO_DISPLAY_ORIENTATION_FACE_DOWN
ALLEGRO_EVENT_DISPLAY_HALT_DRAWING
When a display receives this event it should stop doing any drawing and then call
al_acknowledge_drawing_halt(3alleg5) immediately.
This is currently only relevant for Android and iOS. It will be sent when the application
is switched to background mode, in addition to ALLEGRO_EVENT_DISPLAY_SWITCH_OUT(3alleg5).
The latter may also be sent in situations where the application is not active but still
should continue drawing, for example when a popup is displayed in front of it.
Note: This event means that the next time you call a drawing function, your program
will crash. So you must stop drawing and you must immediately reply with
al_acknowledge_drawing_halt(3alleg5). Allegro sends this event because it cannot
handle this automatically. Your program might be doing the drawing in a different
thread from the event handling, in which case the drawing thread needs to be
signaled to stop drawing before acknowledging this event.
Note: Mobile devices usually never quit an application, so to prevent the battery
from draining while your application is halted it can be a good idea to call
al_stop_timer(3alleg5) on all your timers, otherwise they will keep generating
events. If you are using audio, you can also stop all audio voices (or pass NULL
to al_set_default_voice(3alleg5) if you use the default mixer), otherwise Allegro
will keep streaming silence to the voice even if the stream or mixer are stopped or
detached.
SINCE
5.1.0
SEE ALSO
ALLEGRO_EVENT_DISPLAY_RESUME_DRAWING(3alleg5)
ALLEGRO_EVENT_DISPLAY_RESUME_DRAWING
When a display receives this event, it may resume drawing again, and it must call
al_acknowledge_drawing_resume(3alleg5) immediately.
This is currently only relevant for Android and iOS. The event will be sent when an
application returns from background mode and is allowed to draw to the display again, in
addition to ALLEGRO_EVENT_DISPLAY_SWITCH_IN(3alleg5). The latter event may also be sent
in a situation where the application is already active, for example when a popup in front
of it closes.
Note: Unlike ALLEGRO_EVENT_DISPLAY_FOUND(3alleg5) it is not necessary to reload any
bitmaps when you receive this event.
SINCE
5.1.0
SEE ALSO
ALLEGRO_EVENT_DISPLAY_HALT_DRAWING(3alleg5)
ALLEGRO_EVENT_DISPLAY_CONNECTED
This event is sent when a physical display is connected to the device Allegro runs on.
Currently, on most platforms, Allegro supports only a single physical display. However,
on iOS, a secondary physical display is suported.
display.source (ALLEGRO_DISPLAY *)
The display which was connected.
SINCE
5.1.1
ALLEGRO_EVENT_DISPLAY_DISCONNECTED
This event is sent when a physical display is disconnected from the device Allegro runs
on. Currently, on most platforms, Allegro supports only a single physical display.
However, on iOS, a secondary physical display is suported.
display.source (ALLEGRO_DISPLAY *)
The display which was disconnected.