I just read through the controlP5 javadoc reference and it says that disableKeys() is deprecated and you should instead use disableShortcuts():

" disable shortcuts such as alt-h for hiding/showing controllers"

You should be able to call this method on your controlP5 class. In other words:

controlP5 = new ControlP5(this);

controlP5.disableShortcuts();

You can, at any point in your code, call controlP5.enableShortcuts() to turn them back on. Hope that helps!

-Kyle

Now, I dont actually need the ability to submit text by pressing enter at all, because there are buttons labelled "submit" which do this instead. SO I thought the easiest thing to do would be to rid of the keystroke ENTER all together. Thankyou Kyle for your help however, I just tested the code an apparently submitting text in a field by pressing ENTER is not considered a 'shortcut'. What more can I do?

Kind Regards, Arthur

MARGImyTextfield.setBroadcast(false);

this will prevent other textfields from being notified about any changes (you'll have to do this for each textfield you have). Combining setAutoClear(true) and setBroadcast(false) should result in no action when enter is pressed. Works for me. Am I on the right track?? Haha.

Without posting your code it's tough to infer how you've set everything up. With controlP5 there are multiple ways of doing things. 

//edit: i said isBroadcast when i meant setBroadcast, in case you caught that one.

Before pasting my code let me explain the interface. I would briefly like to mention that none of the textfields to the right of the interface will be visible in the final version - for reasons that will be made clear later. 

Input into the textfield "MARGIN" is linked to all of the other fields via "keepFocus(true);". So, as I type, the text appears in all of the other textfields. The buttons submit each textfield individually. I.E. the button named "LIBBE" submits the textfield "LIBBE". It does not submit any textfield except to the ONE which it refers. this is necessary because each textfield has a different affix, "U", "D", "L", "R" etc. this is appended to the textfield input. so when i hit a button it sends a string ( e.g. <R1000> ) to arduino. arduino reads this string an interprets accordingly. to if it finds the character "R" in the string, it will move a stepper motor R / Right 1000 steps. 

My problem is that if I hit ENTER in the textfield "Margin", then it submits ALL of the texfields. So Arduino receives <U1000>, <D,1000>, <L1000> and <R1000> and so naturally, all of the motors are firing off in all directions. This is not a problem if I DONT hit enter and use the buttons instead. However, I would like to find a way to disable ENTER all-together, to avoid this problem. If I do, by accident hit enter, then it might have quite grave consequences given the application. (I mean someone could quite easily get knocked out if they are not paying attention!)

I did try setBroadcast and setAutoClear, however, I do actually need to be able to submit the value, but not via the shortcut ENTER. I need to use the buttons instead. 

I hope this makes sense. I will paste my code now. Its quite long..

2. 
   
3. 
   
4.   import processing.serial.*; // serial library
5. 
   
6. 
   
7.   // GUI variables
8.   import controlP5.*; // controlP5 library
9.   ControlP5 controlP5; // create the handler to allow for controlP5 items
10.   Serial port;
11.   
12.   
13. 
    
14.   Textfield MARGImyTextfield;
15.   Textfield UPPmyTextfield;
16.   Textfield DOUNmyTextfield;
17.   Textfield LIBBmyTextfield;
18.   Textfield RIHTmyTextfield;
19.   Textfield RTmyTextfield;
20.   Textfield AUTOSCAmyTextfield;
21.   Textfield SCAmyTextfield;
22.   Textfield CLEAmyTextfield;
23.   
24. 
    
25. // setup
26. void setup() {
27. size(600,400);
28. frameRate(30);
29. 
    
30. controlP5 = new ControlP5(this); // initialize the GUI controls
31. controlP5.disableShortcuts();
32. port = new Serial(this, "COM8", 9600);  
33. println("Available serial ports:");
34. println(Serial.list());
35. 
    
36. 
    
37. MARGImyTextfield = controlP5.addTextfield  ("MARGIN",100,100,125,15); // addTextfield(name,x,y,width,height)
38. MARGImyTextfield.setAutoClear(false);
39. MARGImyTextfield.keepFocus(true); 
40. 
    
41. 
    
42. UPPmyTextfield = controlP5.addTextfield  ("UPP",350,100,125,15); // addTextfield(name,x,y,width,height)
43. UPPmyTextfield.setAutoClear(false);
44. UPPmyTextfield.keepFocus(true); 
45. 
    
46. 
    
47. DOUNmyTextfield = controlP5.addTextfield  ("DOUN",350,140,125,15); // addTextfield(name,x,y,width,height)
48. DOUNmyTextfield.setAutoClear(false);
49. DOUNmyTextfield.keepFocus(true); 
50. ;
51. 
    
52. RIHTmyTextfield = controlP5.addTextfield  ("RIHT",350,220,125,15); // addTextfield(name,x,y,width,height)
53. RIHTmyTextfield.setAutoClear(false);
54. RIHTmyTextfield.keepFocus(true); 
55. 
    
56. 
    
57. LIBBmyTextfield = controlP5.addTextfield  ("LIBB",350,180,125,15); // addTextfield(name,x,y,width,height)
58. LIBBmyTextfield.setAutoClear(false);
59. LIBBmyTextfield.keepFocus(true); 
60. 
    
61. 
    
62. SCAmyTextfield = controlP5.addTextfield  ("SCA",350,260,125,15); // addTextfield(name,x,y,width,height)
63. SCAmyTextfield.setAutoClear(false);
64. SCAmyTextfield.keepFocus(true); 
65. 
    
66. 
    
67. AUTOSCAmyTextfield = controlP5.addTextfield  ("AUTOSCA",350,260,125,15); // addTextfield(name,x,y,width,height)
68. AUTOSCAmyTextfield.setAutoClear(false);
69. AUTOSCAmyTextfield.keepFocus(true); 
70. 
    
71. 
    
72. RTmyTextfield = controlP5.addTextfield  ("RT",350,300,125,15); // addTextfield(name,x,y,width,height)
73. RTmyTextfield.setAutoClear(false);
74. RTmyTextfield.keepFocus(true); 
75. 
    
76. 
    
77. 
    
78. controlP5.addButton         ("UPPE",    1,165,180,40,16); // buton(name,value,x,y,width,height)
79. controlP5.addButton       ("DOUNE",  1,165,220,40,16); // buton(name,value,x,y,width,height)
80. controlP5.addButton      ("RIHTE", 1,230,200,40,16); // buton(name,value,x,y,width,height)
81. controlP5.addButton       ("LIBBE",  1,100,200,40,16); // buton(name,value,x,y,width,height)
82. controlP5.addButton        ("RTN",   1,100,300,40,16); // buton(name,value,x,y,width,height)
83. controlP5.addButton       ("AUTOSCAN",  1,165,300,40,16); // buton(name,value,x,y,width,height)
84. controlP5.addButton       ("SCAN",  1,230,300,40,16); // buton(name,value,x,y,width,height)
85. controlP5.addButton      ("CLEAR", 1,230,100,40,16); // buton(name,value,x,y,width,height)
86. 
    
87. 
    
88. 
    
89. }
90. 
    
91.   // infinite loop
92.   void draw() {
93.   background(0);
94. 
    
95. if (key == KeyEvent.VK_ENTER);
96. key = 0;
97. 
    
98. 
    
99. 
    
100. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
101. 
     
102. //  //TEXTFIELD
103. }
104.   
105.   
106.   public void UPP(String theText) {
107.   port.write('<'+"U"+theText+'>'); // write the text in the field
108.   println("sent"+theText); // print it to the debug screen as well
109. }
110.   public void DOUN(String theText) {
111.   port.write('<'+"D"+theText+'>'); // write the text in the field
112.   println("sent"+theText); // print it to the debug screen as well
113. }
114.   public void RIHT(String theText) {
115.   port.write('<'+"R"+theText+'>'); // write the text in the field
116.   println("sent"+theText); // print it to the debug screen as well
117. }
118.   public void LIBB(String theText) {
119.   port.write('<'+"L"+theText+'>'); // write the text in the field
120.   println("sent"+theText); // print it to the debug screen as well
121. }
122.   public void SCA(String theText) {
123.   port.write('<'+"S"+theText+'>'); // write the text in the field
124.   println("sent"+theText); // print it to the debug screen as well
125. }
126.   public void AUTOSCA(String theText) {
127.   port.write('<'+"A"+theText+'>'); // write the text in the field
128.   println("sent"+theText); // print it to the debug screen as well
129. }
130.   public void RT(String theText) {
131.   port.write('<'+"H"+theText+'>'); // write the text in the field
132.   println("sent"+theText); // print it to the debug screen as well
133. }
134. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
135. 
     
136. //  //SUBMIT
137.   void UPPE(int theValue) {
138.   UPPmyTextfield.submit();
139.   println("sent X"); // print it to the debug screen as well
140. }
141.   void DOUNE(int theValue) {
142.   DOUNmyTextfield.submit();
143.   println("sent X"); // print it to the debug screen as well
144. }
145.   void RIHTE(int theValue) {
146.   RIHTmyTextfield.submit();
147.   println("sent X"); // print it to the debug screen as well
148. }
149.   void LIBBE(int theValue) {
150.   LIBBmyTextfield.submit();
151.   println("sent X"); // print it to the debug screen as well
152. }
153.   void SCAN(int theValue) {
154.   SCAmyTextfield.submit();
155.   println("sent X"); // print it to the debug screen as well
156. }
157.   void AUTOSCAN(int theValue) {
158.   AUTOSCAmyTextfield.submit();
159.   println("sent X"); // print it to the debug screen as well
160. }
161.   void RTN(int theValue) {
162.   RTmyTextfield.submit();
163.   println("sent X"); // print it to the debug screen as well
164. }
165.   void CLEAR(int theValue) {
166.   MARGImyTextfield.clear();
167.   UPPmyTextfield.clear();
168.   DOUNmyTextfield.clear();
169.   RIHTmyTextfield.clear();
170.   LIBBmyTextfield.clear();
171.   SCAmyTextfield.clear();
172.   AUTOSCAmyTextfield.clear();
173.   RTmyTextfield.clear();
174.   println("sent X"); // print it to the debug screen as well
175. }
176. 
     
177.   
178. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
179. 
     
180. void serialEvent(Serial aPort)
181. {
182.   // read the serial buffer:
183.   String myString = aPort.readStringUntil('\n');
184. 
     
185.   // make sure you have a valid string
186.   if (myString != null)
187.   {
188.     // trim off the whitespace (linefeed, carriage return) characters:
189.     myString = trim(myString);
190. 
     
191.     println(myString);
192.   }
193. }
194. 
     
195. 
     
196. 
     
197. 
     

Kind Regards, Arthur

by the way If anyone has not heard of this function before then its really very hand. With it, you can find out exactly what arduino is receiving from processing. You send a message, arduino receives it, the sends it back to Processing. For sending strings, this can be a very handy way of finding out what has been sent. 

Paste the following code in processing:

Paste the following code in arduino:

2. Serial.print("I got [");
3.    Serial.print(inData);
4.    Serial.println("]");

Also, a suggestion: by calling textfield.submit() inside of your button methods, i.e.

void UPPE(int theValue){

       UPPEmyTextfield.submit();

}

... you are actually adding an extra step; you can simply write to the serial port when the button is pressed, rather than using the textfield's submit method.

heres the new code for anyone thats interested:

2. 
   
3. import processing.serial.*; // serial library
4. 
   
5. import controlP5.*; // controlP5 library
6. ControlP5 controlP5; // create the handler to allow for controlP5 items
7. Serial port;
8.   
9. Textfield MARGINmyTextfield;
10. 
    
11. void setup() {
12. size(600,400);
13. frameRate(30);
14. 
    
15. controlP5 = new ControlP5(this); // initialize the GUI controls
16. port = new Serial(this, "COM8", 9600);  
17. println("Available serial ports:");
18. println(Serial.list());
19. 
    
20. MARGINmyTextfield = controlP5.addTextfield  ("MARGIN",100,100,125,15); // addTextfield(name,x,y,width,height)
21. MARGINmyTextfield.setAutoClear(false);
22. MARGINmyTextfield.keepFocus(true); 
23. 
    
24. controlP5.addButton       ("UPPE",     1,165,180,40,16); // buton(name,value,x,y,width,height)
25. controlP5.addButton       ("DOUNE",    1,165,220,40,16); // buton(name,value,x,y,width,height)
26. controlP5.addButton       ("RIHTE",    1,230,200,40,16); // buton(name,value,x,y,width,height)
27. controlP5.addButton       ("LIBBE",    1,100,200,40,16); // buton(name,value,x,y,width,height)
28. controlP5.addButton       ("RTN",      1,100,300,40,16); // buton(name,value,x,y,width,height)
29. controlP5.addButton       ("AUTOSCAN", 1,165,300,40,16); // buton(name,value,x,y,width,height)
30. controlP5.addButton       ("SCAN",     1,230,300,40,16); // buton(name,value,x,y,width,height)
31. controlP5.addButton       ("CLEAR",    1,230,100,40,16); // buton(name,value,x,y,width,height)
32. 
    
33. }
34. 
    
35.   void draw() {
36.   background(0);
37.   
38. }
39.   void UPPE(int theValue){
40.   port.write('<'+"U"+MARGINmyTextfield.getText()+'>');
41.   println("sent"+"U"+MARGINmyTextfield.getText()+'>');
42. }
43.   void DOUNE(int theValue) {
44.   port.write('<'+"D"+MARGINmyTextfield.getText()+'>');
45.   println("sent"+"D"+MARGINmyTextfield.getText());
46. }
47.   void RIHTE(int theValue) {
48.   port.write('<'+"R"+MARGINmyTextfield.getText()+'>');
49.   println("sent"+"R"+MARGINmyTextfield.getText());
50. }
51.   void LIBBE(int theValue) {
52.   port.write('<'+"L"+MARGINmyTextfield.getText()+'>');
53.   println("sent"+"L"+MARGINmyTextfield.getText());
54. }
55.   void SCAN(int theValue) {
56.   port.write('<'+"S"+MARGINmyTextfield.getText()+'>');
57.   println("sent"+"S"+MARGINmyTextfield.getText());
58. }
59.   void AUTOSCAN(int theValue) {
60.   port.write('<'+"A"+MARGINmyTextfield.getText()+'>');
61.   println("sent"+"A"+MARGINmyTextfield.getText());
62. }
63.   void RTN(int theValue) {
64.   port.write('<'+"H"+MARGINmyTextfield.getText()+'>');
65.   println("sent"+"H"+MARGINmyTextfield.getText());
66. }
67.   void CLEAR(int theValue) {
68.   MARGINmyTextfield.clear();
69.   println("sent CLEAR"); // print it to the debug screen as well
70. }
71. 
    
72. void serialEvent(Serial aPort)
73. {
74.   // read the serial buffer:
75.   String myString = aPort.readStringUntil('\n');
76. 
    
77.   // make sure you have a valid string
78.   if (myString != null)
79.   {
80.     // trim off the whitespace (linefeed, carriage return) characters:
81.     myString = trim(myString);
82. 
    
83.     println(myString);
84.   }
85. }