need help in implementing KeyListener for 2D game in Java

Question

i stated coding my first game in java, i need some help in imlementing KeyListener to fit my game. after some search in tutorials i've imlemented it like this :

frame.addKeyListener(new KeyAdapter(){

private boolean[] keys = new boolean[120];
public boolean up , down , left , right;



public void tick() {
    up =  keys[KeyEvent.VK_UP] || keys[KeyEvent.VK_W];    
    down =  keys[KeyEvent.VK_DOWN] || keys[KeyEvent.VK_S];  
    left =  keys[KeyEvent.VK_LEFT] || keys[KeyEvent.VK_A];
    right =  keys[KeyEvent.VK_RIGHT] || keys[KeyEvent.VK_D];
}

public void keyPressed(KeyEvent e) {
    if(e.getKeyCode() != KeyEvent.VK_F5) keys[e.getKeyCode()] = true;
    tick();
    if (up){
        yMap+=4;
        direction='n';
        xInd=0;
    }
    else if(down){
        yMap-=4;
        direction='s';
        xInd=2;
    }
    else if(right){
        xMap-=4;
        direction='e';
        xInd=1;
    }
    else if(left){
        xMap+=4;
        direction='w';
        xInd=3;
    }
    wait++;
    if(wait==5){
        yInd++;
        wait=0;
    }
    if(yInd==3)
        yInd=0;
    cha=sprites[xInd][yInd];
    panel.repaint();
}

public void keyReleased(KeyEvent e) {
    keys[e.getKeyCode()] = false;
    tick();
    yInd=0;
    cha=sprites[xInd][yInd];
    panel.repaint();
}

public void keyTyped(KeyEvent e) {  
}
});

however every thing is fine in this code, the character is moving correctly the sprites are perfect but it is missing only one thing, the only thing i need is when i move the character in a direction, lets say for exemple UP, with a simple click on the up button (which normaly should make it move with only 4 pixels to up), the character should complete walking to the next square automaticaly (each square is 32*32 pixels). i hope i explained well my question and sorry for bad english !

Answer 1

Do not put your movement code in the key event handler. The event is fired once, when the key is pressed or released. If you want to continually move you need to put your actual movement code somewhere outside of the key event handler, presumably in your update method (or some idle function handler that is called every frame).