Add preference enabling users to disable custom keyboard shortcuts

Fixes #408 Adds new translatable string.
ableplayer · joedolson · Jan 11, 2026 · Sep 24, 2025 · Sep 26, 2025 · Sep 26, 2025
commit 384704661a93809c5a9fb44c837d1f450fc5ee4f
diff --git a/scripts/event.js b/scripts/event.js
@@ -375,12 +375,15 @@
 	}
 
 	AblePlayer.prototype.okToHandleKeyPress = function () {
-
-		// returns true unless user's focus is on a UI element
+		let defaultReturn = true;
+		if ( this.prefNoKeyShortcuts === 1 ) {
+			defaultReturn = false;
+		}
+		// returns true unless user's focus is on a UI element or user has disabled keyboard shortcuts.
 		// that is likely to need supported keystrokes, including space
 		var activeElement = AblePlayer.getActiveDOMElement();
 
-		return ($(activeElement).prop('tagName') === 'INPUT') ? false : true;
+		return ($(activeElement).prop('tagName') === 'INPUT') ? false : defaultReturn;
 	};
 
 	AblePlayer.prototype.onPlayerKeyPress = function (e) {

diff --git a/scripts/preference.js b/scripts/preference.js
@@ -144,6 +144,12 @@
 			'group': 'keyboard',
 			'default': 0
 		});
+		prefs.push({
+			'name': 'prefNoKeyShortcuts',
+			'label': this.translate( 'prefNoKeyShortcuts', 'Disable Keyboard Shortcuts' ),
+			'group': 'keyboard',
+			'default': 0
+		});
 
 		// Transcript preferences
 		prefs.push({
@@ -586,10 +592,18 @@
 								changedSpan = '.able-modkey-shift';
 								changedText = thisObj.tt.prefShiftKey + ' + ';
 							}
-							if ($(this).is(':checked')) {
-								$(changedSpan).text(changedText);
+							if ( changedPref !== 'prefNoKeyShortcuts' ) {
+								if ($(this).is(':checked')) {
+									$(changedSpan).text(changedText);
+								} else {
+									$(changedSpan).text('');
+								}
 							} else {
-								$(changedSpan).text('');
+								if ($(this).is(':checked')) {
+									$('.able-modkey-item').addClass('hidden');
+								} else {
+									$('.able-modkey-item').removeClass('hidden');
+								}
 							}
 						});
 					}
@@ -624,6 +638,8 @@
 				this.currentSampleText = this.translate( 'sampleDescriptionText', 'Adjust settings to hear this sample text.' );
 			}
 		} else if (form === 'keyboard') {
+			let shortcutClass = (this.prefNoKeyShortcuts === 1 ) ? 'able-modkey-item hidden' : 'able-modkey-item';
+
 			// add a current list of keyboard shortcuts
 			$kbHeading = $('<h2>',{
 				text: this.translate( 'prefHeadingKeyboard2', 'Current keyboard shortcuts' )
@@ -705,7 +721,8 @@
 				kbListText += '<span class="able-modkey">' + keys[i] + '</span>';
 				kbListText += ' = ' + kbLabels[i];
 				$kbListItem = $('<li>',{
-					html: kbListText
+					'class': shortcutClass,
+					html: kbListText,
 				});
 				$kbList.append($kbListItem);
 			}

diff --git a/styles/ableplayer.css b/styles/ableplayer.css
@@ -611,6 +611,10 @@ div.able-modal-overlay {
 	margin-top: 1rem;
 }
 
+.able-modkey-item.hidden {
+	display: none;
+}
+
 .able-modal-header {
 	display: flex;
 	justify-content: space-between;

diff --git a/translations/ca.json b/translations/ca.json
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
   "prefAltKey": "Alt",
   "prefCtrlKey": "Control",
   "prefShiftKey": "Majúscula",
+  "prefNoKeyShortcuts": "Disable keyboard shortcuts",
   "escapeKey": "Escapada",
   "escapeKeyFunction": "Tanca el diàleg o finestre emergent actual",
   "prefDescFormat": "Format preferit",

diff --git a/translations/cs.json b/translations/cs.json
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
   "prefAltKey": "Alt",
   "prefCtrlKey": "Control",
   "prefShiftKey": "Shift",
+  "prefNoKeyShortcuts": "Disable keyboard shortcuts",
   "escapeKey": "Escape",
   "escapeKeyFunction": "Zavřít aktuální dialogové okno nebo vyskakovací nabídku",
   "prefDescFormat": "Preferovaný formát",

diff --git a/translations/da.json b/translations/da.json
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
   "prefAltKey": "Alt",
   "prefCtrlKey": "Ctrl",
   "prefShiftKey": "Shift",
+  "prefNoKeyShortcuts": "Disable keyboard shortcuts",
   "escapeKey": "Escape",
   "escapeKeyFunction": "Luk nuværinde dialog eller popup-menu",
   "prefDescFormat": "Foretrukne format",

diff --git a/translations/de.json b/translations/de.json
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
   "prefAltKey": "Alt",
   "prefCtrlKey": "Strg",
   "prefShiftKey": "Umschalttaste",
+  "prefNoKeyShortcuts": "Disable keyboard shortcuts",
   "escapeKey": "ESC Taste",
   "escapeKeyFunction": "Dialogfenster schließen",
   "prefDescFormat": "Bevorzugtes Format",

diff --git a/translations/en.json b/translations/en.json
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
   "prefAltKey": "Alt",
   "prefCtrlKey": "Control",
   "prefShiftKey": "Shift",
+  "prefNoKeyShortcuts": "Disable keyboard shortcuts",
   "escapeKey": "Escape",
   "escapeKeyFunction": "Close current dialog or popup menu",
   "prefDescFormat": "Preferred format",

diff --git a/translations/es.json b/translations/es.json
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
   "prefAltKey": "Alt",
   "prefCtrlKey": "Control",
   "prefShiftKey": "Mayúsculas",
+  "prefNoKeyShortcuts": "Disable keyboard shortcuts",
   "escapeKey": "Escape",
   "escapeKeyFunction": "Cerrar el cuadro de diálogo o menú contextual",
   "prefDescFormat": "Formato preferido",

diff --git a/translations/fr.json b/translations/fr.json
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
   "prefAltKey": "Alt",
   "prefCtrlKey": "Ctrl",
   "prefShiftKey": "Shift",
+  "prefNoKeyShortcuts": "Disable keyboard shortcuts",
   "escapeKey": "Esc",
   "escapeKeyFunction": "Fermer la fenêtre de dialogue ou le menu contextuel",
   "prefDescFormat": "Format privilégié",

diff --git a/translations/he.json b/translations/he.json
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
   "prefAltKey": "Alt",
   "prefCtrlKey": "Control",
   "prefShiftKey": "Shift",
+  "prefNoKeyShortcuts": "Disable keyboard shortcuts",
   "escapeKey": "Escape",
   "escapeKeyFunction": "סגור את תיבת הדו שיח הנוכחית או תפריט קופץ",
   "prefDescFormat": "פורמט מועדף",

diff --git a/translations/id.json b/translations/id.json
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
   "prefAltKey": "Alt",
   "prefCtrlKey": "Control",
   "prefShiftKey": "Shift",
+  "prefNoKeyShortcuts": "Disable keyboard shortcuts",
   "escapeKey": "Escape",
   "escapeKeyFunction": "Tutup dialog atau menu sembulan yang tampil",
   "prefDescFormat": "Format yang dipilih",

diff --git a/translations/it.json b/translations/it.json
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
   "prefAltKey": "Alt",
   "prefCtrlKey": "Control",
   "prefShiftKey": "Shift",
+  "prefNoKeyShortcuts": "Disable keyboard shortcuts",
   "escapeKey": "Escape",
   "escapeKeyFunction": "Chiude il menu o la finestra corrente",
   "prefDescFormat": "Formato preferito",

diff --git a/translations/ja.json b/translations/ja.json
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
   "prefAltKey": "Alt",
   "prefCtrlKey": "Control",
   "prefShiftKey": "Shift",
+  "prefNoKeyShortcuts": "Disable keyboard shortcuts",
   "escapeKey": "エスケープ",
   "escapeKeyFunction": "現在のダイアログやポップアップメニューを閉じる",
   "prefDescFormat": "フォーマットの選択",

diff --git a/translations/ms.json b/translations/ms.json
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
   "prefAltKey": "Alt",
   "prefCtrlKey": "Control",
   "prefShiftKey": "Shift",
+  "prefNoKeyShortcuts": "Disable keyboard shortcuts",
   "escapeKey": "Escape",
   "escapeKeyFunction": "Tutup dialog atau menu popup semasa",
   "prefDescFormat": "Format pilihan",

diff --git a/translations/nb.json b/translations/nb.json
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
   "prefAltKey": "Alt",
   "prefCtrlKey": "Control",
   "prefShiftKey": "Shift",
+  "prefNoKeyShortcuts": "Disable keyboard shortcuts",
   "escapeKey": "Escape",
   "escapeKeyFunction": "Lukk dialogboks eller popup-meny",
   "prefDescFormat": "Foretrukket format",

diff --git a/translations/nl.json b/translations/nl.json
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
   "prefAltKey": "Alt",
   "prefCtrlKey": "Control",
   "prefShiftKey": "Shift",
+  "prefNoKeyShortcuts": "Disable keyboard shortcuts",
   "escapeKey": "Escape",
   "escapeKeyFunction": "Sluit huidige dialoog of popup menu",
   "prefDescFormat": "Voorkeurs formaat",

diff --git a/translations/pl.json b/translations/pl.json
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
   "prefAltKey": "Alt",
   "prefCtrlKey": "Control",
   "prefShiftKey": "Shift",
+  "prefNoKeyShortcuts": "Disable keyboard shortcuts",
   "escapeKey": "Escape",
   "escapeKeyFunction": "Zamknij bieżące okno dialogowe lub menu podręczne",
   "prefDescFormat": "Preferowany format",

diff --git a/translations/pt-br.json b/translations/pt-br.json
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
   "prefAltKey": "Alt",
   "prefCtrlKey": "Control",
   "prefShiftKey": "Shift",
+  "prefNoKeyShortcuts": "Disable keyboard shortcuts",
   "escapeKey": "ESC",
   "escapeKeyFunction": "Fechar diálogo ou caixa pop-up atual",
   "prefDescFormat": "Preferência de formatos",

diff --git a/translations/pt.json b/translations/pt.json
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
   "prefAltKey": "Alt",
   "prefCtrlKey": "Control",
   "prefShiftKey": "Shift",
+  "prefNoKeyShortcuts": "Disable keyboard shortcuts",
   "escapeKey": "Escape",
   "escapeKeyFunction": "Fecha o diálogo ou menu popup",
   "prefDescFormat": "Formato preferido",

diff --git a/translations/sv.json b/translations/sv.json
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
   "prefAltKey": "Alt",
   "prefCtrlKey": "Ctrl",
   "prefShiftKey": "Shift",
+  "prefNoKeyShortcuts": "Disable keyboard shortcuts",
   "escapeKey": "Escape",
   "escapeKeyFunction": "Stäng nuvarande dialog eller popupmeny",
   "prefDescFormat": "Föredraget format",

diff --git a/translations/tr.json b/translations/tr.json
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
   "prefAltKey": "Alt",
   "prefCtrlKey": "Control",
   "prefShiftKey": "Shift",
+  "prefNoKeyShortcuts": "Disable keyboard shortcuts",
   "escapeKey": "Escape",
   "escapeKeyFunction": "Şu anki diyalogu veya açılır menüyü kapa",
   "prefDescFormat": "Tecih edilen format",

diff --git a/translations/zh-tw.json b/translations/zh-tw.json
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
   "prefAltKey": "Alt",
   "prefCtrlKey": "Ctrl",
   "prefShiftKey": "Shift",
+  "prefNoKeyShortcuts": "Disable keyboard shortcuts",
   "escapeKey": "Esc",
   "escapeKeyFunction": "關閉目前的對話視窗或彈出式選單",
   "prefDescFormat": "偏好格式",