# Make Esc key equal to clicking "NO"
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/make-esc-key-equal-to-clicking-no/41495
**Category:** General Discussion
**Created:** [April 22, 2018, 1:55pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/make-esc-key-equal-to-clicking-no/41495 "2018-04-22T13:55:23Z")
**Posts on this page:** 15
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Zerow](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Zerow)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2018, 1:55pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/make-esc-key-equal-to-clicking-no/41495/1 "2018-04-22T13:55:23Z")
Currently [depending on your settings], if you copy and try to paste tags from a file to file, you will end up with a pop up window asking you to confirm or cancel the operation
I would also like to be able in that situation to press Esc, instead of only having to rely on the NO button. Sometimes I just know I did not do what I wanted [i.e. I know that I make a mistake] and kind of automatically quickly go for the Esc key- just to be remained, that in Mp3tag this does not work for cancelling
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2018, 9:44am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/make-esc-key-equal-to-clicking-no/41495/2 "2018-04-30T09:44:51Z")
Have a look at this page that shows which pre-defined message boxes and keys there are.
[http://www.excely.com/excel-vba/using-message-box.shtml](http://www.excely.com/excel-vba/using-message-box.shtml)
> [@](#):
>
> Message Box returns an integer value to indicate clicked button (Yes, No, Cancel, etc.):
> Return Values
> 1 OK vbOk
> 2 Cancel vbCancel
> 3 Abort vbAbort
> 4 Retry vbRetry
> 5 Ignore vbIgnore
> 6 Yes vbYes
> 7 No vbNo
Usually, the Escape key is mapped to the "Cancel" button.
Which means that first of all you would have to return a non-standard value (the one for No instead of Cancel) and secondly, i think that it is not quite the same:
No means that you do not want the option. Cancel means that you want to return to the previous action to retry or modify - the type of the message box suggests that this is not the case for this context.
It could be an option to modify the message box type to one with OK and Cancel - but violating the standard key assignment would be a bad idea IMHO.
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### Author:  [@Zerow](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Zerow)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2018, 6:55pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/make-esc-key-equal-to-clicking-no/41495/3 "2018-04-30T18:55:51Z")
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> Have a look at this page that shows which pre-defined message boxes and keys there are.
> [...]
> It could be an option to modify the message box type to one with OK and Cancel - but violating the standard key assignment would be a bad idea IMHO.
As always, something "controversial" could be added as an option, that would have to be turned on in the setting by each user individually
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2018, 6:58pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/make-esc-key-equal-to-clicking-no/41495/4 "2018-04-30T18:58:26Z")
> [@Zerow](#):
>
> an option, that would have to be turned on
I doubt that the violation of a windows standard is really an option.
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### Author:  [@Zerow](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Zerow)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2018, 7:26pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/make-esc-key-equal-to-clicking-no/41495/5 "2018-04-30T19:26:55Z")
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> > [@Zerow](#):
> >
> > an option, that would have to be turned on
>
> I doubt that the violation of a windows standard is really an option.
So... by for example using a free software like 7+ Taskbar Tweaker and selecting in it "Hide the start button" option, thus saving a lot of horizontal space when using a vertical Taskbar in Windows 7, I... violate the laws of Matrix?
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2018, 7:54pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/make-esc-key-equal-to-clicking-no/41495/6 "2018-04-30T19:54:06Z")
I wish we could stick to MP3tag.
But probably in this case it is not feasible.
Because with such an option, the standard message box with "yes" and "no" will behave in one way in MP3tag and in a different way in other applications if your suggestion becomes a feature. It makes things much more complicated than necessary, IMHO.
That is why I had to refer diffusely to "other applications" and could not stay within the confines of MP3tag.
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### Author:  [@Zerow](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Zerow)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2021, 9:51pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/make-esc-key-equal-to-clicking-no/41495/7 "2021-03-11T21:51:13Z")
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> I wish we could stick to MP3tag.
> [...]
In for example [bear with me please...] filemanager FreeCommander when the user presses `CTRL+F7` a pop-up windows appears for the purpose of writing a name of a folder that is to be created. The user can then choose to `OK` or `Cancel` this with a button - or the user can also press `Esc` for cancellation. And this is very convenient and logical
And at the same time in Windows Explorer when the user is at the step of writing the name of a new folder that is to be created the user also can press `Esc` - but it will not cancel the creation of that brand new folder but instead work just like `Enter` i.e. accept the written name. And IMHO this is illogical. And also this is inconsistent with how Windows works in regards to creation process of a new Shortcut [LNK file] when using the `Shortcut` entry available at in shell sub-menu "New" - because there the `Esc` means canceling and not accepting
` `
` `
Thus I still think my suggestion is user friendly, logical and reasonable - and my latest argument / example show that even the operating system of Microsoft cannot decide on how to treat pressing of the `Esc`
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2021, 6:06pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/make-esc-key-equal-to-clicking-no/41495/8 "2021-03-12T18:06:10Z")
> [@Zerow](#):
>
> And at the same time in Windows Explorer when the user is at the step of writing the name of a new folder that is to be created the user also can press `Esc` - but it will not cancel the creation of that brand new folder but instead work just like `Enter` i.e. accept the written name
You may notice that the WE immediatly creates an object with the name "new folder". You may then rename that folder. If you press `Esc` while editing the name, the WE returns to the previous name. This means that you do not cancel the creation of the folder but you cancel the editing of the name.
I do not see anything unlogical here.
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### Author:  [@Zerow](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Zerow)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2021, 6:26pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/make-esc-key-equal-to-clicking-no/41495/9 "2021-03-12T18:26:25Z")
Explorer also creates `New Shortcut.LNK` file - but deletes it if the user cancels this whole operation of
**Shell Menu \> New \> Shortcut**
So Windows is inconsistent in its behavior. [I would prefer if the ``Esc`` in Windows Explorer would also delete a new folder that is being created]
` `
` `
And I really really do no understand why having the ability to press `Esc` asides from `No` / `Cancel` is some kind of computer heresy - and how it would not be beneficial to that particular situation from my initial post. I must be then a hard core heretic if the various pieces o software that I use acknowledge the `Esc` as one of the ways for cancelling for some tasks
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2021, 6:37pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/make-esc-key-equal-to-clicking-no/41495/10 "2021-03-12T18:37:17Z")
> [@Zerow](#):
>
> Shell Menu \> New \> Shortcut
Sorry, I am lost. If you refer to the functions in the explorer context menu, then I do not see any way to get rid of a lnk file when I press ´Esc´.
If I look at way that the Explorer function menu File\>New\>Link works, then I see that something called "assistant" opens and I can set a number of parameters. The assistant can be interrupted with Esc or Cancel.
If I do the same in the explorer file list context menu of an existing object then I get immediately a lnk file with the name of the source file plus an added string "link". I cannot get rid of this file by pressing `Esc`.
So to get back to the point of the original request: apparently, there is no guarantee that `Esc` always means "rollback". It is always up to the context and the application what can be interrupted or be undone.
And I bet that you will see this behaviour in loads of contexts and applications.
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### Author:  [@Zerow](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Zerow)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2021, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/make-esc-key-equal-to-clicking-no/41495/11 "2021-03-12T19:01:57Z")
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> > [@Zerow](#):
> >
> > Shell Menu \> New \> Shortcut
>
> Sorry, I am lost. If you refer to the functions in the explorer context menu, then I do not see any way to get rid of a lnk file when I press ´Esc´.
> If I look at way that the Explorer function menu File\>New\>Link works, then I see that something called "assistant" opens and I can set a number of parameters. The assistant can be interrupted with Esc or Cancel.
Yes, that is what I am referring too
**Shell Menu \> New \> Shortcut \> `Esc`**
It closes the window in which the user is suppose to give the path [and later on the name of the shortcut], thus of LNk file. And during this process `New Shortcut.LNK` temporary file already sits in the folder`
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> [...]
> So to get back to the point of the original request: apparently, there is no guarantee that `Esc` always means "rollback". It is always up to the context and the application what can be interrupted or be undone.
> And I bet that you will see this behaviour in loads of contexts and applications.
Yes
I am simply advocating for the Mp3tag to be one of those programs utilizing the `Esc`. And to be precise: in this particular task of pasting tags, the `Esc` would not rollback to previous tags but simply prevent the task from being performed - just like when `No` is clicked
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### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2021, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/make-esc-key-equal-to-clicking-no/41495/12 "2021-03-12T21:49:04Z")
I just wanted to chime in and wanted to address the initial suggestion:
> [@Zerow](#):
>
> I would also like to be able in that situation to press Esc, instead of only having to rely on the NO button.
This is usually not the standard behavior on message boxes that offer a _Yes_ and _No_ option. The Esc key is only supported on message boxes that have a _Cancel_ button. There exist dialogs in Windows and other programs that show _Yes_ and _No_ and support the Esc key, but those are not message boxes.
I did some research and it seems like [TaskDialogIndirect](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/commctrl/nf-commctrl-taskdialogindirect) supports that via the [TDF\_ALLOW\_DIALOG\_CANCELLATION](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/commctrl/ns-commctrl-taskdialogconfig) flag. However, I'm not really satisfied with the looks of it — it takes away much of the simplicity of the message box.
The easiest would just be if you could press the _n_ keyboard mnemonic in those cases (or the equivalent mnemonic for the _No_ button on your system).
An alternative would be to change the buttons to _OK_ and _Cancel_ — it's not my favorite, though, as the dialog message is clearly a _Yes_ and _No_ question. I'll keep you posted.
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### Author:  [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2021, 5:23pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/make-esc-key-equal-to-clicking-no/41495/13 "2021-03-14T17:23:36Z")
> [@Florian](#):
>
> An alternative would be to change the buttons to _OK_ and _Cancel_
I've changed this with [Mp3tag v3.05d](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/455).
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### Author:  [@Zerow](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Zerow)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2021, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/make-esc-key-equal-to-clicking-no/41495/14 "2021-03-23T18:10:26Z")
Thank you. I have tested it and it works as I wished for it to work
The canceling function of `Esc` key will be from now on used be my most frequently in Mp3tag- because that is how badly the lack of it affected my workflow till now
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### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2021, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/make-esc-key-equal-to-clicking-no/41495/15 "2021-04-22T18:10:30Z")
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