VS Code - Need a way to add shortcut key <esc> to close the panel if the panel has focus

Question

Currently in the process of coding MQL4/5 in VSCode because of the awesome extensions. Finding that a few of the (my) most used keyboard shortcuts are actually configurable. Looking for a short answer to emulate the Esc keypress after compiling source. My screen is large and having to hunt down the little x at the lower right corner is the only way I found but not preferable.

Panel is open:

Press Esc

Terminal closes:

Answer 1

To close the entire panel if it has focus, you can use this keybind in your keybindings.json:

    {
        "key": "escape",
        "command": "workbench.action.closePanel",
        "when": "panelFocus"
    }

This will work problemlessly with most panel tabs, like Output. It might not work with Terminal if your setup is passing key presses to terminal. If so, you need to look at terminal.integrated.commandsToSkipShell setting and add workbench.action.closePanel there.

You should also check out:

• when contexts
• built-in commands, more specifically:

Note: You can review the full set of VS Code commands via the Keyboard Shortcuts editor File > Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts. The Keyboard Shortcuts editor lists all commands built into VS Code or contributed by extensions, along with their keybindings and visibility when clauses.

Answer 2

If you're using vim mode, you need to add a when context like this:

    {
        "key": "escape",
        "command": "workbench.action.closePanel",
        "when": "view.terminal.visible"
    }

Without this you never went out of insert mode using escape key.