3
Keyboard Configuration

This chapter describes how to configure the keyboard, define key functions and compose special characters.

Keyboard Mapping

The keyboard is mapped as close as possible to the terminal being emulated. An llustration showing the mapping of key functions on the 101/102 key Enhanced AT style keyboard layout is shown in each terminal emulation chapter.

Special key functions supported by each terminal emulation can be mapped to keys using the predefined macros listed in the Define Keyboard Macros dialog box as described in the next section.

Defining Key Functions

You can redefine the function of keys on the keyboard using the Define Keyboard Macros dialog box which is displayed by selecting Keyboard Macros in the Settings menu.

This enables you to redefine the function of most of the keys on your keyboard, including the key combinations listed below:

                                            Key
                                            Shift + Key
                                            Control + Key
                                            Control + Shift + Key
                                            Alt + Key
                                            Alt + Shift + Key
                                            Alt + Control + Key
                                            Alt + Control + Shift + Key

Each definition may contain a string of up to 127 characters. The combined total of all the characters that may be programmed into keys is determined by the 127 character limit per definition and the amount of memory available in your terminal.

The Predefined Macros box enables you to select from a list of standard functions associated with the current terminal emulation. Clicking the arrow button will display a list box in which the names of valid key functions (called virtual key names) are shown.

Note: The Virtual Key Names appendix lists all the functions and associated virtual key names for each terminal emulation.

Note that a virtual key name will be sent across a network as a single packet, whereas an escape sequence will be split into several packets. If a required function has a virtual key name equivalent, use this instead of the escape sequence.

A key definition may be actioned locally or transmitted to the host when the key or key combination is pressed. This is determined by the setting of the Local check box. When unchecked the definition will be transmitted to the host.

The Current Macro Definitions box displays the key and key combinations that are currently defined. You can remove the selected definition or delete all the definitions by clicking the relevant Remove button.

Defining A Key Or Key Combination

1. Click in the Program Key box then press the key or key combination to define. The current definition will be displayed.

2. Click in the With box then enter the new definition, or make a selection from the list of Predefined Macros then click Apply.

3. Check the Local check box to make the key definition action locally, or uncheck it to transmit the definition to the host when the key or key
combination is pressed.

4. Click the Add button to accept the definition. The new definition will be added to the Current Macro Definitions list.

Entering Control Characters

You can enter a control character either as the control key character equivalent or the decimal value of the ASCII character. For example, the control character for the Return key function, CR (carriage return), can be entered by typing the characters ^ and M, representing the keys Ctrl + M which, when pressed together would generate the CR code.

Decimal values are entered as three-digit numbers immediately preceded by an underscore character. Values with only two digits must be preceded by a zero. For example, the decimal value of CR is 13, so this would be entered as _013.

Refer to the ASCII character table in the Character Sets appendix for code and decimal references.

Key Combinations & Sequences

You can program a key to perform the function of a combination or sequence of keys. For example, you can cause the F1 key to perform the same function as pressing the keys Alt + F4 together, or pressing the keys F2 then F3 then F4.

Keys are identified by their virtual key names as listed in the Virtual Key Names appendix. The virtual key name has to be enclosed by the < and > characters in the key definition box. You may omit the VK_ and VT_ (etc.) parts of the virtual key name.

To program a key so that it performs the same function as pressing two or more other keys together, type the < character followed by the virtual key names linked together with + (plus sign) characters and ending with the > character.

For example, to program the F1 key so that when it is pressed it performs the same function as pressing the keys Alt + F4 together, enter the following characters in the key definition box:

<ALT+F4>

To program a key so that it performs the same function as pressing a sequence of keys one after the other, enter each virtual key name in the order required, enclosing each virtual key name with the < and > characters. Each enclosed virtual key name must immediately follow the previous enclosed virtual key name with no spaces. For example, to program the A key so that when it is pressed it performs the same function as pressing the keys F2 then F3 then F4 enter the following characters in the key definition box:

Compose Character Sequences

Compose character sequences can be used to generate codes for characters not shown on your keyboard. The characters that can be composed depend on the setting of the Character Set Mode option in the Emulation Settings dialog box and the Preferred Char. Set option in the Terminal Settings dialog box.

When Character Set Mode is is set to National, only characters found in the character set that corresponds to the selected keyboard nationality can be composed. When Multinational is selected, the emulator is in Multinational mode and characters from all national keyboard layouts may be composed.

The tables of characters that are used in Multinational mode depend on the setting of the Preferred Char. Set option. When this is set to DEC-MCS, the ASCII (7-bit) and DEC Additional (8-bit) character sets are used. When this option is set to ISO Latin-1, the ASCII (7-bit) and ISO Latin-1 Additional (8-bit) character sets are used. The Character Sets appendix shows all the tables of characters that may be selected.

If a character is a diacritical symbol (e.g. ´ or ¨) and this symbol does not appear on the keyboard, an equivalent character can be used in some cases. The diacritical symbols and the possible substitutes are shown below. There are no equivalents for the circumflex accent and tilde mark.

Diacritical Mark Equivalent Character

                         ´     Acute accent                  '      Apostrophe
                         ¨     Umlaut                          "     Double quote
                         `     Grave accent                  '      Single quote
                         °     Ring mark                     *    Asterisk or degree sign

To compose a character, first find the character you wish to compose in the left hand column of the following tables. The two characters shown in the right hand column are the keys that are used to create it. Several alternatives may be given for generating the same character. A compose sequence is initiated by pressing the keys Alt + C together, followed by the key bearing the first character then the key bearing the second character.

Note: The compose character sequence can also be initiated by pressing a key defined with the COMPOSE virtual key name.

A compose character sequence may be abandoned before completion by pressing the Delete key. Pressing Alt + C (or the key defined with the COMPOSE virtual key name) again before completing a compose character sequence will cause it to be abandoned and a second sequence to be started. An invalid compose character sequence will cause the bell to sound.

The following tables use several conventions:

The keys bearing the characters used to compose a special character may be pressed in any order unless (in order) is specified.

(DEC Multinat.) indicates that the character can only be composed if the Character Set Mode option in the Emulation Settings dialog box is set to Multinational, and the Preferred Char. Set option in the Terminal Settings dialog box is set to DEC-MCS.

(Latin-1) indicates that the character can only be composed if the Character Set Mode option in the Emulation Settings dialog box is set to Multinational and the Preferred Char. Set option in the Terminal Settings dialog box is set to ISO Latin-1.

If a nationality is specified with the character description, for example (Dutch), then the character can only be composed when the Character Set Mode option in the Emulation Settings dialog box is set to National and the system is configured for the relevant language.

COMPOSE CHARACTER SEQUENCES

COMPOSE CHARACTER SEQUENCES (continued)