Copyright 1991 Sudden Incorporated, Rod Coleman Keyboard Details Even though much of the information from this section is scattered throughout the documentation, this file describes all keyboard functions in one place. First I present the difference between Data, Control and Power keys which is followed by a description of the Dedicated Control Keys and then the Power key definitions. Data, Control and Power Keys A computer keyboard has two type of keys, data keys, and control keys. They are sometimes used in combination to define Power key features which extends the control function of the keyboard. The data keys are the keys used to enter data into the computer and comprise the alpha keys (A through Z and a through z), the number keys (0 through 9) and all of the special character keys (!@#$%^&*()_++~?><,./-=`.). Sudden View uses these keys in a normal manner except that they can be used in combination with the Alternate key to reverse the logic of Implied Editing Action. See Editing Text. The dedicated control keys are the cursor keys, Insert, Delete, Backspace, Escape, Tab, Help and Undo as well as the Function keys. These control keys and the data keys as defined above, are used in conjunction with the Shift and Alternate keys to perform standard control functions. Sudden View does not use the Function keys. In some cases, these control keys are combined with certain data keys so the user can more quickly execute some control function. These are referred to as Power keys. The speed or "power" of a Power key is dependant upon how fast the user can activate the function. This in turn depends upon the current position of the user's hands. If the user is positioning the cursor or arranging text blocks, the mouse is the best tool. It makes the process easier to visualize and requires less thinking. If the user is entering or editing text, his hands should be as close as possible to the home row. This is where Sudden View's Power Keys come in. The left four alpha keys in all three rows are mapped into often used editing functions when the Control key is held. This allows for very fast control of the program for these often used cursor positioning and editing functions. If all of this seems too complicated, you can do most of the same functions using the dedicated control keys (cursor, Insert, Delete, etc.). They are not as fast, but they are easier to remember. I'll present them first. Dedicated Control Keys Normal Shift Alternate ________________________________________________ Up arrow Cursor up Cursor up Window up 1 char 1 screen 1 line Down arrow Cursor dn Cursor dn Window dn 1 char 1 screen 1 line Left arrow Cursor lft Cursor lft Window lft 1 char 1 word 1 char Right arrow Cursor rgt Cursor rgt Window rgt 1 char 1 word 1 char Escape (Esc) Escape process Tab Next field Last field boundary boundary Backspace Backspace/ Join Fields/ Join Sentence Backspace Delete Delete char Delete line Delete Word Insert Insert space Insert line Insert line same format adopt format Clr/Home Goto top Goto bottom of file of file Help Toggle help screen Undo Paste buffer Power Keys Definitions The keyboard and mouse are two devices typically used to control a computer. The mouse is very good at placing the cursor, or dragging a text block around the screen; but becomes clumsy if you only need to move the cursor a couple of spaces, or delete a single character. On the other hand, the keyboard is better for simple cursor movement or menu selection; but was primarily designed for data entry. Because of this, the data keys (A through Z, 0 through 9 and special characters) are sometimes used in combination with the Control, Alternate and Shift keys to control the computer. These key combinations are sometimes called "Power Keys" since they are so fast to activate, and tend to be preferred by users who want lots of computer power - power uses. Some programs define hundreds of these Power Keys which tends to "overload" certain combinations. Both of these factors can make learning to use power keys a real challenge. Sudden View has taken a more conservative approach to power keys and only defines a few, very often used ones, along with something called the Power Menu, which generally replaces most power keys definitions with a much easier to learn process (see Power Menu under Selecting Functions). Sudden View's Power Keys will do most of the above dedicated control functions, plus a few extra. They are by far the fastest way to control the editing process. All Sudden View Power Key activation requires that the Control key is held down in the same fashion that the Shift key is generally applied. The layout of the Power Keys follows a logical pattern. The cursor functions are activated using the A, S, D and W keys which form an inverted "T", just like the cursor pad. The Insert Character function uses the E key, which is directly above the D key; the Delete Character function is below the D key using the C key. In the same manner, the Insert and Delete Line are above and below the F key using the R and V keys respectively. The F key is the Undo function. The only other Power Key is Control M for Escape which is discussed with the Power menu. You may notice that all of the delete functions are on the bottom row and all of the insert functions are on the top row. Once you see these patterns, learning Sudden View's Power Keys is fast. The following chart may help in the process or just hit the Help key anytime. Power Key Layout Q W E R Adopt Ins Line Up Arrow Ins Space Ins Line A S D F Left Arrow Dn Arrow Rgt Arrow Undo Z X C V Delete Field Del Word Del Char Del Line You will find that the Clr/Home key is not mapped into the Power Keys, but a couple of extra Delete functions are (they are more likely to be used). Also there is a subtle difference in the way that the "Left Arrow" and "Right Arrow" works for the Power Keys. If you use "Control D" to move the cursor right when it is over the last character of a word-wrapped field, and there is more of the paragraph on the line below, the cursor will be moved to the first character of the same column on the line below. "Control A" will act in the corresponding way and track to the line above when it is in the first position of a word-wrapped column with more text above. Try it; you'll see what I mean. The dedicated cursor pad does not have this feature (it's a bit non-standard, and the casual users won't notice it this way). Power Keys Functions Control Ctrl/Shift Ctrl/Alt _________________________________________________ W Cursor up Cursor up Window up 1 char 1 screen 1 line S Cursor dn Cursor dn Window dn 1 char 1 screen 1 line A Cursor lft Cursor lft Window lft 1 char 1 word 1 char D Cursor rgt Cursor rgt Window rgt 1 char 1 word 1 char F Undo Q Adopt/Ins Line E Insert Char R Insert Line Z Delete Field X Delete Word C Delete Char V Delete Line M Escape (see Power Menu)