F Keys Altenartives on OS/2 - ArcaOS

[Martin Iturbide]

Hello

Some modern PCs keyboards and laptops are suffering of a lack of F keys. Sometimes they replaced with hardware functionality (with an special Fn key) and sometimes they are just gone. Independently if we like it or not, and knowing that there is always a work around to get a full key keyboard, I was wondering if there should be some alternative for the F keys in OS/2.

I this list of shortcuts we have in ArcaOS for reference. (Any other thing to add there is welcome)

As a brainstorm question.
- Should we have additional alternatives to the "Alt + Funtions Keys" in OS/2?
- Did someone find some workaround for this kind of keyboards?

Regards

[Andrew Stephenson]

Some modern PCs keyboards and laptops are suffering of a lack of F keys. Sometimes they replaced with hardware functionality (with an special Fn key) and sometimes they are just gone. Independently if we like it or not, and knowing that there is always a work around to get a full key keyboard, I was wondering if there should be some alternative for the F keys in OS/2.

ISTR that key combos like "Alt+F4" were part of a command set introduced by IBM called "SAA" ("something-something-Architecture"), to eliminate keystroke messes devised by an uncoordinated rabble of programmers. Maybe SAA is history by now (I don't know); but retaining as much of such notations as possible seems practical, even if the [ironic_grovel]All-Wise M$[/ironic_grovel] plans a different future for us.

To keep it simple, why not just buy a keyboard equipped with the keys you need, even if as a plug-in?

[Tom]

ISTR that key combos like "Alt+F4" were part of a command set introduced by IBM called "SAA" ("something-something-Architecture"), (...)

System Application Architecture

[ivan]

I must agree with Andrew about getting a sensible keyboard and since most, if not all laptops have USB ports, the simple answer is to use a USB keyboard.

[Martin Iturbide]

Hello

But, just as brainstorming, if I can set an alternative for Alt+F4, what do you think can be a good combination of keys to complement it?

Regard

[Pete2]

Control-Q

[Andrew Stephenson]

But, just as brainstorming, if I can set an alternative for Alt+F4, what do you think can be a good combination of keys to complement it?

Does the "AltGr" key get much use? Perhaps employ that as the "shift" key, with Pete2's suggestion of "Q" (for "quit", I assume).

IIRC, the IBM PC keyboard sends a mix of signals to the OS: printable symbols (abc 0123 &c) go as a key number which is translated into the actual symbol code according to the currently configured national keyboard; but shift keys go as status bits alongside key numbers.

So the keyboard always should send the full set of shift key information, no? The IBM 101-keyboard (as in USian m/cs) is extended in the UK to 102 keys (for GBP/£ sign), which would call for a key number that in the 101-kbd is not available. Whether those oddball kbds ensure a given symbol key sends the right key number, I dunno -- there's a lot of tomfoolery going on in the world of computing these days, IMHO.

If I got any of that wrong, would some kind soul set me straight? Ta.