Character Input

From OESF

Current revision

I think my FN key is stuck / I can't type normal characters on the keyboard!

• NUM-lock is activated
  

A small http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/shot_taskbar_numlock.gif should be visible on the very bottom right of the screen (to the right of the current time, on the taskbar). Pushing 'NUM-lock' (press http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png + http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_quest.png ) again will disable function lock: the should disappear, and the keys will work as expected. This is only an issue on the vertical-screen models, the clamshells have dedicated number keys.
Source: Benoit Gariod
Last updated: 2004.Mar.14

I think my SHIFT key is stuck / I can't type lowercase characters on the keyboard!

• CAPS-lock is activated
  

A small http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/shot_taskbar_capslock.gif should be visible on the very bottom right of the screen (to the right of the current time, on the taskbar). Pushing 'CAPS-lock' (press http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png + http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_tab.png again will disable caps-lock: the http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/shot_taskbar_capslock.gif should disappear, and the keys will work as expected.

Last updated: 2002.Mar.28

How do I make a | (vertical bar, or pipe) using the keyboard?

• Qtopia: Press SHIFT + SPACE
  

In Qtopia (the normal, graphical environment), hold one of the http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png keys and push http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_space.png .
On the clamshell models (C-750 to 860), you can hold the http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png key and push L.

• Console: Press FN + SPACE
  

In text-only console mode, push or hold the http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png key and push http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_space.png .

Last updated: 2004.Dec.14

How do I make [ and ] (brackets) using the keyboard?

• On the SL5x00 models, Press SHIFT + FN and Del or Comma
  

To get an open bracket ("["), push and hold http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png and http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png , and press http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_del.png .
To get a close bracket ("]"), push and hold http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png and http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png , and press http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_comma.png .

• On the SL-Cxx0 models, Press FN and T or Y
  

To get an open bracket ("["), push and hold http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png , and press T.
To get a close bracket ("]"), push and hold http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png , and press Y.
Last updated: 2004.Dec.12

How do I make { and } (braces) using the keyboard?

• On the SL5x00 models, Press SHIFT + FN + < and >
  

To get an open brace ("{"), push and hold http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png and http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png , and press http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_period.png .
To get a close brace ("}"), push and hold http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png and http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png , and press http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_enter.png .

• On the SL-Cxx0 models (cacko ROM), you can also press FN + O and P
  

To get an open brace ("{"), push and hold http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png, and press O.
To get a close brace ("}"), push and hold http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png and press P.

Source: Benoit Gariod
Last updated: 2004.Dec.14

How do I make a ` (grave) using the keyboard?

• On the SL5x00 models, press SHIFT + FN + Space
  

To get a grave ("`"; normally left of the 1 key on US keyboards), push and hold http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png and http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png , and press http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_space.png.
Source: Stefan Kremer
Last updated: 2002.Apr.17

• On the SL-Cxx0 models, press SHIFT + FN + -
  

To get a grave, push and hold http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png and http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png , and press [-], just left of the http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_space.png.
Source: Benoit Gariod
Last updated: 2004.Dec.14

• On the SL-C3x00 models, press SHIFT + -
  

To get a grave, push and hold http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png, and press [-], just left of the http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_space.png.

How do I make a ^ (caret) using the keyboard?

• Press SHIFT + FN + Quote
  

To get a carat ("^"), push and hold http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png and http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png , and press http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_quote.png .

Source: Stefan Kremer
Last updated: 2002.Apr.17

How do I make a (backslash) using the keyboard?

• Press SHIFT + TAB
  

Hold http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png and press http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_tab.png . Note: This doesn't work in single-line input fields or some versions of the http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/icon_terminal.png !

Source: (Many people)
Last updated: 2002.Nov.21

• Get 'Custom Input' application
  

The Custom Input application lets you set up customized keyboard shortcuts on the hardware keyboard (as well as customize the on-screen keyboard.)

Source: Colin Pinkney
Last updated: 2002.Aug.05

Where's the Escape key?

• Press Cancel
  

The http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_cancel.png button on the panel acts as the Escape key.

• Press FN + BS (SL-C3x00)
  

Some programs (like vi) use http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png + http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_del.png as the escape key on the SL-C3x00 models.

Last updated: 2005.Sep.02

How do I send CONTROL characters (to the Terminal, for example) using the keyboard?

• Press FN + SHIFT + Key
  

In Qtopia, all CONTROL-A through CONTROL-Z characters (except CONTROL-C) can be sent by holding both http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png and http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png while pressing the letter.

CONTROL-C can be made by pushing just http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png and http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_c.png .

(CONTROL-Z, -X, and -V can be entered with just http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png , as well)

Applies to: QWERTY keyboard models
Last updated: 2002.Apr.05

Can I use a regular or stow-away keyboard with the Zaurus?

• PocketTop folding IR keyboard
  

A keyboard for iPAQs that also officially supports the Zaurus. Folds in two halves. About USD$90 from PocketTop.net

• Targus Universal IR keyboard
  

While not supported by Targus, a third party IRK driver can be installed on Zaurus to use the Targus keyboard.

Last updated: 2003.Jun.09

• Man and Machine rolling wired keyboard
  

A rubbery keyboard that can roll up like a newspaper. FX100, about USD$80.

Last updated: 2003.Jun.09

• Others, possibly using Linux/iPAQ software
  

But the Zaurus has a serial port, so something like the ThinkOutside Stowaway keyboard for the Palm could be used, as there's a hack to connect it to iPaq PDAs running Linux. (See this and this.)

Source: Brian J. Fox
Last updated: 2004.Dec.14

Do I have to type out these long commands all the time/is there a faster way to change directories while using the terminal?

• use tab completion

The Zaurus has tab complition just like desktop linux boxes. Just type part of the name of the directory or command and hit the http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_tab.png key (its right next to the http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png key) If there are more than one matching command or directory it'll beep at you and you can hit the tab key twice to see all the matches. On the Cacko ROM, you can press http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png key and [5]

Source: w8tvi
Last updated: 2004.Dec.14

How do I enter the pound sterling (£) symbol on the keyboard?

• Press and release the http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png key. Then press http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png + E together (Shift + E). (Pressing FN+Shift+E all together does not work)

The UK Zaurii have a pound symbol above the E key pointing to this keyboard shortcut, however it should work on all US Sharp ROMs also.

Source: tumnus
Last updated: 2004.Dec.14

How do I enter the Euro symbol on the keyboard?

• Press and release the http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png key. Then press http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png + R together (Shift + R). (Pressing FN+Shift+R all together does not work)

The UK Zaurii have a Euro symbol above the R key pointing to this keyboard shortcut, however it should work on all US Sharp ROMs also.

Source: tumnus
Last updated: 2003.Oct.07

• On Sharp Zaurus C3200 (SharpROM 1.02JP with Linux Kernel 2.4.20 and Qtopia 1.5.4), press and release the http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png key. Then press http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png + E together (Shift + E). (Pressing FN+Shift+E all together does not work)

Last updated: 2006.Aug.24

How do I send CTRL+C in the console (i.e. without Qtopia running)

• Strangely this is the Calendar button + C.

Source: tumnus
Last updated: 2003.Oct.08

I've upgraded to the Sharp 3.10 ROM (or one of it's alternatives - tkcROM, etc), and I no longer have the pickboard. How do I get it back?

• The word library is missing
  

Install the Word Game ipk, that's where the word library is located.

Source: gerrynjr
Last updated: 2004.Dec.14

Does the Zaurus keyboard have a Caps Lock or Num Lock feature?

• Yes both Caps Lock and Num Lock
  

To turn on Caps Lock, press http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png + http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_tab.png . A small 'c' should appear to the right of the clock, indicating it is on. To turn it off, press http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png + http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_tab.png again.

To turn on Num Lock, press http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png +'/?'. A small 'N' should appear to the right of the clock, indicating it is on. To turn it off, press http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png +'/?' again.

How can I change the Keyboard Layout?

See Key Mappings.