Character Input

From OESF

Revision as of 02:30, 29 November 2004

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.

Last updated: 2002.Mar.28

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

Last updated: 2002.Mar.28

• 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: 2002.Mar.28

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

• 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 .

Last updated: 2002.Mar.28

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

• 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 .

Last updated: 2002.Apr.01

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

• 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

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.

Last updated: 2002.Mar.28

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

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: 2002.Apr.01