Character Input
From OESF
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 <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png" alt="[Fn]" width=32 height=24 border=0 align=middle> + <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_quest.png" alt="[/?/Num]" width=32 height=24 border=0 align=middle>) 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 <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/shot_taskbar_capslock.gif" alt="'C'" width=12 height=12 border=0> 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 <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png" alt="[Fn]" width=32 height=24 border=0 align=middle> + <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_tab.png" alt="[Tab/Caps]" width=32 height=24 border=0 align=middle>) again will disable caps-lock: the <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/shot_taskbar_capslock.gif" alt="'C'" width=12 height=12 border=0> 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 <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png" alt="[Shift]" width=16 height=16 border=0 align=middle> keys and push <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_space.png" alt="[Space]" width=64 height=24 border=0 align=middle>.
Last updated: 2002.Mar.28
- Console: Press FN + SPACE
In text-only console mode, push or hold the <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png" alt="[Fn]" width=32 height=24 border=0 align=middle> key and push <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_space.png" alt="[Space]" width=64 height=24 border=0 align=middle>.
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 <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png" alt="[Shift]" width=16 height=16 border=0 align=middle> and <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png" alt="[Fn]" width=32 height=24 border=0 align=middle>, and press <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_del.png" alt="[Del/BKSP]" width=24 height=24 border=0 align=middle>.
To get a close bracket ("]"), push and hold <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png" alt="[Shift]" width=16 height=16 border=0 align=middle> and <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png" alt="[Fn]" width=32 height=24 border=0 align=middle>, and press <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_comma.png" alt="[,;/)]" width=24 height=24 border=0 align=middle>.
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 <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png" alt="[Shift]" width=16 height=16 border=0 align=middle> and <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png" alt="[Fn]" width=32 height=24 border=0 align=middle>, and press <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_period.png" alt="[.:/<]" width=32 height=24 border=0 align=middle>.
To get a close brace ("}"), push and hold <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png" alt="[Shift]" width=16 height=16 border=0 align=middle> and <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png" alt="[Fn]" width=32 height=24 border=0 align=middle>, and press <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_enter.png" alt="[Enter/>]" width=32 height=24 border=0 align=middle>.
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 <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png" alt="[Shift]" width=16 height=16 border=0 align=middle> and <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png" alt="[Fn]" width=32 height=24 border=0 align=middle>, and press <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_space.png" alt="[Space]" width=64 height=24 border=0 align=middle>.
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 <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png" alt="[Shift]" width=16 height=16 border=0 align=middle> and <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png" alt="[Fn]" width=32 height=24 border=0 align=middle>, and press <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_quote.png" alt="[' /~]" width=32 height=24 border=0 align=middle>.
Source: Stefan Kremer
Last updated: 2002.Apr.17
How do I make a (backslash) using the keyboard?
- Press SHIFT + TAB
Hold <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png" alt="[Shift]" width=16 height=16 border=0 align=middle> and press <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_tab.png" alt="[Tab/Caps]" width=32 height=24 border=0 align=middle>. Note: This doesn't work in single-line input fields or some versions of the <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/icon_terminal.png" alt="'Terminal'" width=45 height=49 border=0 align=middle>!
Source: (Many people)
Last updated: 2002.Nov.21
- Get 'Custom Input' application
The <a href="http://www.blackie.dk/Zaurus/custominput/">Custom Input</a> 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 <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_cancel.png" alt="[Cancel/On/Off]" width=48 height=32 border=0 align=middle> 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 <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_shift.png" alt="[Shift]" width=16 height=16 border=0 align=middle> and <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png" alt="[Fn]" width=32 height=24 border=0 align=middle> while pressing the letter.
CONTROL-C can be made by pushing just <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png" alt="[Fn]" width=32 height=24 border=0 align=middle> and <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_c.png" alt="[C/Copy]" width=24 height=24 border=0 align=middle>.
(CONTROL-Z, -X, and -V can be entered with just <img src="http://www.oesf.org/faq/images/key_fn.png" alt="[Fn]" width=32 height=24 border=0 align=middle>, 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 <a href="http://www.pocketop.net/">PocketTop.net</a>
Last updated: 2003.Jun.09
- Man and Machine rolling wired keyboard
A rubbery keyboard that can roll up like a newspaper. <a href="http://www.man-machine.com/FX100%20Zaurus.htm">FX100</a>, 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 <a href="http://www.thinkoutside.com">ThinkOutside</a> Stowaway keyboard for the Palm could be used, as there's a hack to connect it to iPaq PDAs running Linux. (See <a href="http://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/~jpc1/linux/ipaq/serial.html">this</a> and <a href="http://www.iptel-now.de/HOWTO/SER_PALM_KBD/ser_palm_kbd.html">this</a>.)
Source: Brian J. Fox
Last updated: 2002.Apr.01
