Best Objectech Shareware Selections/UNTITLED.iso/boss/refe/soft/004/chapt5.

Text File | 1992-03-03 | 9KB | 259 lines

                            CHAPTER 5

                      KEYBOARD MACROS
             Using the F Function Keys (F1 to F10)

        ▀  Keyboard Macros
        ▀  Redefining Keys
        ▀  Writing Scan Codes
        ▀  One Keystroke Commands



        MACROS ARE DESIGNED TO SAVE KEYSTROKES.
        You can put one or several strings of command
        together and assign them as one group to one of
        the keys. When that key is struck it will carry
        out (execute) all the commands you assigned to that key.

        The F function keys (F1 to F10) are the keys most used
        for storing the Macros (Commands). The ten F function keys
        are also used in  combination with the Shift key, Control key,
        and the Alt key. This gives 40 possible Macros that you can
        make.

        The F keys (F1 to F10) when used by themselves  make
        a single keystroke Macro. This means that if you assign the F1
        key the command to Format a disk, then when you strike the
        F1 key it will Format a disk. It does not require that you press
        the Enter key. Most Macros include the automatic carriage
        return which is the same as pressing the Enter key.

        When you combine an F key with the Shift key  you make a
        two-keystroke Macro. To use a Shift-F key Macro you press
        and hold down the Shift key and then strike the F key.

        REDEFINING KEYS
        Redefining keys means changing the content of the key
        to represent something different from the function assigned
        to that key: For example, you can change the F1 function key
        (top row) to mean Copy, Format, or anything you like. The
        name of the key will still be F1, but you have changed the
        contents of F1 so that when you strike the F1 key it may Copy
        a file, Format a disk, or something else.

        Redefining keys is a good way  of putting commands in
        keys that you don't use and make them a super Speed key that
        uses only one keystroke. Most Macros use the F keys first, then
        a combination then the Alt-F keys and Shift-F keys.

        Since these F keys will be used only for a particular
        command you can make the key have an Automatic Return.
        This means that when you strike a particular F key it will
        automatically trigger the return key.  All you need to do is
        strike one key and the command goes into action.  This type
        of key is called a single keystroke Macro. The F-key
        combinations (SHIFT-F1) are two keystroke Macros.



                             -16-





        Macros are easily cancelled and can be redefined and
        made into another Macro. There are temporary Macros that
        you can create as you need them, and there are the permanent
        Macros that are stored on your disk.


        MACROS ARE FAST AND DO THE JOB
        Macros save keystrokes.
        Macros are used in almost all word processing programs,
        spreadsheets, database, and most other programs.

        A NOTE ABOUT F KEYS
        If you use the F6 key as a Macro you can make an  F6 by
        using Ctrl + Z keys. This is the same as striking the F6 key.
        This is important when writing Batch files  where the F6 key
        is used to end a line of text.

        EVERY KEY ON THE KEYBOARD HAS A CODE NUMBER
        By using the number (called a Scan Code) corresponding
        to the key you can change the content (assignment) of that
        key. The keyboard Scan Code for the F1 key is 0;59, F2 is 0;60,
        F3 is 0;61 and so forth to F10 which is 0;68.
        Table 1 is a list of redefinition code numbers (scan codes)
        to be used in redefining the F keys and combinations of F keys.


                     TABLE OF KEY CODES

   F-Key Code   SHIFT-F  CODE   CTRL-F   CODE     ALT-F  CODE

   F1    0;59   SH-F1   0;84   Ctrl-F1  0;94   Alt-F1   0;104
   F2    0;60   SH-F2   0;85   Ctrl-F2  0;95   Alt-F2   0;105
   F3    0;61   SH-F3   0;86   Ctrl-F3  0;96   Alt-F3   0;106
   F4    0;62   SH-F4   0;87   Ctrl-F4  0;97   Alt-F4   0;107
   F5    0;63   SH-F5   0;88   Ctrl-F5  0;98   Alt-F5   0;108

   F6    0;64   SH-F6   0;89   Ctrl-F6  0;99   Alt-F6   0;109
   F7    0;65   SH-F7   0;90   Ctrl-F7  0;100  Alt-F7   0;110
   F8    0;66   SH-F8   0;91   Ctrl-F8  0;101  Alt-F8   0;111
   F9    0;67   SH-F9   0;92   Ctrl-F9  0;102  Alt-F9   0;112
   F10   0;68   SH-F10  0;93   Ctrl-F10 0;103  Alt-F10  0;113

   F11  0;133   Home Key 0;71  Down Arrow 0;80
   F12  0;134   Up Arrow 0;7


        WRITING SCAN CODES
        All code numbers are always separated by a semicolon.
        All codes must have this Prompt Escape sign:
        Prompt $e[   .....
        There are four items to remember in using the Escape
        sign, they are:
        ▀ Prompt $e[
        ▀ semicolon (;)
        ▀ The small "p"   (tells DOS that it is end of file)
        ▀ The number 13 is the code for carriage return
        (Same as pressing the Enter key.)

                             -17-





        Remember these four items and you'll have no problems with
        Macros or Key definition (Changes).

        HERE'S AN EXAMPLE
        Prompt $e[  0;59; "DIR";  13 p $p$g

        Putting them together it looks like this:

        Prompt $e[0;59;"DIR";13p  $p$g

        The quotation marks tell the computer that the item in quotes
            is not an ASCII character.
        ▀ The $p$g gives you a prompt A:\>, and saves you
            from having to type the word prompt.
        ▀ The small "p" tells the computer that it is the end of
            the string of numbers and letters.
        ▀ The small "p" must always be the last item when you
            are using key functions.
        ▀ The character 13 is the code for carriage return
            (same as pressing the Enter key).

        HOW TO USE THE CODE NUMBERS
        Suppose you want to make the F1 key into the Directory
        so that each time you press the F1 key the directory of the disk
        in drive A would appear on the screen. You make the change
        like this:

                Prompt $e[0;59;"DIR";13p  $p$g
                    <Press the Enter Key.>

        When you press the F1 key the computer automatically
        "presses" the Enter key for you and the contents of the
        directory appears on the screen. The F1 key will remain active
        until you either cancel it or turn off the computer.
        To make the F1 Macro permanent you must put it in the
        Autoexec.Bat File.

        AUTOEXC.BAT FILES AND LOADING THE F FUNCTION KEYS WITH
        MACROS IS PRESENTED IN DISK #2.

        HOW TO CANCEL AN F KEY
        The rule in cancelling any key that has been
        redefined (changed) is to repeat the same scan code like
        this:

                Prompt $e[0;59;0;59p  $p$g
                 <Press the Enter Key.>
        The key is back to its normal F1 function.


        WRITING A BAT FILE FOR THE DATE AND TIME
        Type the following next to the A:\> prompt, like this:

                Copy Con DT.Bat
                Prompt $e[1;32;45m $d $t $g
                Press F6 Key, then press Enter key.
------------



                             -18-





        PUTTING THE DT BAT FILE INTO A MACRO  (See disk #2 below)
        The Date-Time Bat file will be stored in
        the Up arrow key. The scan code for the Up arrow is
        0;72.