Keyboard Plus

Are you stuck with an ISO or Powerbook Keyboard, and missing the extra keys from the Extended Keyboard? Then Keyboard PLUS might be the solution. It let's you install emulators for most of those extra keys. These emulators can be used troughout all the programs you work with. The keys you can emulate include: F1 to F15, Page Up, Page Down, Home, End and Insert/Help. The cursor keys are included to make it possible to create a 'navigation' numeric keypad. The keys from the numeric keypad are included to give vt100 functionality to a Powerbook keyboard.
To make toggling between the normal keyboard functionality and the extended functionality provided by Keyboard PLUS easy, it has a build in PlusLock key, the equivalent of the CapsLock key.

How does it work?

An emulator consists of one key plus an optional set of modifiers. When you type this key along with the modifiers, Keyboard PLUS will transform it into a function key. Modifiers part of the emulator are removed, additional modifiers are left untouched. As an example, suppose you have installed Option-1 as an emulator for F1. Option-1 will then be transformed to F1, Shift-Option-1 will be transformed to Shift-F1.
By using different modifiers you can install multiple emulators on one key, for example Ctrl-1 for F1 and Option-1 for F11. There is an internal ordering: Ctrl > Option > Shift > Cmd. For the previous example this means that pressing Ctrl-Option-1 will be transformed to Option-F1.

The PlusLock mechanism

The PlusLock mechanism serves as an easy way to turn Keyboard PLUS on and off. When it's off, all keys will function as if Keyboard PLUS does not exist.

Installing emulators

In the Keyboard PLUS control panel you will find a list of all the keys that can be emulated. Above the list you'll see the currently installed key-combination (if any) to emulate the key selected in the list.You can remove the emulation or install a different key-combination. To install a key-combination, click on Set Key..., or double-click on the item in the list.
Scrolling through the list with Up, Down, Page Up, Page Down, Home and End is possible. Left and Right will select the previous or next item in the list. 

Preferences

Use the preferences-dialog to customize Keyboard PLUS.
1) You can specify if and where you want to see an indicator in the MenuBar when PlusLock is active.
2) You can specify if you want PlusLock to be activated automatically after the Mac has started.
The preferences, along with all the defined emulators, are stored in a file named 'Keyboard PLUS prefs' in the Preferences folder (or the System folder in case you're running System 6). If this file is missing or is created by v1.0.2 or earlier, Keyboard PLUS will take a default set of emulators, designed to work on a ISO-keyboard.

Be careful...

Because I wanted Keyboard PLUS to be as flexible as possible, I have put no constraints on the keys that can be used in an emulator. However, in some cases it doesn't seem to be a very good idea to use  for example Enter, Backspace or one of the cursor keys in an emulator.

Compatibility

Keyboard PLUS is designed to work with any Macintosh and any keyboard, provided you run System 6.0.4 or higher. It has been tested on a range of  machines, including desktop- and powerbook-models. I can give no guarantees however for any particular configuration.
Keyboard PLUS works well with QuicKeys™ now, but only if it is loaded before QuicKeys™.

The author

Keyboard PLUS was written by me, Berrie Kremers. Until October 31th 1994 I can be reached at:
     Prof. Cobbenhagenlaan 464
     5037 DJ  Tilburg
     The Netherlands
Starting November 1th 1994  I can be reached at:
     Remise 4
     4207 BC  Gorinchem
     The Netherlands
or via e-mail (for as long as they let me use this address):
     berrie@kub.nl

Why pay for it?

Keyboard PLUS is shareware, not free. The registration fee is $15. This will give you permission to use all the shareware programs I have written so far and will write in the future! You will receive a disk containing the latest versions of all the shareware software I have developed. To those who have ever payed me before: feel free to use Keyboard PLUS.
It is also possible to obtain a site license for $75.
Unfortunately I can only accept payments in cash: cashing $15 checks makes banks rich and us poor!

Thank you

Thanks to: James W. Walker for providing the Help functionality.

Disclaimer

Keyboard PLUS is provided as is. The author will take no responsability for damage or problems caused by the use of it.