home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- %OP%TM1
- %OP%HM0
- %OP%FM0
- %OP%BM4
- %OP%LM1
- %OP%FC0,1
- %CO:A,6,84%%H2%Redifining Function Keys (or letter keys).%H2%
-
- The key arrangement is very personal, and no two people will agree about the layout
- of the possible 48 choices. I must confess I do not see the logic behind the
- default set, but no doubt Coltonsoft thought a great deal before finalising it. As
- a rule, Pipedream will be used most for text processing, and I felt it would be
- most helpful to me if such things as "Swap Case" and "Format Paragraph" and all the
- commonest text processing commands were on the bottom row.
-
- Although the User Guide and the index are both excellent, there is a serious lapse
- on page 325 where the method for redefining the function keys is anything but
- clear. The following is the method I have worked out. It may seem very
- long-winded and you may feel you can devise some short cuts. If you can, I should
- be glad to hear of them. There are slight variations possible (for example by
- using the mouse in a different way) but in general, I believe that the method I
- describe is as efficient as can be devised. I am assuming many keys are to be
- redefined but the method can be used to change even one key. Of course, if you do
- not wish to preserve the new command, none of the storing described below need be
- carried out. Just use the define function key command in the Cursor menu.
-
- 1. First of all, draw a plan of the Function key arrangement you wish to have.
-
- 2. Now using a blank grid, copy this plan by entering in each grid space the
- command sequence required to give you the desired operation. These commands are
- set out on pages 222-226 in the third column. For example if you wish F1 to be
- "Swap Case" then in this lower left grid space write: \SS|m . In effect you have
- written commands for "control" (\); "Swap Case" (SS); and "Enter" (|m).
-
- 3. Continue for the other keys. When completed you will have two grids; one with
- the new layout in words, and one with the layout in command sequences.
-
- 4. Start with a blank (default) window.
-
- 5. Press menu on the mouse, click select on Cursor, then again on "Record macro
- file". You will be asked to type in a file name eg "key". Select OK. A tick will
- be placed against "Record macro file" and you will be back to a blank window.
-
- 6. Hold down control, and press C,D,F in sequence. Thus brings up the function
- key window. (Don't use the mouse - see later).
-
- 7. If not showing F1 use the mouse pointer on the arrow to bring F1 into the
- window. Now position the pointer carefully over the up arrow and leave it there
- for the rest of the exercise.
-
- 8. Type in the command you have written on your grid layout - in my example type
- \SS|m. Then press "return" on the keyboard. This has the effect of writing the
- command into the data file currently stored in memory.
-
- 9. The screen is blank so repeat (6).
-
- 10. The window will still show F1 and the command just typed in. If you have been
- careful, the mouse pointer will still be over the up-arrow. Press select without
- moving the mouse. This gives F2. Delete the previous command and type in the next
- one for F2. Press return on the keyboard.
-
- 11. Repeat the process for the other keys, leap frogging any you do not wish to
- change. Do not make any mistakes which will be stored as data. ie. once you press
- "return" that's it! (Mistakes can be edited later.)
-
- 12. When you have finished, select Cursor on the menu and again select "Record
- macro file". All the data is now stored on disc in the current directory as a
- data file under the name "key". The tick will disappear from "record macro file".
-
- 13. The file "key" can be left where it is and dragged into the current window to
- convert the function keys to the new set. Alternatively it can be stored as
- !Pipedream.key when it will automatically set the keys at start up.
-
- 14. The data file can be viewed and edited as follows: The directory containing
- "key" should be on the screen.
-
- 15. Drag the "key" icon on to the Pipedream icon on the icon bar and release. A
- window will open showing all the key command strings, one per line. Position the
- caret against any misprints, delete and correct them, then save the whole file by
- clicking on save in the Files menu in the usual way.
-
- %CO:B,12,72%%CO:C,12,66%%CO:D,12,54%%CO:E,12,42%%CO:F,12,30%%CO:G,12,18%%CO:H,6,6%