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- DVORAK KEYBOARD LAYOUTS FOR MS-DOS
- ----------------------------------
- Microsoft distributes Dvorak keyboard layouts that make the most
- frequently typed characters on a keyboard more accessible to people
- who have difficulty using the standard "QWERTY" layout. There are
- three Dvorak layouts: one for two-handed users, one for people who
- type only with their left hand, and one for people who type only
- with their right hand. The left or right hand keyboard layouts can
- also be used by people who type with a wand.
-
- The MS-DOS Supplemental Disk includes the DVORAK.SYS file, which
- provides three new keyboard layouts for Microsoft MS-DOS.
-
- This document explains how to install these layouts and restore
- your original layout. It also provides illustrations of the layouts.
-
- WHAT IS A KEYBOARD LAYOUT?
- --------------------------
- A keyboard layout is a map or a definition of how keys are laid
- out on your keyboard. The keyboard layout you use is determined
- by software in your computer. The letters on your keys indicate
- the standard layout for your keyboard. There are many different
- keyboard layouts in use throughout the world. The one you ordinarily
- use depends on the country you are in or the language you use.
-
- DVORAK KEYBOARD LAYOUTS
- -----------------------
- Dvorak keyboard layouts are based on designs created by August
- Dvorak, a professor at the University of Washington during the
- 1930s and 1940s. Dr. Dvorak studied the way people type standard
- English, and determined the most common letter combinations. He
- then designed new keyboard layouts to speed up typing and reduce
- fatigue. These layouts, now called Dvorak or simplified keyboards,
- were initially developed for two-handed typists. Following World
- War II, Dvorak layouts were developed for typists who use the right
- or left hand alone.
-
- INSTALLING A DVORAK KEYBOARD LAYOUT FOR MS-DOS
- ----------------------------------------------
- The MS-DOS Supplemental Disk provides the DVORAK.SYS file. This
- file supports the Dvorak keyboard layouts for two-handed and
- single-handed typists who use MS-DOS 6.
-
- To install a United States (U.S.) Dvorak keyboard layout for MS-DOS:
-
- 1. Run the Setup program included with the Supplemental disk files.
- For example, if your Supplemental disk files are on a floppy
- disk for drive A, insert the disk in drive A, and change to
- that drive by typing the following at the command prompt:
-
- A:
-
- To run the Setup program, you need to specify the drive and directory
- to which you want to install the files. For example, if you want to
- install the files on drive C in a directory called SUPP, type
- the following at the command prompt:
-
- SETUP C:\SUPP
-
- Follow the instructions on your screen.
-
- 2. Copy the DVORAK.SYS file to the directory that contains your
- MS-DOS files. For example, if the file is in C:\SUPP and your
- MS-DOS files are contained in C:\DOS, type the following at
- the command prompt:
-
- COPY C:\SUPP\DVORAK.SYS C:\DOS\DVORAK.SYS
-
- 3. To begin using one of the new keyboard layouts, type the
- appropriate command (as shown in the table below) at the MS-DOS
- command prompt and press ENTER.
-
- Keyboard Layout Command
- ---------------------------------------------------------
- Two-handed Dvorak KEYB DV,,C:\DOS\DVORAK.SYS
-
- Right-handed Dvorak KEYB RH,,C:\DOS\DVORAK.SYS
-
- Left-handed Dvorak KEYB LH,,C:\DOS\DVORAK.SYS
-
- To load one of these keyboard layouts automatically when your
- computer starts, include the appropriate KEYB command in your
- AUTOEXEC.BAT file. The KEYB command should be placed after a
- PATH command that includes your MS-DOS directory. If your
- AUTOEXEC.BAT file includes the win or dosshell command, make
- sure the KEYB command comes before the WIN or DOSSHELL command.
-
- Once you have loaded one of the Dvorak layouts, you can easily
- switch between the Dvorak layout and the U.S. standard layout.
-
- * To switch back to the U.S. standard layout, press CTRL+ALT+F1.
-
- * To switch to the Dvorak layout, press CTRL+ALT+F2.
-
- * To disable the United States (U.S.) Dvorak keyboard layout
- for MS-DOS
-
- * To disable the United States (U.S.) Dvorak keyboard layout
- for MS-DOS, delete the line with the KEYB command from your
- AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
-
- LEARNING TO USE THE DVORAK KEYBOARD LAYOUTS
- -------------------------------------------
- The illustrations on the next page can help you learn a new
- keyboard layout. You may want to take a class or purchase stickers
- to put on your keys so you see the new layout as you type. For
- information about classes and stickers, contact:
-
- KEYTIME
- 4516 NE 54th St.
- Seattle, WA 98105-2933
- (206) 324-7219 (voice and fax)
-
- DVORAK KEYBOARD LAYOUTS FOR WINDOWS
- -----------------------------------
- Microsoft also provides Dvorak keyboard layouts for Microsoft
- Windows, Microsoft Windows for Workgroups and Microsoft
- Windows NT. Windows includes the Dvorak keyboard layout for
- two-handed typists. The Dvorak layouts for single-handed typists
- are available on the GA0650.ZIP file. If you have a modem,
- you can download the GA0650.ZIP file from network services,
- including the following:
-
- * CompuServe
-
- * GEnie
-
- * Microsoft OnLine
-
- * Microsoft Download Service (MSDL), which you can reach in the
- United States by calling (206) 936-6735 or in Canada by calling
- (416) 507-3022. Use a baud rate of 1200, 2400, or 9600, no parity bit,
- 8 data bits, and 1 stop bit. The file containing the layouts on
- MSDL is named GA0650.EXE.
-
- * Various user-group bulletin boards (such as the bulletin-board
- services on the Association of PC User Groups network)
-
- Users within the United States who do not have a modem can order
- application note GA0650 by calling Microsoft Product Support
- Services at (206) 637-7098 or (206) 635-4948 (text telephone).
-
- NOTE: If you use MS-DOS-based applications with Windows, you must
- install the Dvorak layouts for MS-DOS to get Dvorak support for
- those applications.
-
-
- STANDARD QWERTY KEYBOARD LAYOUT
- --------------------------------------------
- ~ ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) _ +
- ` 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 - = bks
- --------------------------------------------
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- --------------------------------------------
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- --------------------------------------------
- < > ?
- shft Z X C V B N M , . / shft
- --------------------------------------------
-
-
- TWO-HANDED DVORAK KEYBOARD LAYOUT
- --------------------------------------------
- ~ ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) { }
- ` 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 [ ] bks
- --------------------------------------------
- " < > ? +
- tb ' , . P Y F G C R L / = \
- --------------------------------------------
- cps _
- lck A O E U I D H T N S - entr
- --------------------------------------------
- :
- shft ; Q J K X B M W V Z shft
- --------------------------------------------
-
-
- RIGHT SINGLE-HANDED DVORAK KEYBOARD LAYOUT
- --------------------------------------------
- ~ ! @ # $ ? { }
- ` 1 2 3 4 J L M F P / [ ] bks
- --------------------------------------------
- % ^ > : + |
- tb 5 6 Q . O R S U Y B ; = \
- --------------------------------------------
- cps & * _
- lck 7 8 Z A E H T D C K - entr
- --------------------------------------------
- ( ) < "
- shft 9 0 X , I N W V G ' shft
- --------------------------------------------
-
-
- LEFT SINGLE-HANDED DVORAD KEYBOARD LAYOUT
- --------------------------------------------
- ~ { } ? $ # @ !
- ` [ ] / P F M L J 4 3 2 1 bks
- --------------------------------------------
- : > ^ % + |
- tb ; Q B Y U R S O . 6 5 = \
- --------------------------------------------
- cps _ * &
- lck - K C D T H E A Z 8 7 entr
- --------------------------------------------
- " < ) (
- shft ' X G V W N I , 0 9 shft
- --------------------------------------------
-