User's Manual

CHAPTER THREE - PL3000 BASICS
22
Alphanumeric Keypad
On the keypad an alphanumeric key segment is
intended to insert letters, numbers, punctuation marks,
symbols, and spaces to an application. The keys can
also play the role of function keys. In fact, the
alphanumeric keypad works in three different modes.
The input modes of this keypad segment are explained
below. You can select the mode with the mode selector
keys, see the section ‘Mode Selectors of Alphanumeric
Keypad’ on the preceding page.
By default the keys on the alphanumeric keypad
are in a numeric mode, meaning that each key with the
figure enters only number in every key press. If you
hold down the key it inserts its number to an application again and again until you
release the key (an auto-repeat property).
In this mode the key marked with the dot inserts a full stop and a comma. The
key marked with the dash inserts minus and plus signs. Be aware that these two
keys do not have the auto repeat property.
To insert letters, numbers, punctuation marks,
symbols, and spaces in addition to numbers, the keys
on the alphanumeric keypad have to be in an
alphanumeric mode. You may switch the keys into this
so called ‘text-writing mode’ by pressing the ‘abc’ key (be aware the overriding
capability of the ‘F’ key, see the section ‘Mode Selectors of Alphanumeric Keypad’
on the preceding page).
In this text-writing mode, repetitive pressing a key enters next character (if
letter in the alphabetical order) in the place of cursor until the number printed on
the key appears (a character sequencing property). After that the character
sequence starts again from the beginning. If small break is taken between
keystroke repetitions or it is stopped the cursor advances to the next position and
the character which appeared on the screen before stopping the keystroke
repetition stays in the entry area.
Be aware that pressing and holding down the key printed a figure on it the
character sequencing property is skipped, and the key enters the number only. At
the same time cursor advances to the next position.
Typically you may need to insert white spaces as well. The key printed zero
on it enters a space. The ‘tab’ key enters a tab and the ‘ok’ key a new line. These
two keys you can find in the control key area (see the section ‘Control Keys’ on
page 19). In addition, there is the ‘del’ in the control key area to delete characters
you have keyed incorrectly.
Numeric Mode
Alphanumeric
Mode