3900/3950HD/3950C (250-3580/86/87) Keyboard Faxback Doc. # 2793
This section provides information about the two Video Display Controls
used to adjust the LCD screen. Also included in this section is a brief
overview of the keyboard and how the System Window indicator symbols
help you diagnose or determine any computer activities going on at a
given time.
The letters on the keyboard are in the same position as those found on
a standard typewriter. Several other keys located on the Notebook's
keyboard have special functions which you might be unfamiliar with.
This chapter indentifies some of the SPECIAL COMPUTER KEYS on the
keyboard and discusses their functions when used with either the Disk
Operating System software or other application software, such as
wordprocessors, spreadsheets, or databases'. In addition, the TWELVE
FUNCTION of [FN] keys located directly above the key-board are discussed.
VIDEO DISPLAY CONTROLS
The computer has two display controls located at the video screen's left
side. These are "Contrast" and "Brightness" controls that improve your
viewing ability of the LCD video screen. You slide the dials either
clockwise or counter-clockwise to adjust them. Sliding the bar counter
-clockwise increases the effect of both controls.
SOME IMPORTANT KEYS ON THE KEYBOARD
1. [Esc]: The Escape key allows you to cancel any specific command
you may have just keyed in. For example, you mistakenly hit the
function key, [F1], in your wordprocessing or spreadsheet program,
but want to "cancel" the command so the computer ignores the
function key, just press [Esc].
2. [Print Screen/SysRq]: Pressing this key will cause whatever is on
the screen at the time to be printed, In some software programs,
this key might be used in conjunction with other keys for other
specific functions. Consult your software user's manual for more
information. To use SysRq, press the [Alt] key and the
[Print Screen/SysRq] key at the same time.
3. [Pause/Break]: The break key has no effect when pressed by itself,
but is used in conjunction with the Control key ([Ctrl+Break]) to
cancel a command.
4. [Enter]: While using application software, this key's purpose is
similar to a typewriter's return key; pressing this key positions the
blinking cursor to the beginning of the next line on the video screen.
While in the Disk Operating System program, the [Enter] key must be
pressed after you type in a DOS command. This lets the operating
system then start to process the command.
5. [Fn]: This key is located just below the left-Shift key. Pressing
this key engages the alternate function of all keys labeled in blue
on the keyboard, including temporarily activating the embedded
numeric keypad. When the numeric keypad is locked, the Fn key
temporarily deactivates the numeric keypad until you release the Fn
key.
6. [Scr Lock] This key is located at the upper right-hand corner of the
keyboard. When engaged, pressing the cursor control keys moves the
cursor by fields for test. Toggle "off" the scroll lock key to
disengage this mode.
7. [Alt]: Used by itself, the Alternate key has no effect in carrying
out any commands, but functions with the [Control] key to reboot or
restart you operating system program. For other application software,
the [Alt] key might perform a different function. Refer to your
software manuals for an explanation on how to use this key during
that specific software's operations.
8. [Ctrl]: Used by itself, the Control Key has no effect in carrying out
any commands, but functions much like Shift Key. The [Ctrl] key's
function depends mainly upon the software you are currently using.
Refer to your software manuals for an explanation on using this key
during the specific software application.
9. [Shift]: Similar to the typewriters shift key, this key allows you
to type letters in UPPER CASE. The Shift key has no effect on the
computer, when used by itself.
10. [Caps Lock]: The Caps lock key corresponds to a manual or electric
typewriter's Shift Lock Key. Note, the [Caps Lock] key only puts
LETTERS IN UPPER CASE without having to hold down the computer's
shift key. This key does not let you type the punctuation marks or
symbols. Instead, you will have to press the [Shift] key to type
these symbols. Note that when the Caps Lock key is engaged, the
Caps lock Status symbol comes on in the System Window display.
11. [Num Lock]: The Numeric Lock key activates the embedded numeric
keypad and allows you to use the "alternate" blue numbers you see
printed on some of the keys. Activate this key by pressing the
[NumLock] key. To deactivate this mode, again press the [Num Lock]
key.
CURSOR CONTROL KEYS AND EDITING TEXT
The keys listed in this section are used specifically to move the
"blinking" cursor on the LCD Video Screen, or when used with other keys,
it will provide some very powerful editing functions while you work.
The cursor's location identifies where you can specifically type test
on the screen. Having the ability to quickly move the cursor around
the screen and or edit text will significantly improve your efficiency.
The importance of these CURSOR CONTROL keys is more apparent when using
your application software such as wordprocessing, spreadsheets, and
databases, etc. Also, while using your operating system software
(DOS), several of these keys play an important role in moving the
cursor or editing. Refer to your software manuals to determine
specifically how these keys are used.
1. [Right] and [Left] Arrow keys: Pressing either of these keys will
move the cursor one character at a time in the direction shown on
the arrow key.
2. [Up] and [Down] Arrow keys: Pressing either of these keys will move
the cursor one line at a time in the direction shown on the arrow key.
3. [Page Up] or {Page Down]: These keys allow you to quickly move the
cursor on the screen page-by-page. Another important place where
the PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN keys are used is in the Computer's Setup
program. There, you use these keys to move between the pages of the
program.
4. [Home]: Refer to your application software manual to find out how
your software specifically uses this [Home] key to quickly move the
cursor to either to the beginning of a document or a line.
5. [End]: Refer to your application software manual on how to quickly
move the cursor, for example, to the end of a line or the end of a
document.
6. [Ins]: The Insert key is used mainly in editing. It enables you to
insert characters within the text while using DOS. Yet, some
application software will automatically insert text while within a
document, so you don't need to use this key. Instead the insert
key has a different function. For example, in WordPerfect, a
wordprocessing software package, pressing this key will switch the
editing mode to "typeover." In this mode, you can just type over the
text, instead of inserting characters.
7. [Del]: For editing work either within a document or DOS commands.
Pressing the Delete key will remove any characters directly above the
cursor and then pull from the right the remaining typed characters.
Some application software programs have specific commands where this
key is used with other keys to remove entire words or lines with two
strokes. This is a great feature, especially while editing your work.
(Refer to your application software for more detailed instructions on
how to use this key.)
8. [Back Space]: While within a document, the Back Space Key allows you
to move the cursor to the left and simultaneously erase those
characters in it's path. Note, this is different from the left
arrow key which will not erase any typed characters.
THE FUNCTION KEYS:
Notice the twelve function keys on the top row of the keyboard. These
keys appear in sequence ([F1], [F2], [F3], ......[F11], [F12] form left
to right. You use these keys with your specific application software
(wordprocessing, spreadsheet, database, etc). Please note this 12-key
set functions differently among the different software programs. Refer
to your software manuals for these keys' specific uses during software
applications.
EMBEDDED NUMERIC KEYPAD
An embedded numeric keypad is included in the keyboard and is activated
one of two ways: pressing the Fn key and toggling on and off the [Num
Lock] key, or alternatively, temporarily activate the numeric keypad by
temporarily holding down the Fn key. The numeric are active as long as
you hold down the [Fn] key.
This embedded numeric keypad makes "number intensive" input more
convenient. The alternate value of each key in the keypad is printed
in blue on the center of some keys. When the numeric keypad is locked,
you will see the changes in the System Window.
SUSPEND/RESUME SWITCH
This switch is located next to the Power ON/OFF switch on the right side
of the computer. It allows you to halt the computer's operations to help
conserve power if you will be away from the computer for only a short
time. Pressing this switch either activates or deactivates the "suspend
mode. The effects of this function are fully described in Section 5,
Power Management.
CHANGING THE PROCESSING SPEED
You can change the computer's processing speed using two key combinations.
Normally, the computer will operate at full speed. You can switch to a
lower speed that is half as fast. To use the combination, hold down
[Ctrl] and [Alt] at the same time and then press the [down arrow] key.
If you hold down [Clt] and [Alt] at the same time and then press the [up
arrow] key, the processing speed will return to full speed.
CONTROLLING THE VIDEO DISPLAY USING SPECIAL KEY COMBINATIONS
(smc-02/18/94)