Using the keyboard

The keyboard is the primary vehicle for text input. The keyboard also provides modifier keys that change the meaning of a mouse or key action. For example, a modifier key is used with the mouse to change the meaning of a drag operation from moving to copying. As another example, a modifier key is used with alphabet keys to provide shortcuts to menu commands.

Some tasks are more keyboard-intensive than others. For example, the keyboard is often used for entering spreadsheet data. To avoid forcing the user to switch between mouse and keyboard when entering data, the spreadsheet program should provide as many keyboard alternatives to the mouse as possible. Consider the tasks the user accomplishes with your program as you design keyboard alternatives.

Modifier keys

These modifier keys are implemented for the current release:

The Shift key is used with the mouse to add objects to or remove objects from contiguous (adjacent) selections.
The Control key is used with the alphanumeric keys to produce extended characters. It is also used to add or remove noncontiguous items from selections in scrolling lists. When used with the mouse during a drag operation, Control forces a copy instead of a move.
The Left Alt key is used with alphabet keys to provide menu shortcuts.

Text keys

These text keys are supported for editing text:

Backspace deletes either the character to the left of the insertion point or the current selection.
Return enters a paragraph break.
Shift-Return enters a line break.

The arrow keys can be used to move through text:

Left or Right Arrow moves the insertion point to the nearest character on the left or right of the current selection.
Up or Down Arrow moves the insertion point up or down to the nearest character above or below the current selection. (In the English language, this movement amounts to up or down one line).
When an arrow key is used to move the insertion point within a line and the insertion point reaches the end of the line, it moves to the start of the next line. Similarly, when the insertion point reaches the beginning of a line, it moves to the end of the previous line.
When an arrow key is used to move the insertion point perpendicular to a line, the insertion point moves to the character nearest the position on the original line. Suppose the insertion point is moving down through lines that are three inches, one inch, and three inches long, and the insertion point is at two inches on the first line. The insertion point will be at one inch on the second line and two inches on the third.

Menu shortcuts

The following table lists the currently implemented menu shortcuts. To use a keyboard shortcut instead of a menu, the user presses the Control key with the alphabet key representing the desired menu item. To remind the user of their availability, these shortcut keys appear on the menus next to their corresponding menu items.

Menu command Parent menu Letter key

Make New Workspace n

Open [Presentation] Workspace o

Duplicate Workspace d

Undo Edit z

Redo Edit Shift-z

Cut Edit x

Copy Edit c

Paste Edit v

Select All Edit a

[Contents] [Previous] [Next]

Click the icon to mail questions or corrections about this material to Taligent personnel.

Copyright©1995 Taligent,Inc. All rights reserved.

Generated with WebMaker