News about Apple and/or Macintosh keyboards (and maybe mice too?) Mac OS X keyboard discussion is at the top of this file. Things relevant to older Apple products are toward the end. ...RSS ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Mapping MacBook Pro keyboard in Windows (Boot Camp, etc.) http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1220 Windows Vista/XP mapping http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1167 Disassembly/cleaning/repair of Apple Pro (M7803) keyboard http://technology.niagarac.on.ca/people/bgracey/prokeyboardrepair.html ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Date: Thu, 29 Aug 2002 13:12:10 +0200 (MEST) From: Constantin Gonzalez Subject: Re: Go to Folder keyboard shortcut Hi, > directory. Apparently someone at Apple had the bright idea to change in 10.2 > the keyboard shortcut for "Go to Folder" from shift-cmd-~ to shift-cmd-G. > I suppose the rationale was to make the shortcut less "unix-y" and more > "mac-like", and in the grand scheme of things this is pretty minor as I'll > eventually retrain my fingers and get over it, but for God's sake why change > a shortcut that people have already grown to know and love? please note that the "~" [tilde] character does not have its own key in other language-keyboards besides US. For instance, in German keyboards, you need to use Alt-N to get a "~". I suppose Apple's retionale here was it to make this shortcut better available to non-US users. And as one of those, I really like the more intuitive "G", as in "Goto folder" :). Regards, Constantin -- Constantin Gonzalez Kirchheim-Heimstetten ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2002 21:06:08 -0400 Organization: New York Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system Message-ID: References: From: Tom Russler Subject: Re: Can a Mac use a PC keydoard or KVM switch?. . . . In article , stan@temple.edu wrote: >Scott R. wrote: >> >> Any way to pull this off? > >Check Belkin's web site. This shouldn't be a problem. I use a Mac >on a KVM switch (not Belkin) that shares a keyboard and monitor with >a PC and a Unix system. It works fine. I just got a Dr. Bott Moniswitch to use with a PC and a Mac G4, but a PC keyboard has no way to open and close the Superdrive tray, and the PC doesn't work with a Mac keyboard. Have you solved this problem? -- Tom Russler trussler@panix.com ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Driver to allow use of Microsoft Natural Keyboard with a Macintosh via USB http://www.manual.com/transmission/msnkpbeta.html ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// One of the Type 6 USB keyboards sold by Sun Microsystems for use with SunBlade systems can be connected USB-equipped Macintoshes and used under OS X. These Sun Type 6 keyboards can be ordered with the "Unix layout", which puts the Control key to the left of A and CapsLock out of the way. Also, a USB driver for remapping Control and CapsLock is available at: http://ella.slis.indiana.edu/~jfieber/osx/ (as of December 2002) ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Message-ID: <6C4A7252-F9EB-11D7-AFE0-000393AEDC68> Date: Wed, 08 Oct 2003 18:59:16 -0500 To: Wayne N. From: Charles J. Subject: Re: Sun USB keyboard map I've used a Sun USB keyboard on my iMac. (I also used a Sun 3-button mouse successfully.) The F-12 key works as an Eject key, but you have to hold it down for at least a second or so, otherwise it doesn't do anything. I never found a solution for Volume and Mute keys. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Long lament about Apple keyboard designs: http://www.oreillynet.com/cs/user/view/cs_msg/10851 Article: Top Ten Mac OS X Tips for Unix Geeks Date: 2002-10-25 18:13:22 From: anonymous 1 Subject: Apple Laptop Keyboards Unsuitable for Unix Users Apple laptops are effectively unusable for unix users. I am a long-time Unix user. That means I need to have the Ctrl key to the left of the A key. This is a genuine need, not merely a want; it is based upon ergonomics. The Ctrl key is heavily used in unix, and it must be easily accessable. It cannot be off in the lower left corner of the keyboard where it is difficult to get at, and where it distorts the position of your left hand such that you can't easily type other keys while holding the Ctrl key down. Apple desktop keyboards are now all USB. They are all OK. The CapsLock key can be re-mapped into a Ctrl key. Unfortunately, even in this modern age, all Apple laptops have built-in ADB keyboards. The ADB keyboard is broken-by-design. It is, in general, not possible to remap the CapsLock key into a Ctrl key. There are some exceptions, but they are horrible kludges. http://lists.debian.org/debian-powerpc/2002/debian-powerpc-200202/msg00305.html http://www.VersionTracker.com/moreinfo.fcgi?id=12106&db=mac [additional discussion truncated] .............................................................................. Two responses: Article: Top Ten Mac OS X Tips for Unix Geeks Subject: Apple Laptop Keyboards Unsuitable for Unix Users Date: 2002-11-05 21:17:13 From: mstillwell Can't you use uControl, http://www.gnufoo.org/ucontrol/ucontrol.html? Article: Top Ten Mac OS X Tips for Unix Geeks Subject: Re: Apple Laptop Keyboards Unsuitable for Unix Users Date: 2002-10-29 10:02:35 From: anonymous 2 Use 'dumpkeys' to dump the keymap out to a file. Then edit the file and switch the scancodes of CapsLock = X, and Control = Y around. Then use the program 'loadkeys' to load that keymap back into mem. This will put the keys back into the right places. For a 'UNIX user', you should know by now that the magic is in the software. The hardware is secondary. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac, comp.sys.mac.general, comp.sys.mac.misc, comp.sys.mac.system Message-ID: Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2004 20:19:47 GMT From: RX Subject: Media Key ASCII equivalent and/or emulation software for Mac OS X? Hi, I have the following setup: A pmac g5 running OS X 10.3 and a PC attached to a Power Reach ADC/DVI KVM. On the kvm I am using a cheapo USB KB and MS optical intellimouse. Every key works fine on the mac side except for the media key (DVD drive eject key) which on this keyboard there seems to be no equivalent comination that I can find. I wanted to spare my beautiful mac keyboard the punishment of being used in games (pc side) so I opted not to have it on the kvm. I do however have it attached to the back of my Cinema display so that when switched to the mac I can at least eject the dvd drawer. It's taking up deskspace being used as nothing but an ejection key, so my question is: How can I emulate the media key on a pc keyboard, or send a signal to the mac via software (such as perhaps running a program on the bsd side that ejects the tray)? TIA - Any help is appreciated. RX .............................................................................. Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac, comp.sys.mac.general, comp.sys.mac.misc, comp.sys.mac.system References: Message-ID: Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2004 20:36:54 GMT From: RX Subject: Re: Media Key ASCII equivalent and/or emulation software for Mac OS X? I finally found the answer, pressing and holding the F12 key will do the same thing as the media key for those that need the info. Thanks. RX \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20020222094159459 points to http://ella.slis.indiana.edu/~jfieber/osx/ "MacOS X Notes: Remapping the Caps Lock to Control" ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc, comp.sys.mac.hardware.misc References: <40D15E36.7000901@ibm.net> Message-ID: <40DA8873.40705@ibm.net> Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 08:53:23 +0100 From: Bob McLellan Subject: Re: ADB to PS/2 conversion? Slor wrote: > > Despite all prevention efforts, David Sankey wrote > in news:D.P.C.Sankey-397B71.15542818062004@newton.cc.rl.ac.uk: > > > >Maybe it's not an issue with US keyboards, but certainly with UK > >keyboards the Belkin, both the F1D080 and its USB cousin F5U119, seems > >to do a positional mapping rather than functional mapping between > >keyboards (alt and command interchanged, random selection of punctuation > >characters scrambled). That is, when you press a key, you get the > >keystroke of the key in that position on the Mac keyboard. > > > Anyone know for sure whether this an issue with US keyboards as well? > If not, it seems to be just what I'm looking for. > > Thanks Well, I use a US keyboard and switch between Mac and PC with a F1D080. I get by with the aid of a little sticker on the screen with the key mappings on it. Some of the power/boot combinations are dodgy and there is abutton on the F1D080 which replaces the keyboard power button. This works sometimes. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system Organization: CompuServe Interactive Services Message-ID: References: Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2002 12:42:29 -0800 From: Gene Subject: Re: Mac keyboard scan codes "Tom Stiller" wrote in message news:tomstiller-7A6E4F.16284216122002@news.comcast.giganews.com... > In article , > "Gene" wrote: > > > > Can anyone direct me to a list of Mac keyboard scan codes (and their > > associated keys)? I can find this information on the web for a PC keyboard > > but so far have not found it for the Mac. > > > > Have a look at "AsyncKeys"; freeware available through VersionTracker. > > -- > Tom Stiller > PGP fingerprint = 5108 DDB2 9761 EDE5 E7E3 7BDA 71ED 6496 99C0 C7CF Hi Tom, This what exactly what we needed. My colleague has it up and running and it does what he needed. Thanks very much. Best regards, Gene ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system Message-ID: <1fnb5pa.1hdp1d11oqpjdbN%eijkhout@cs.utk.edu> References: Date: Mon, 16 Dec 2002 23:40:12 -0500 From: Victor Eijkhout Subject: Re: Mac keyboard scan codes Gene wrote: > Can anyone direct me to a list of Mac keyboard scan codes (and their > associated keys)? Doesn't that depend on the keyboard? Use "xev" from Xdarwin. V. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Date: 15 Dec 2002 04:46:15 -0800 Organization: http://groups.google.com/ Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system Message-ID: References: From: Rich Subject: Re: making all the keyboard work in Terminal matt@tidbits.com (matt neuburg) wrote in message news:... > In article , nuk@panix.com wrote: > > > Hello all, > > > > I've been enjoying the heck out of using my eMac, especially w/ a lovely > > BSD subsystem and after changing the shell to bash and all. One main > > thing ruining my Terminal use: Some of the keys won't work in the > > Terminal. Specifically, the PageUp and PageDown keys don't work at all, > > nor the Home and End keys. Makes getting around some programs awfully > > darn hard. Is there something I need to do to get these to work? It > > *appears* that Apple keyed them to work w/ the Terminal scrollback > > buffer, which is cute and all, but it kind of screws us folk using > > command-line apps that have their own scrollback buffers tht need > > PgUp/PgDn to navigate them (i.e. irssi). > > > > Any ideas? > > You could try turning on strict VT100 emulation and/or turning off > scrollback. m. Try MacWise version 10 for OS X http://www.macwise.com/ It lets you disable the page Up/Down keys so they don't try to use the Mac's scroll bar. Instead, the keys will send the proper emulation codes for Page Up/Down. That option is in Preferences under the File Menu. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.portables References: <8811f961.0212170345.603b58ec@posting.google.com> Message-ID: Organization: Information Technology at Purdue Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2002 13:50:34 +0000 (UTC) From: Dave Seaman Subject: Re: Fonts in Terminal.app on TiBook On 17 Dec 2002 03:45:10 -0800, Alistair Happencross wrote: | | I have my font in Terminal.app currently set to Monaco 10pt. My | problem is that the bold fonts are so murky and ugly. There's just way | too much "black ink", and a lot of the characters look like blobs. Is | there are way I can get nice, crisp bold fonts without having to | switch to an insanely large size? Try turning on anti-aliasing in Terminal. Choose Window Settings... and look under Display. Also open System Preferences -> General and select Font smoothing style: Medium - best for Flat Panel. -- Dave Seaman Judge Yohn's mistakes revealed in Mumia Abu-Jamal ruling. http://www.commoncouragepress.com/index.cfm?action=book&bookid=228 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// References: Message-ID: <3E14975E.1000303@.COM> Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 11:47:42 -0800 To: Mike M. Cc: Jonathan C., Michael D., Cheryl H. From: David H. Subject: Re: control and caps lock keys Mike M. wrote: > > A very nice keyboard is the Happy Hacking from PFUCA. They have is > available in both USB and a special Sun/Apple/PS2 version (I have > both, the latter is great when I go to client sites). The Control key > is where it was meant to be and it has no CapsLock. I've been using > them for years, very nice. > > Check them out at: http://shop.store.yahoo.com/pfuca-store/ > > -mike > > On Monday, December 23, 2002, Jonathan C. wrote: >> >> BTW, are there any other options for "Unix" style USB keyboards? >> The Sun Type 6 feels a bit flimsy to me; I find that I can't reach >> top speed on it as easily as with others. >> >> I know that this is a long shot, but I thought I would ask! >> Jon >> >> Michael D. wrote: >> >>> 2. Borrow one of the Sun Type 6 USB keyboards for your Mac. They >>> work just fine. (If you order one, make sure you get the "Unix" >>> keyboard layout, not the US.) My mileage varied with this keyboard from yours ... I found it to be TOOOOO SMALLLLL to be useful. They seem to *like* the idea of pressing the CONTROL key (or other modifier) to generate anything except for normal characters. Me, I like the arrow keys, and PgUp/Down keys, and Home/End/Delete keys, and it was too jarring to have to press funky sequences just to get them. My Happy Hacking keyboard was recently was donated to CRC (http://www.crc.org/) along with the last of my WinTel/LinTel equipment ... I am now totally *switched* to Mac OS X (for personal use; my work computer is still a Win2k laptop, unfortunately). - David ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Message-ID: <200307141628.h6EGSneg028551@hs-ecbg01-01> Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 17:28:49 +0100 (BST) To: mac-users From: Dave Walker Subject: Re: UK vs. US keyboards on Macintosh > Even the UK keyboard on our iMac is missing the # key. > Not that my code was ever that well commented anyway :-) > > One of my next purchases in the States is an iMac US keyboard. Alt-3 works just fine as # [the octothorpe] on my TiBook. Can't recall which kind person pointed this out to me... Cheers, -- Dave ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Message-ID: References: Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 13:09:29 -0600 To: Erik V. From: Anton R. Subject: Re: Delete (PC version)? Erik V. wrote: > > The delete key on my Mac works like a backspace key on a PC. > The character to the left of the cursor is removed. Occasionally, > I want to delete the character to the right of the cursor, like the > delete key on a PC works. How do I do this? Is there a modifier key > combination or something? The short answer is, it depends on your keyboard and your software. :-) Full-sized keyboards (like the Apple Pro keyboard) have a forward delete key just above the arrow key cluster. On newer PowerBooks, the Fn key acts as a modifier on the Delete key to change it to forward-delete. Some software (like BBEdit) recognizes shift-delete as a forward delete key (or can be configured that way). Hope this helps, -- Anton ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Message-ID: <3FA0D95A.5090008@.Com> Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2003 10:26:50 +0100 To: Joe C. From: Madeleine L. Subject: Re: Panther terminal problems Joe wrote: >> >> [From my machine running Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther)], >> when I telnet on to a Solaris server, I get this message: >> >> tcsh: using dumb terminal settings. >> >> After that, if I try to edit a file with "vi", I get this error: >> >> xterm-color: Unknown terminal type >> I don't know what kind of terminal you are on--all I have is 'xterm-color'. >> [Using open mode] >> >> And now vi will only display a line at a time. I have to keep hitting >> return to get the next line. Can anyone tell me what I need to fix? In the "terminal preferences" set the terminal type to "vt100" or "xterm" from the dropdown menu. It has a default of "xterm-color". You can also change your shell to (for instance) /bin/bash. Cheerio Leine ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Message-ID: <2E9B2B97-0C24-11D8-ABB7-003065B7387E@.com> Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 21:30:54 -0700 From: Scott Henry Subject: Focus follows mouse in Panther... The Terminal application in OSX Panther now allows focus-follows-mouse! Check the macosxhints story for the command to turn it on: http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20031029203936659 It only works in Terminal, not the whole system. However, if you read the comments below the story, you will find a command that turns on focus-follows-mouse for all X11 windows. -sh ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Newsgroups: comp.os.vms Message-ID: <20031119103441.34f534a5.itsme@127.0.0.1> References: <3fba97cf$0$13288$626a54ce@news.free.fr> <181120032338273360%elliott@yrl.co.uk> <3fbb2b51$0$27017$626a54ce@news.free.fr> Organization: bbp Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 10:34:41 +0100 From: Roland Barmettler Subject: Re: [OT] Mac OS X: system folder not found Hello Guys > > > > Mac OS X 10.2.3 *is* worth the money. If only for Preview for > > reading your PDF VMS manuals ;-) It is about 100 times faster > > and has an excellent search. > > 10.3 you mean. I'll consider the investment if I do not solve my > problem by the end of this week. Also a noticeable improvement is that the terminal emulator now supports keymappings, so you can map yourself a "Do" key and more ;-) Cheers, Roland -- 3rd Law of Computing: Anything that can go wr ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.apps, soc.culture.polish, comp.sys.mac.misc, comp.fonts Message-ID: <326b8e1c.0311232312.187c8091@posting.google.com> Date: 23 Nov 2003 23:12:09 -0800 From: a984 Subject: (easy) Polish keyboard for Mac if you have a Mac with the US style keyboard (so-called QWERTY) you know Apple provided Polish keyboards are a major pain in the butt to use. For a much better solution download (free) this: http://www.sharemation.com/wg/Polish-Option.zip PS. This new keyboard layout is of no use on any other keyboard including those sold by Apple in Poland. The file is hosted on a bandwidth limited server. Try later if it doesn't work for you first time. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ OSXFAQ Mac OS X UNIX Tip-of-the-Day by Adrian Mayo Week 99 - Terminal Tricks (21 February 2005) Monday - Re-size and Move with Escape Sequences http://www.osxfaq.com/tips/unix-tricks/week99/monday.ws Re-size and move a terminal window from the command line, or from a script, using the following escape sequences. Re-size to a specific number of rows and columns (e.g., 50 rows by 100 columns): $ echo -n "^[[8;50;100t" (Note: the sequence displayed as ^[ represents the escape character, obtained by typing control-v then the 'esc' key.) Re-size to the maximum screen width by giving columns as 0: $ echo -n "^[[8;50;0t" Re-size to the maximum screen height by giving rows as 0: $ echo -n "^[[8;0;100t" Move to a specific position (e.g., 10 pixels from the left, and 100 pixels from the top): $ echo -n "^[[3;10;100;t" When re-sizing to the maximum screen width and/or height, it is advisable to position the screen at the top left: $ echo -n "^[[3;0;0;t^[[8;0;0t" Tuesday - Define Aliases and Functions http://www.osxfaq.com/tips/unix-tricks/week99/tuesday.ws Define aliases and functions to move and resize. For example, to make a big screen use an alias: (Bash) $ alias big='echo -n "^[[3;0;0;t^[[8;0;0t"' (tcsh) % alias big 'echo -n "^[[3;0;0;t^[[8;0;0t"' To size a screen use a Bash function or tcsh alias: (Bash) $ sz () > { > echo -n "^[[8;$1;$2;t" > } (tcsh) alias sz 'echo -n "^[[8;\!:1;\!:2;t"' Then use: $ sz 50 100 $ sz 25 80 These escape sequences work in both Apple's Terminal.app and X11 xterm. Wednesday - Focus and Dock with Escape Sequences http://www.osxfaq.com/tips/unix-tricks/week99/wednesday.ws Move a window to the background or the foreground from the command line, or within a script, using the following escape sequences. (See Monday's tip, too.) echo -n "^[[6t;"; sleep 5; echo -n "^[[5t;" The above command hides the terminal window, waits 5 seconds, then brings it back into focus. The 'sleep 5' part could be a script that takes a while to run. When the script completes the terminal window will re-appear to let you know. (Note: the sequence displayed as ^[ represents the escape character, obtained by typing control-v then the 'esc' key.) Move a window into the Dock. $ echo -n "^[[2t;"; sleep 5; echo -n "^[[5t;" The above command docks the window, then after 5 seconds brings it back into focus. These sequences can be places in bash/tcsh aliases - see Tuesday's tip. Thursday - Terminal.app Nifty Features http://www.osxfaq.com/tips/unix-tricks/week99/thursday.ws Apple's Terminal.app has a few nifty features that you may or may not have encountered. Split Screen. Click the little 'split' icon situated top left above the vertical scroll bar, then drag the horizontal divider to adjust the top/bottom split ratio. The top pane can be used as a scroll-back to view and copy previous commands without disturbing the main window. Drag and Drop. Drag any file or folder (or multiple files and folders) onto the terminal window and the full path name will be written to the prompt line. For example, to list the contents of a folder, type 'ls ' then drag the folder from the Finder onto the Terminal window and hit return. Set a background. Most visual aspects of the terminal can be changed from menu item Terminal::Window Settings, including setting a background picture. Alternatively Alt-drag a picture onto the Terminal window to instantly set a background image. Click to position cursor. This option has to be enabled in menu item Terminal::Windows Settings::Emulation. Check 'Option click to position cursor. You can now option click anywhere on the current command line to position the cursor at that point. This also works in text editors such as Pico and Vim. http://www.osxfaq.com/tips/unix-tricks/week99/friday.ws Friday - Alternative Terminals The standard terminal for OS X is Apple's Terminal.app, but there are many other alternatives. If you have installed X11, you will have xterm. Xterm is started automatically when X11 starts up, and you can type... $ xterm & ...to get a new Xterm window. (Remember to add the & otherwise the first terminal will be locked running Xterm as a foreground task.) Xterm is hugely configurable, as witnessed by 'man xterm' Start new Xterm terminals with Command-N. Select X11 menu Applications::Customise to add new commands to the Applications menu. For example, add: Name: xterm Command: /usr/X11R6/bin/xterm -sb -sl 5000 -rightbar -fg white -bg black -geometry 100x50+40+20 Shortcut: n Now Command-N will start a new Xterm window sized 100 columns by 50 rows, positioned (40,20) pixels from the top left of the screen (-geometry 100x50+40+20). '-fg white -bg black' sets white text on a black backgound. '-sb -sl 5000 -rightbar' sets a scroll bar on the right-hand side, and a scroll-back buffer of 5000 lines. Xeyes is fun, watch the eyes watching your cursor. Set up a customised command as follows: Name: eyes Command: /usr/X11R6/bin/xman -bothshown -notopbox Shortcut: whatever-you-want or blank Xman is useful, a nice front end to the Unix manual. Set up a customised command as follows: Name: xman Command: /usr/X11R6/bin/xman -bothshown -notopbox Shortcut: whatever-you-want or blank iTerm is an alternative terminal. http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/10301 iTerm is a full featured terminal emulation program written for OS X using Cocoa. It supports language encodings, VT100/ANSI/XTERM emulation and many convenient GUI features. ZTerm is useful if you need to talk via a serial or USB port (to configure routers, for example). http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/6888 ZTerm is a terminal-emulation program for the Macintosh. In its day, many people used it to connect to Bulletin Board Systems and download files. Now we have the internet. Its still a useful utility for those systems that only offer dialup connections and for connecting to devices through a serial port, like many routers. For newer Macs that don't have a normal serial port, ZTerm can talk to ports on USB to serial adapters, through the appropriate driver software supplied with the adapter. ############################################################################## \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ############################################################################## Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers Path: utkcs2!stc06.ctd.ornl.gov!news.er.usgs.gov!news1.radix.net !out2.nntp.cais.net!news2.cais.com!in1.nntp.cais.net!news.his.com !news.lightlink.com!hunter.premier.net!zephyr.texoma.net!uunet !in1.uu.net!140.174.229.1!sun.sirius.com!hnsngr Organization: ErsteSoft Message-ID: References: <333F5289.760D@ksts.seed.net.tw> <33432E9B.216F497@artsci.wustl.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: ppp016-sf5.sirius.com Date: Fri, 04 Apr 1997 12:24:56 -0800 From: hnsngr@sirius.com (Ron Hunsinger) Subject: Re: IBM PC vs. Apple ca. 1981 In article <33432E9B.216F497@artsci.wustl.edu>, Tom Stepleton wrote: > > Were not the lowercase modifications on early Apple IIs simply wires > which allowed the Shift keys to complete a circuit in the game > port/socket? There was a lot more to the modification than that. At a minimum, you had to: - provide a way for the keyboard input routine to sense the shift key (the wire you're thinking of, running from the keyboard to a rarely used input line on the game connector), - patch the keyboard input routine (in ROM!) to actually test the wire - replace the character generator ROM to display lower case rather than reverse video upper case But a typical lower-case enhancement product went well beyond that. The Videx Enhancer ][ that I installed on my Apple ][ involved the following: - a replacement for the keyboard encoder circuit board (the one under the keyboard) so it would handle the shift key itself, generating lower-case characters directly. It also implemented a number of other enhancements, including keyboard repeat, safer reset, a type-ahead buffer, and macros. - a replacement for the character generator ROM, to display lower case - a wire from a rarely used OUTPUT pin on the game port back to the keyboard, so a program could send data to the keyboard. This was used to upload macros to the keyboard. For example, you could reprogram the keyboard to use a Dvorak layout. - instructions for how to patch the ROM so it stopped insisting on translating the lower case characters coming from the keyboard back to upper case. You're probably raising your eyebrows about that "patching the ROM" business. But lots of Apple ][ users had some kind of language card installed. These cards had RAM that could be mapped into the memory space normally used for ROM. You could load something else (the 'other' BASIC, for example) into that RAM, disable writes, and use it as ROM. If you had such a card, "patching the ROM" amounted to patching the disk file used to load the card at startup. The manual also contained instructions for how to program a 2716 (PROM) which you could then plug in in place of the standard ROM. That would give you lower case even when running with the language card RAM disabled. That's the route I went, after building my own PROM burner. -- -Ron Hunsinger //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////