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Re: keyboard for mouse?
In article <311BDEAD.D20@comet.net>, Jordan <jreiter@comet.net> wrote:
> Adalbert Goertz wrote:
> >
> > Is it possible to configure GSOS for complete keyboard operation, thus
> > eliminating the mouse entirely? How?
>
> There was an equivalent of Easy Access included with System 6.0.1 (or as
> a NDA off ftp?).
I'm not sure what you mean by "an equivalent of Easy Access", unless
you are referring to the Macintosh extension of that name.
Easy Access was included in the IIgs system software in System 6.0 and
6.0.1. It provides the same facilities as the Mac version - Sticky
Keys (modifier keys stay down when pressed and released) and Keyboard
Mouse (moving the mouse cursor around and clicking/dragging by using
the numeric keypad).
> However, it works only on ROM 03 gs's, and I doubt it is very fast.
The Easy Access INIT works on both the ROM 1 and ROM 3, but it isn't
actually needed on the ROM 3 - support for keyboard mouse and sticky
keys is built into the keyboard microcontroller.
On the ROM 1, the Easy Access INIT patches itself into the keyboard
scanning mechanism, so it intercepts all keypresses. It takes care of
sticky keys and keyboard mouse operations, then feeds the resulting
keypresses back to the keyboard microcontroller, where they appear as
normal.
This technique is a little dangerous: programs will not be able to
receive keypresses while interrupts are disabled. In particular, a
program which waits for a key with interrupts disabled will cause the
computer to lock up. You can't even press Control-Apple-Reset to get
out of it, because the reset key is also processed (under interrupt)
by Easy Access! The only solution in this situation is to turn off
the computer, then turn it on again.
Note that this problem only applies on the ROM 1, and then only if
Easy Access is installed. If you have the Easy Access INIT installed
on a ROM 3, its only function is to display an icon in the menu bar to
indicate the current state of the sticky keys mechanism.
As to the speed: on the ROM 3, there are Control Panel settings for
the speed of the keyboard mouse, and it can go quite quickly. It
takes about 4 seconds to get all the way across the screen (in 640
mode) at the highest speed, about 2 seconds to go all the way down the
screen.
I believe the ROM 1 (with Easy Access installed) also has Control
Panel settings for this (in the graphical Control Panel only), but I've
never used it, so I can't be certain.
For Adalbert, here is some information on how to use the Keyboard
Mouse facility. On a ROM 1, you must have Easy Access installed to
use this (see the warning above). On a ROM 3, you can use it whether
or not Easy Access is installed.
Keyboard Mouse is only available on an Apple Desktop Bus keyboard. If
you have a IIe that has been upgraded to a IIgs, its numeric keypad
(if it has one) cannot be used to control the Keyboard Mouse.
To enable the Keyboard Mouse, press Apple-Shift-Clear.
You can then move the mouse cursor around by using the main group of
numbers on the numeric keypad around the '5' key. The mouse cursor is
moved horizontally, vertically or diagonally according to the
direction of the key in relation to the '5' key. Holding the key down
will cause the cursor to keep moving in the same direction, possibly
speeding up (depending on the Control Panel settings).
7 8 9
\ | /
4- -6
/ | \
1 2 3
The mouse button is clicked by pressing the '5' key on the numeric
keypad.
To perform a "drag" operation, press '0' on the numeric keypad to lock
the mouse button down, move the cursor as required, then press '.' on
the numeric keypad to release the button.
To turn the Keyboard Mouse off, press the 'clear' key.
I don't think this is quite what you intended by your original
question. In IBM OS/2, for example, menus can be selected using the
keyboard, by pressing and releasing 'Alt', then using arrow keys and
Enter to choose items. The keyboard can also be used to navigate
between windows, and around the controls in each window.
Microsoft Windows and Windows-95 are similar.
None of this can be done on the IIgs or Mac, unless a specific program
provides special keyboard access to various functions.
In theory, someone could write an extension which provided more
keyboard navigation in IIgs desktop programs, but it would probably
have to do it by faking mouse movements.
--
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand