eric@abode.UUCP (Eric C. Bennett) (10/02/90)
Sorry if this belongs in a MSDOS newsgroup. I didn't know if there was one
and I don't have it if I did. So, if you answer this question please use
email.
I am wondering if MSDOS (3.2 or 3.3) supports programming of fuction keys?
Is there a way to set them up to do certain things? I know they are set
up to do certain things in Dos until a program or application is loaded
that tells them to do otherwise. What I would like to do is set up about
5-6 function keys with zip codes for use with a mailing list program. Instead
of having to enter the zip code each time I could just hit a certain
function key.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Eric
--
Eric C. Bennett uucp: {elroy|cit-vax}!wciu!abode!eric
El Monte, Ca Internet: eric@abode.wciu.edu
If you can read this you aren't looking through the hubble space telescope!dubner@hpspkla.spk.hp.com (Joe L. Dubner) (10/03/90)
eric@abode.UUCP (Eric C. Bennett at Abode Xenix Restricted Access System) writes: > I am wondering if MSDOS (3.2 or 3.3) supports programming of fuction keys? > Is there a way to set them up to do certain things? I know they are set > up to do certain things in Dos until a program or application is loaded > that tells them to do otherwise. What I would like to do is set up about > 5-6 function keys with zip codes for use with a mailing list program. Instead > of having to enter the zip code each time I could just hit a certain > function key. Yes, MS-DOS does, but it's not really what you want. In some convoluted way (using either ANSI.SYS or PROMPT, or both - I can't recall) you can assign strings to function keys. It should be possible to figure out how to do so from your DOS manual, but it's not particularly useful except for entering strings at the DOS prompt and a small number of other programs that use INT 21h, function 0Ah for input (DEBUG and EDLIN are the only two that come to mind). If you simply want to program the function keys (or most other keys for that matter), a much easier way is to use a keyboard macro program. This type of program allows you to define any sequence for any key for any application (almost!). One of the first and best such programs is SUPERKEY from Borland. I stopped using it a couple of years ago because it uses too much memory to suit my needs. Other commercial and shareware keyboard macro programs are available too: DKEY and SMARTKEY come to mind. ... Joe
dlow@hpspcoi.HP.COM (Danny Low) (10/03/90)
>I am wondering if MSDOS (3.2 or 3.3) supports programming of fuction keys? >Is there a way to set them up to do certain things? I know they are set >up to do certain things in Dos until a program or application is loaded >that tells them to do otherwise. What I would like to do is set up about >5-6 function keys with zip codes for use with a mailing list program. Instead >of having to enter the zip code each time I could just hit a certain >function key. Get a keyboard macro program such as Superkey or Keyworks. There are also some public domain/shareware keyboard macro programs. They allow you to do exactly what you want and more as you can program any key on the keyboard not just the function keys with these programs. Danny Low "Question Authority and the Authorities will question You" Valley of Hearts Delight, Silicon Valley HP SPCD dlow%hpspcoi@hplabs.hp.com ...!hplabs!hpspcoi!dlow
TONY@SLACVM.BITNET (Tony Roder) (10/03/90)
A keyboard macro I can recommend from personal experience is NEWKEY, available from shareware dealers (such as PSL in Houston 1-800-242-4psl) or directly from FAB Software POBox 336, Wayland MA 01778 for about $50.