Commander X16

if you're short of key combinations you could perhaps opt to make those lesser used functions as 2 key sequence or popup menu or something ?

On 1/24/2022 at 12:14 PM, desertfish said:

if you're short of key combinations you could perhaps opt to make those lesser used functions as 2 key sequence or popup menu or something ?

Since he's been referencing Nano... nano actually does this with the "Meta" key, which is usually the Escape key. One I use frequently is M-6, which is "Copy". 

 

Hi,

There is currently no lack of control keys, it's just the question of replicating Nano more closely.

According to Nano's user manual, Alt is normally used as the other control key (Meta). It is stated that pressing ESC once is a fallback for the Meta key, should Alt not work on your system. And pressing ESC twice is a fallback for the Ctrl key, if that doesn't work.

Using the ESC key in this way is not the most convenient. I would try other methods first. In R38 you have less control over the keyboard, which limits the options a lot. In R39 you could consider to use one of these as Meta:

• 
  Ctrl+Shift
  


• 
  Ctrl+Alt
  


• 
  Windows key (the emulator will not like it though)
  

On 1/24/2022 at 9:35 PM, Stefan said:

Windows key (the emulator will not like it though)

NOOOO! Apple use to have an Apple key, but probably never will have a Windows one. 



Yes, I do realize that Mac OS is based on a unix core where Windows is not. Also that text based editors with keyboard commands are so passé, save when on a retro 8 bit machine ?

On 1/25/2022 at 9:01 AM, Edmond D said:

NOOOO! Apple use to have an Apple key, but probably never will have a Windows one. 



Yes, I do realize that Mac OS is based on a unix core where Windows is not. Also that text based editors with keyboard commands are so passé, save when on a retro 8 bit machine ?

???

 

On 1/25/2022 at 1:44 PM, martinot said:

???



 

I protest making anything Windows machines only. 

Agreed.

But don't forget that we are really targeting an OS called X16 Kernal ?

Anyway, the closest equivalent to the Windows key on MacOS should be the command key. This key used to have the Apple logo back in the days I think.

The X16 Emulator does not currently relay either the Windows or Command key. This would happen at line 183 in keyboard.c, but it is commented out:

//case SDL_SCANCODE_LGUI: //Windows/Command

Any other ideas for the Meta key?

Maybe the right Alt or Control key?

On 1/26/2022 at 6:46 AM, Stefan said:

Anyway, the closest equivalent to the Windows key on MacOS should be the command key. This key used to have the Apple logo back in the days I think.

Yes, at least on my Apple II machines it is Apple logo keys. Love them! ?

Personally I would have liked Apple to continue with the apple-symbols instead of the ⌘ on my macs.

I've done some minimal testing, and think there is a reasonable solution for the other modifier key "meta".

That is to use the left Alt key.

The right Alt key (labeled AltGr on some international keyboards) could continue to be the "Commodore" key used to insert graphical characters.

The ESC key could be used as a fallback in case the Ctrl or Alt key doesn't work in a particular setup. Pressing ESC once could be a fallback for the Alt key. And pressing ESC twice could be a fallback for the Ctrl key.

This solution doesn't require any changes to the Kernal, but you need R39 to get sufficient control over the keyboard.

The question is if it's needed, though. The number of functions in X16 Edit is quite limited. Maybe if I move things around a bit using only Ctrl it's good enough. 

I appreciate the amount of thought you put into this! One little remark from my side: if it's not too much of a hazzle, would it be possible to put the key combinations that are used often (like copy/cut/paste) into a place where one could do the combination with a single hand easily? I've found that using Ctrl+P, Ctrl+U is awkward to use compared to Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V. Just one little feedback ?