ZX-News #18 08 декабря 1996

Железо

Letters - Reflections on the shortcomings of the Spectrum keyboard.

                  Letters



  Something long in Newskah not printed
letters from readers. Of course, they come
but do not always have enough space to publish.
However, this does not mean that we do not read them or not 
publish, if the author has asked to publish. Simply, we really 
appreciate the "freshness" and the relevance of information 
and, if it endures, and sometimes lays indefinitely ... :)



  But, sooner or later, all the articles sent in to "ZxNews", 
will be published. Already Now some of them edited and

formatted, and just waiting for his
hour (s). ;)


              (C) Paul Smith



         THAT NEED PEOPLE.


    Hi all users Speccy!


  In ZxNews No7 asked questions that need
people (that is, users) from the programmers. Or something like 
that. 


  In addition, it is like another topic for
discussions on the hardware in particular, and o
problem of development of the Spectrum as a whole.


   It's about the Spectrum keyboard.


                Poser:

                ---------

  The main drawback of the Spectrum keyboard - a small number 
of keys - just forty. As a result, applications (especially 
editors) arise Two such poser, imho:



   Poser 1. Little control keys


  Very little. Strictly speaking, there is a combination of 
registry-key used as control (or which can sometimes be used as 
a control). So-called "extended" keys only

mimic in some way to simultaneously use two. Therefore, further 
to the Control keys will call any combination of keys is used 
as a thereof.



  In addition to controlling the cursor (arrow), DELETE, and 
CAPS LOCK, no agreement as to use the remaining. Often the same 
keys are used in different programs committed for different 
purposes. That and say - in the same IS-DOS, where everything 
seems to be standardized, the team  and 
 in viewer and editor MISCELLANEOUS (CS-Q and 
CS-A, SS-Q and SS-A)!!! : I



  In such a situation _NORMALNO_ work
not possible. Do not save any
standard "extended" keyboard, no
homemade or XT / AT or any other - all
still awkward! And you have to remember dozens of variants, 
which both use. : ( 


  You can, however, crap jumpers - under
each program its ...


  You can still "kovyrnut" the author's program ... : -7


  The last point a little like the authors
Software. What to do? Do not solder the same keyboard at each 
program ... : (However, Instead of throwing to put steep

protection from view, read some
MYSELKI on this occasion;)


               Poser 2.

   Not able to Russification.


  How often do they write in intr'ah: layout as
on a typewriter - QWERTY ... It is on the left side of your 
keyboard! And on the right? Where do you seen a typewriter, 
whose letter  (title) and  (small) are located in 
different parts of the keyboard, to the same introduced both 
through the registry? There are other, less "convenient" 
Russification ... : ( Those interested can read the pin help'y

in IS-DOS.


                 Myselki:

                 -------

  That's what occurred to me, not exactly
I alone, or may not come ... :)


      Thought 1. Destandartizatsionnaya.


  Necessary to provide the user
opportunity to select which keys for which
use, not impose him their
"Standard" and not, incidentally.


  The most convenient way for the solution -
program (option menu) the keyboard settings. Such a program, 
the adjuster should able to:



  - Find the disk for all custom
program (configuration files) under any
names they would not have been recorded (perhaps
user wants to have a few options for different moods programs);


  - Given a choice of any combination
keys for each particular team,
function hot keys - under any so I understand that if the itch 
to user To switch between insert / replace not use SS-I, and 
SS-M (.) or, say, CS-1-N (EDIT-N) - his work:) 


  - Select a table with the possibility of
move (cursor), the abolition of the selected
as for a single key (DELETE), and
all at once (SPACE, BREAK);


  - Verification of conflict, but only after
end of selection keys.


  Next will be another little idea of ​​the Customizer.


  Those developers who, for whatever
reasons can not or will not consider it necessary
writing such a program (time-consuming
work, no time, laziness, can not, bad
weather - the right to delete, and no one show;)) provide the 
user manually edit the layout, though

as is done in IS-DOS'e, in a special file (suggest a TR-DOS 
files with the type "K"). 


  If you are, of course, interest in
something to your program used (bought) is not on the principle 
of "another something after all no ... ": (



  Notes:


  - The cursor keys, DELETE,
choose not, use them to navigate through the setup menu. The 
same applies to the CAPS LOCK.



  - Convenient to use is not an option in the menu
the program itself, as a separate program
settings, since hardly have often
to change key.


  - This program can customize
not only the keyboard, but other rare
changeable parameters, such as color ...


         Thought 2. By the way ...


  The use of additional registers
greatly expand the set of control
keys. Additional role. registers can play
press EXT, EDIT, T. 'I. VID, GRAF, ie
those most advanced keys. We can restrict them, but you 
can-limiting:). Such things are already being used, but as 
always, in different ways, and not always effective. 


  The configure program should be able to select (or _NEvybora_)
reg keys!


          Thought 3. Russian-speaking.


  Say what you like keyboard shortcuts on it
not increase (yet, hopefully) and still
part of the Russian letters will be "superfluous."
Instead of trying to stick their
only-be somewhere (instead of digital, such as: () suggest the 
following more or less than the original decision:



  Chosen some special keys
obzovu its XRUS, for inclusion EXTENDED
RUSSIAN REGIME. The effect of this regime resembles CS-SS in 
BASIC. In it you will be able to enter one of the "extra" 
characters, then canceled. In this mode, you can use CapsShift 
and CapsLock for change register. When neotpuskanii keys must

auto-repeat function correctly.


     Estimated keyboard layout:



      J U Y K E N T SHSCH SX ZH

      Since F A P R O LV ED -
      Barley MF M & T LE UD - - -


  Left in the column core RUS, and the right -
advanced.


  Please note:


  - "Extra" letters - letters that are used
Least likely.


  - Some letters are for convenience may
repeat.


  - The table has a lot of space ...


  When you set up, the user needs
provide an opportunity to edit
Two tables of 26 characters for both modes.


  However, for the Conservatives can offer a choice of old 
solutions. : \ 


          Thought 4. Coolest.


  Global problem of the keyboard can be solved by using all 
bits of port (You can tell port) keyboard. I recall that there 
is read from the standard only 5 significant bits (one bit of 
this port used to receive data from

tape recorder or a modem, but more about that later),
which gives 5 * 8 = 40 of the most keys. Using the remaining 
bits can be connected 8 * 8 = 64 + key to all this the 
"enhanced"! And this, usually without alteration keyboard port! 
Since in all models, imho, port 8-bit. This

Products KP11 (two), IR22 (IR23) and others
(Maybe I'm wrong - write).


  Exceptions are some "heaped" models, such as the Scorpion, in 
which the same two KP11 already holds four ports and use of all 
discharges. In Scorpio, however, have to put another

KP11 (over D36-sharing signals
select from the D32 - untested, but verify).


  Further included as standard in
tabular scheme of connection of additional keys. How is this 
scheme better than others? Nothing! :) Just the other not, it 
first. For the convenience of plugging in Russian letters are a 
continuation of the series keys (so-called "poluryadov). Except

, note on the discharge data
D6. If you use a tape recorder or a modem, the function keys 
you will less. But the keyboard will still get

easier than it was!


  Unless of course vendors support it ... : I


  Then someone swing and begin their
issue (released the same now for the Spectrum in excess of 
"Extended" keyboard "on HRC, but not the PC - will only change 
the wiring). 


  And Spectrum is not only hard
drive, modem, network, and Full keyboard! :):]: @: D =)


  By the way (untested), we can not abandon the function keys, 
and put a diode junction with the keyboard on circuit assembly 
or to get rid of the habit of banging on the function keys 
during the reception modem ... ;) 


          Table compound tires

              address / data.



                  D5 D6 D7


            A8 F1 F2 F10

            A9 INS F3 DEL

            A10 HOME F4 END

            A11 PGUP F5 PGUP

            A12 RUS F6 TAB

            A13 X [{F7 b]}

            A14 M;: F8 E '"

            A15 B, <F9 Yu>



              Reflections ...


  ... Read in the IS-DOS help'e of
noncommutative driver tt8.key which all 8 bits of data such as 
uses. May Who saw him? If there is not just a duplication of 
punctuation, share information - can be one standard is better 
... 


  ... Someone noticed that a controller
XT / AT-keyboard with a bunch of extra. Governors
keys. As far as I could find out from
Sellers, this device emulates ONLY
5 digit keypad, then there are all the same
40 keys ... : (That's why I did not
bought - wait until improve! Maybe I was misinformed? : (


  ... There was another such computer;), called 
ZX-SPECTRUM-128-FIRM, y which was some kind of Remote 
klaviaturka with a bunch of extra buttons! Interestingly,

what it was and looked like ...?


           Thought 5. Not the topic.


  At the same KP11 (and others) not implemented
only the keyboard, but the joystick. Naturally, you can also 
use 3 Unused DISCHARGE NAVIGATION! ... for joystick, of course.



               While all ...


     Regards, Paul Smith.

                                  18.11.96


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