Function Key labels on Windows

Don Baird @ Encore dbaird@encoresyspros.com
Tue, 26 Apr 2005 20:09:50 -0500


This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

------=_NextPart_000_002B_01C54A9B.E737B060
Content-Type: text/plain;
	charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Moving right ahead with our migration from the HP3000 to Windows, we are =
now coming to grips with the fact that the Windows Console does not =
support function key labels.  Really a shame as this greatly reduces the =
practical use of function keys. We did some fairly tricky things, =
especially in DATA context, that we cannot re-produce. We did use =
several levels of function keys in our largest (read that "most =
important") screens.

We have designed a new means to navigate through our application using =
more menus, more Designer Procedures, more input from the Action box, =
more use of Info messages, and "fixed" function keys F1 - F12.  We have =
all 12 working without relying on Shift or Alt or Ctl by modifying the =
TIC file.

Works OK, though it took "more" of practically everything, but still not =
as smooth (easy, intuitive, slick, better - fill in your favorite ) as =
using function keys and labels.  Oh well.

That said, has anyone else dealt with this issue?  Does anyone have any =
ideas? The latest New Features manual mentions connecting to the Windows =
Console via a terminal emulator - has anyone ever done this?  How?  Not =
sure we would go this route, but we are curious.

Has anyone ever "trapped" a key being pressed, like <F1>, or Ctl W?  So =
we could do something like : IF FIELDTEXT =3D <F1>  (Ctl W, whatever) =
THEN RUN SOME DESIGNER OR INTERNAL PROCEDURE ...    If we could get this =
to work we could get a little of our "smooth" back.  =20

Too bad you can't run Designer procedures in DATA context.

 All ideas are welcome. Anyone who wants to talk about it feel free to =
give me a call - (972) 442-9718. If you are going through the same =
migration I can tell you what NOT to do.

Thanks.

Don Baird
EnCore Systems
   
------=_NextPart_000_002B_01C54A9B.E737B060
Content-Type: text/html;
	charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Diso-8859-1">
<META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.2800.1498" name=3DGENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Moving right ahead with our migration =
from the=20
HP3000 to Windows, we are now coming to grips with the fact that the =
Windows=20
Console does not support function key labels.&nbsp; Really a shame as =
this=20
greatly reduces the practical use of&nbsp;function keys. We did some =
fairly=20
tricky things, especially in DATA context, that we cannot =
re-produce.&nbsp;We=20
did use several levels of function keys in our largest (read that "most=20
important") screens.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>We have designed a new means to =
navigate through=20
our application using more menus, more&nbsp;Designer&nbsp;Procedures, =
more input=20
from the Action box, more use of Info messages,&nbsp;and "fixed" =
function keys=20
F1 - F12.&nbsp; We have all 12 working without relying on Shift or Alt =
or Ctl by=20
modifying the TIC file.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Works&nbsp;OK, though it took "more" of =
practically=20
everything, but still not as smooth (easy, intuitive,&nbsp;slick, better =

-&nbsp;fill in your favorite ) as using function keys =
and&nbsp;labels.&nbsp; Oh=20
well.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>That said,&nbsp;has anyone else dealt =
with this=20
issue?&nbsp; Does anyone have any ideas? The latest New Features manual =
mentions=20
connecting to the Windows Console via a terminal emulator -&nbsp;has =
anyone ever=20
done this?&nbsp; How?&nbsp; Not&nbsp;sure we would go this&nbsp;route, =
but we=20
are curious.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Has anyone ever "trapped" a key being =
pressed, like=20
&lt;F1&gt;, or Ctl W?&nbsp; So we could do something like : IF FIELDTEXT =
=3D=20
&lt;F1&gt; &nbsp;(Ctl W, whatever) THEN RUN SOME DESIGNER OR INTERNAL =
PROCEDURE=20
...&nbsp; &nbsp; </FONT><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>If we could get this =
to work we=20
could get a little of our "smooth" back.&nbsp; &nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Too bad you can't run Designer =
procedures in DATA=20
context.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;<FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>All ideas are welcome. Anyone who =
wants to=20
talk about it feel free to give me a call - (972) 442-9718. If you are =
going=20
through the same migration&nbsp;I can tell you what NOT to =
do.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Thanks.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Don Baird</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>EnCore Systems</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>&nbsp;&nbsp; =
</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

------=_NextPart_000_002B_01C54A9B.E737B060--