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From: David Empson on 22 Jan 2010 09:28 Rowland McDonnell <real-address-in-sig(a)flur.bltigibbet.invalid> wrote: > Jim <jim(a)magrathea.plus.com> wrote: > > > Rowland McDonnell <real-address-in-sig(a)flur.bltigibbet.invalid> wrote: > > > > > >> You can also choose to use a different keyboard, which has the full > > >> range of keys including a separate "del" or "forward delete" key. Apple > > >> has a full-sized USB keyboard, and most third party USB keyboards also > > >> work on a Mac. > > > > > > Really? I've never found *one* non-Apple keyboard that gave me `eject'. > > > > > > How does one get that sort of thing to work with a non-Apple keyboard? > > > > It maps to one of the function keys. > > <puzzled> > > Well, I've got fn1-fn19. > > fn1-fn4, fn7-fn12 all have specific functions. > > Pressing - one at a time, for a count of 5 each - fn5, fn6, fn13-fn19, > has just produced no eject from the optical drive (which contains a disc > and no disc-using apps being active). > > Pressing the eject key for a count of about 1 or 2 got the `eject' > symbol and a disc ejection. > > The eject key is sat between F12 and F13. > > <shrug> > > So which `fn' key does `eject' map to? And how does that enable a > non-Apple keyboard to work on a Mac? You have a keyboard with a dedicated eject key, recognised by the Mac, so it doesn't map "eject" to any of the numbered function keys. If I connect my old MacAlly USB keyboard, which doesn't have an eject key, F12 acts as eject. Same goes for other non-Apple USB keyboard I've seen people using. -- David Empson dempson(a)actrix.gen.nz
From: Rowland McDonnell on 22 Jan 2010 09:52 Jim <jim(a)magrathea.plus.com> wrote: > Rowland McDonnell <real-address-in-sig(a)flur.bltigibbet.invalid> wrote: > > > > So which `fn' key does `eject' map to? And how does that enable a > > non-Apple keyboard to work on a Mac? > > I think the answer is (rather unhelpfully): "it depends". I _think_ it gets > mapped to the last function key, so depending on the keyboard it could well > be F12. Ah - so this new Mac keyboard notionally has 20 f_ keys, yes? F1-F19 marked up with numbers, and `eject' which is F20 but not marked as such? > > I ask this because I've tried using a non-Apple USB keyboard on a Mac - > > one designed for Macs - and the eject function was not available, > > despite an eject key being marked on the keyboard. > > Ah, that almost never works in my experience. It always seems to be mapped > to a function key, unless the keyboard manufacturer provides drivers. Righto. But, erm, if it's mapped to a function key and it's a dedicated Mac keyboard, then if it's marked `eject' then it's working as `the last function key in the line', innit? So shouldn't it just work? (it didn't, I do know that much) > Discaimer: I haven't used a lot of non-Apple keyboards on Macs so my > experience here is non-zero but limited. Righto. Rowland. -- Remove the animal for email address: rowland.mcdonnell(a)dog.physics.org Sorry - the spam got to me http://www.mag-uk.org http://www.bmf.co.uk UK biker? Join MAG and the BMF and stop the Eurocrats banning biking
From: Rowland McDonnell on 22 Jan 2010 09:52 Woody <usenet(a)alienrat.co.uk> wrote: > Rowland McDonnell wrote: > > Woody<usenet(a)alienrat.co.uk> wrote: > > > >> On 22/01/2010 13:35, Rowland McDonnell wrote: > >>> There's no fn key on either the small or large current Mac keyboards. > >> > >> I have the large aluminum one with the numeric keyboard, that I guess > >> was the last version (came by default with the iMac). that has a fn key. > >> The large keyboard on apples site has it in the same place: > >> > >> <http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB110LL/A> > > > > Read my other posts - I cocked up badly on this one. God knows how. > > Too many symbols making my head spin, I suspect. > > Could be. I looked on the applestore at the mini keyboard and didn't see > the fn key on that, until jim said about it, then I did Yeah, but... But if you're gone into a different room, dragged the keyboard out from under the bed (where it gets shoved when not in use controlling the `watch the vids in bed' machinery), picked it up and peered at it pretty closely as a special `Okay, let's check to see if I can see one, assume it's there and I've just missed it' kind of look, you'd've expected to find the damned thing. *Especially* since the fn key's actually in the first place I bloody well looked for it on that keyboard!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [snip] Rowland. -- Remove the animal for email address: rowland.mcdonnell(a)dog.physics.org Sorry - the spam got to me http://www.mag-uk.org http://www.bmf.co.uk UK biker? Join MAG and the BMF and stop the Eurocrats banning biking
From: Jim on 22 Jan 2010 10:02 On 2010-01-22, Rowland McDonnell <real-address-in-sig(a)flur.bltigibbet.invalid> wrote: >> > >> > So which `fn' key does `eject' map to? And how does that enable a >> > non-Apple keyboard to work on a Mac? >> >> I think the answer is (rather unhelpfully): "it depends". I _think_ it gets >> mapped to the last function key, so depending on the keyboard it could well >> be F12. > > Ah - so this new Mac keyboard notionally has 20 f_ keys, yes? F1-F19 > marked up with numbers, and `eject' which is F20 but not marked as such? er...unsure. On a made-by-Apple keyboard I'd expect the eject key to *not* act like a function key, but that's purely a guess. > > Righto. But, erm, if it's mapped to a function key and it's a dedicated > Mac keyboard, then if it's marked `eject' then it's working as `the > last function key in the line', innit? So shouldn't it just work? I'd have expected it to, yes. > (it didn't, I do know that much) > >> Discaimer: I haven't used a lot of non-Apple keyboards on Macs so my >> experience here is non-zero but limited. > > Righto. I think we can sumerise this with "keyboards can be damn peculiar things". Jim -- http://www.ursaMinorBeta.co.uk http://twitter.com/GreyAreaUK "Get over here. Now. Might be advisable to wear brown trousers and a shirt the colour of blood." Malcolm Tucker, "The Thick of It"
From: Jim on 22 Jan 2010 10:05
On 2010-01-22, Rowland McDonnell <real-address-in-sig(a)flur.bltigibbet.invalid> wrote: > > *Especially* since the fn key's actually in the first place I bloody > well looked for it on that keyboard!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If it makes you feel better, it took me three attempts to switch off my TV this morning, before I realised I was trying to switch it off with my car key fob. I tell you, the coffee's taking longer than it used to to take effect. Jim -- http://www.ursaMinorBeta.co.uk http://twitter.com/GreyAreaUK "Get over here. Now. Might be advisable to wear brown trousers and a shirt the colour of blood." Malcolm Tucker, "The Thick of It" |