How to find information on using multifunction keys?

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Sand · #1 Post by **Sand** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 10:37 am

Hello,

I've been trying to find out how to use the different keys that have three symbols on them, such as the ?/ and the plus sign, but I can't figure out how to use the_plus_ sign. The same with at least two other keys like this. Also, all the keys with the blue symbols on them. I went to all the IBM helps, and also tried combining several keys first, such as Shift, Alt, and/or Ctrl, but it didn't work.

I would appreciate if someone could tell me where to find this explanation, or how to use them so I can take advantage of them.

Thanks,
sand

#2 Post by **JaneL** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 11:09 am

NumLk to get the number pad.

Fn to get to the "blue" keys.

c333 · #3 Post by **c333** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 11:16 am

yes, press shift and ScrLk (NumLk above it on the same key) and it will turn on the keypad. A "1" in an arrow should light up green near the other LEDs (battery, HD, caps)

Sand · #4 Post by **Sand** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 6:18 pm

Thank you to both Nonny and c333 for helping me to find out how to use those extra keys. But just why though, are there these duplicate numbers and letters, and forward slash and star, on these keys; is there a special use for them? I went to the FAQ site, but could not find the information on these keys. And are the blue keys like using the keypad for programs instead of the mouse, like shortcut keys? I used one and it kept wanting to turn off my monitor.

Thanks,
sand

#5 Post by **GomJabbar** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 7:43 pm

Sand wrote:But just why though, are there these duplicate numbers and letters, and forward slash and star, on these keys; is there a special use for them?

If you press Shift + ScrLk, that turns on NumLk, which enables the numeric keypad feature. If you are typing in alot of numbers, say in a spreadsheet, or you are using an on-screen calculator, having a numeric keypad makes entry much easier and faster. Desktop keyboards are larger and have a dedicated numeric keypad. The laptop keyboard is smaller, so to incorperate the numeric keypad in the laptop keyboard, the above method is used (by using the same keys for different purposes).

Now if you are using the numeric keypad, it is also handy to have the mathematical symbols there too, for adding (+), subtracting (-), multiplying (*), dividing (/), and decimal (.). The text on the lower right of the 15 keys {7|8|9|0|U|I|O|P|J|K|L|;|M|.|/}shows what is turned on by the numeric keypad function {7|8|9|/|4|5|6|*|1|2|3|-|0|.|+}.

Sand wrote:And are the blue keys like using the keypad for programs instead of the mouse, like shortcut keys? I used one and it kept wanting to turn off my monitor.

On the T42 ThinkPad, Fn + F3 turns off the monitor, Fn + F4 puts the laptop in suspend (or standby) mode, Fn + F5 turns the WiFi or Bluetooth wireless radio on and off, Fn + F7 switches the display between laptop LCD and external monitor (if attached), Fn + F12 puts the laptop into hibernation, Fn + Home increases the display brightness, Fn + End decreases the display brightness, and Fn + PgUp turns the keyboard light on and off. If you have a different model, then some key combinations may be different.

I suggest you download the IBM Hardware Maintenance Manual for your model of ThinkPad. It covers these issues along with many others. Click on this to get the IBM Hardware Maintenance Manual.

BTW, you can see that I am bored because I am spending all this time typing this.

Sand · #6 Post by **Sand** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 8:19 pm

GomJabber,

Thanks so much for all that explanation; it answered my questions about what/why these symbols are there and the advantage of having them.

Thanks too for the website; I will download that. I'm so glad you were bored when my post came in

Thanks to this list, I learned a lot about my keyboard today!

Thanks,
sand

huntzer · #7 Post by **huntzer** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 12:50 am

Fn + F9 is for easy eject.

Anyone can think of any other usages of scroll lock beside using in Excel?

Threadstarter,sorry for snatching ur thread.

AndyL · #8 Post by **AndyL** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 4:38 am

huntzer wrote:Anyone can think of any other usages of scroll lock beside using in Excel?

That's the only one I can think of. What I want to know though is when was the last time anyone used SysRq?

furball4 · #9 Post by **furball4** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 11:20 am

A user of mine just had a very hard time figuring out that he needed to hit Shift+NumLk to turn the number lock off. When I helped him and wanted to explain how the markings showed what to do, I was left wondering a few things:

1. Why are SysRq and Break below PrtSc and Pause instead of above them? Do you have to use something other than SHIFT to access these? (I've read that Alt is what fires off these keystrokes. I can't check very easily because they have no notable effects)

2. What do they do, anyway? (Answers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SysRq and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Break_key)