Fn+NumKeys?

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Zender · #1 Post by **Zender** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:02 am

Hello everyone.

I have T60, my first ThinkPad. Basically I'm quite satisfied with the machine, though I've also been lucky with my previous non-brand laptop.
Though there's one thing I don't get. When I press Fn and any key of the "numeric part" (1-9,+,-,*,/) nothing happens. I have to activate NumLock and then use them without the Fn. I have checked it with a program which can see any key press (home, end, shift, alt, it can even see fn itself pressed) and these fn combinations do exactly nothing.
I consider that pretty weird, as I thought that fn+numkey was pretty cumbersome on my previous laptop, yet I have to say this beats it. If it were only numbers - I'm used to shift+top row of keyboard (non-English), but what if I need to press +-*/? Yes, they are available under some combinations, but these aren't numeric and don't allow me to do ctrl+ or ctrl- for font zooming, selections in Total Commander etc.
What I have done was exchange the almost never used PrtSc/ScrollLock/Pause with +-* but I don't really think it's a great solution.

Is that correct behaviour? Suggestions how to "fix" that? Every answer is appreciated.

#2 Post by **jdhurst** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:06 am

On a ThinkPad (the ones I have owned), Fn operates the Blue keys. So yes, you have to do Shift-NumLock to use the keypad. I don't find the keypad all that valuable, so I just use the top row and use plain Shift where appropriate. ... JDH

Czechnology · #3 Post by **Czechnology** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:10 pm

2Zender: To access `!@#$%^&*()-= etc. on the czech keyboard, use [AltGr]+[button]

That way you get what's printed on the english keyboard

[AltGr] <- the right Alt button

Pozdravy do Česka

Zender · #4 Post by **Zender** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:21 pm

Hello there

Yes, I know that all keys are available on "default" QWERTZ layout, that's not a problem with me (there are so many people I've taught they don't have to switch layout for typing a @).

The problem is, some applications need a real _numeric_ +-*, such as TotalCommander for operations with selection (ctrl+numplus selects all, asterisk inverts selection), or Firefox for zooming text (Ctrl+numplus/numminus), these cannot be replaced by any other combination. Tried even English keyboard layout and couldn't get the functionality.

As I've said, I've replaced "unused" PrintScreen, ScrollLock and Pause with NumPlus, NumMinus and NumAsterisk (in a keyboard driver hook). The only thing bugging me about this solution is that I thought I won't have to resort to such workarounds, which I've "developed" for my previous notebook from Prestigio, where designers ingeniously placed Home/End keys as a combination of Fn+PageUp/PageDown, driving me mad when having to press something like Ctrl-Shift-Fn-PageUp and such.

Btw, don't you know if it's possible to get a keyboard with "normal" layout, especially long left shift (so no added key making shift shorter)? I mean if it's available with Czech accents printed on it.

Czechnology · #5 Post by **Czechnology** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:18 am

No idea, contact the IBM in Prague

everything is possible, i guess

tomaspad · #6 Post by **tomaspad** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:21 am

Is there any news about this topic? i have the same problem with Fn key. It worked on FS nootebook but not on thinkpad

.

Zender · #7 Post by **Zender** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 5:10 am

Hardly can be, it's by design and cannot be changed (in software). I still use my Num+-* hack.

ArtShapiro · #8 Post by **ArtShapiro** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:14 pm

If I understand your issue correctly, I had the same problem for some very specialized software.

For a few bucks on eBay, I purchased a small numeric USB numeric keypad, complete with retractable spring-loaded cable. I don't use it very often, but it has been a pleasure when needed for this software.

An eBay search for "USB Keypad" brings up lots of units.

Art

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