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Encyclopedia > Scroll lock

Scroll lock is a key (with an associated status light) on most modern computer keyboards. The behavior of the key depends on the particular software in use. A computer keyboard is a peripheral partially modeled after the typewriter keyboard. ... Computer software (or simply software) refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of a computer for some purpose. ...


The Scroll Lock key is a remnant from the original IBM PC keyboard. In the original design, Scroll Lock was intended to modify the behavior of the arrow keys. When the scroll lock mode was on, the arrow keys would scroll the contents of a text window instead of moving the cursor. In this usage, Scroll Lock is a modifier key like Alt and Shift (which modify the function of other keys) and, more specifically, a toggling lock key like Num Lock or Caps Lock, which have a state that persists after the key is released. Today, this particular use of Scroll Lock is rare. Only a few modern programs still honor this behavior, such as Microsoft Excel (in the behavior of arrows — when Scroll Lock is on, the selection does not move), Lotus Notes and Forté Agent. In modern GUI environments, scrolling is usually accomplished using newer means such as scrollbars or scroll wheels. Therefore Scroll Lock can be regarded as a defunct feature in almost all modern programs and operating systems; some keyboards lack them altogether. Memorial to a keyboard in Yekaterinburg, Russia The IBM PC keyboard and its derivative computer keyboards are standardized. ... Arrow keys Arrow keys are buttons on a computer keyboard that move the cursor in a specified direction. ... This article needs cleanup. ... A typical arrow-like mouse cursor. ... In computing, a modifier key is a special key on a computer keyboard that modifies the normal action of another key when the two are pressed in combination. ... The Alt key on a modern Windows keyboard The Alt key on an IBM PC keyboard is the key located immediately to either side of the Space bar, used to change (alternate) the function of other pressed keys. ... The shift key on a modern Windows keyboard The shift key is a modifier key on a keyboard, used to type capital letters and other alternate upper characters. ... Lock is a function that locks part of the keyboard keys depending on the lock settings selected. ... Num Lock is a key on the numeric keypad of most keyboards, used to switch that pad between number entry and arrow keys. ... The caps lock on a modern Windows keyboard. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Lotus Notes is a client-server collaborative software and e-mail system owned by Lotus Software, of the IBM Software Group. ... Forté Agent Forté Agent is a news client used on the Windows operating system. ... “PUI” redirects here. ... A scrollbar, or slider, is a graphical widget in a GUI with which continuous text, pictures or anything else can be scrolled including time in video applications, i. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...


Other uses

In Linux virtual consoles, the Scroll Lock key is used to pause screen output. This behaviour emulates the Hold Screen key or similar flow control mechanisms on computer terminals. Because of this emulation, the term scroll lock is sometimes used to generically refer to a screen pausing behaviour. This usage could potentially cause confusion since screen pausing behaviour is not intrinsically a part of the Scroll Lock key. In DOS, the Pause key pauses the screen output. Linux (IPA pronunciation: ) is a Unix-like computer operating system family. ... A logo from Nintendos Virtual Console website Virtual Console ), sometimes abbreviated as VC, is a video game download service that is currently offered by Nintendo for its Wii gaming console. ... Instructions on how to use the directory command. ...


In the Opera web browser the Scroll Lock key plays an important role in voice recognition. KVM switches often use the Scroll Lock key with a number as a hot key to activate a softswitch for changing between channels. Similarly, the KVM-like software solution Synergy uses scroll lock to keep the keyboard and mouse control within the current screen. In the multilingual text editor iLeap, Scroll Lock key is used as a toggle switch to change between two languages. Opera is an Internet suite which handles common internet-related tasks, including visiting web sites, sending and receiving e-mail messages, managing contacts, and online chat. ... An example of a web browser (Mozilla Firefox), displaying the English Wikipedia main page. ... Speech recognition technologies allow computers equipped with a source of sound input, such as a microphone, to interpret human speech, e. ... A diagram of how a KVM switch functions. ... Synergy is a computer program for sharing a keyboard and mouse between multiple computers. ... The correct title of this article is . ...


In FreeBSD, and other BSD descendants, Scroll Lock still functions similarly to IBM's original design. FreeBSD is a Unix-like free operating system descended from AT&T UNIX via the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) branch through the 386BSD and 4. ... Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD, sometimes called Berkeley Unix) is the Unix derivative distributed by the University of California, Berkeley, starting in the 1970s. ... International Business Machines Corporation (known as IBM or Big Blue; NYSE: IBM) is a multinational computer technology corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, USA. The company is one of the few information technology companies with a continuous history dating back to the 19th century. ...


Apple keyboards do not have a Scroll Lock key, except for some ADB keyboards. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Early ADB device Apple Desktop Bus (or ADB) is an obsolete bit-serial bus for connecting low-speed devices to computers. ...


On Dell laptops the Scroll Lock key becomes the Fn key when an external keyboard is used. The original behaviour can be enabled in the BIOS. Dell Inc. ... A laptop computer, or simply laptop (also notebook computer or notebook), is a small mobile computer, which usually weighs 2. ... Fn key can also refer to the function keys on a computer keyboard. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...


Individual applications may assign any function to this key as an added convenience hotkey. A keyboard shortcut (also known as an accelerator key, shortcut key, or hotkey) is a set of keyboard keys that when pressed simultaneously, perform a predefined task. ...


Certain 2-computer KVM switches provide that a "double click" of the scroll lock key (striking the key twice quickly) is used to switch between computers. A diagram of how a KVM switch functions. ...


Xfire, a chat application for use while playing a video game, is activated by using the default key combination of "Scroll lock" + "X". Xfire also uses Scroll lock for other in-game purposes, such as taking screenshots. Xfire is a freeware instant messaging service targeted toward gamers, that also serves as a game server browser. ...


See also

SysRq or SysReq (short for System Request) is a key on keyboards for PCs that has no standard use. ... Break/Pause key on PC keyboard The break key is a special key on computer keyboards that no longer has a well-defined purpose. ... This article needs cleanup. ...

External links


  Results from FactBites:
 
Scroll Lock - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (381 words)
Scroll Lock is a key (with an associated status light) on most modern desktop computer keyboards.
When the scroll lock mode was on, the arrow keys would scroll the contents of a text window.
In this sense, Scroll Lock serves a similar purpose to Num Lock and Caps Lock: it enables a secondary function of a group of keys.
Num lock - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (134 words)
Num Lock is a key on the numeric keypad of most keyboards, used to switch that pad between number entry and arrow keys.
The Num Lock key exists because earlier 84-key IBM PC keyboards did not have arrows separate from the numeric keypad.
When a computer's operating system crashes or hangs the Num Lock key is usually the only key that responds to being pressed.
  More results at FactBites »

 

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