Controlling the program with the keyboard
General remarks
To control the program with key-strokes has been an extra for users familiar
with this direct and fast mode of operation.
However, since Microsoft has introduced the concept of themes which
reduce mouse functionality for third party software (Windows 7 and higher)
this mode of operation has become indispensable for this platform.
In contrast to earlier options, this mode is switched on automatically
except for the modified picking mode.
This mode is governed by the value of the Key Control
switch which is found in .../[/h. The corresponding setting can be
specified in the startup file .Moloc (keycntl yes/no).
In Windows 8, up, Key Control must be switched on for Moloc
to work properly, because mouse functionality is partially funneled off
for Windows Aero features.
Menu Options
- The menu options in a menu start with distinct lower-case characters.
This allows to make menu choices by simply typing a single key.
- For a few of the 3-letter menu items the letters had to be scrambled
in order to start with a unique lower case letter.
- The vertical menu representation is operated with the
menu bar, corresponding to a '?'-choice with the mouse.
- Help on menu items is produced by hitting the corresponding key with
the Ctrl-key pressed.
Selectors
- In selectors the option in question is highlighted. Up- and down-arrow keys
switch to neighboring options. Selection (specification) of an option is
achieved with left- and right-arrow keys. Operating the 'Enter' key terminates
the selection. For single-choice selections, the highlighted option is selected
with the left- or right-arrow key ('Enter' terminates without making a choice!).
- Number Selector
- Left- and right-arrows de- or increase the value of
the highlighted quantity.
- The 'Insert' key moves to the most right-hand field for typed specification
of a value.
- Values are reset with the 'Home' key.
- Termination is with the 'Esc' key.
- Help for the highlighted item is produced by hitting the
End Key.
View Manipulations
The keys of a regular keyboard are grouped into several separated blocks:
- Function keys (the top row); not considered here
- Normal Keys, the largest block; used for menu selection
- Keypad Keys, the right hand block; used to effect
view rotations
'Num Lock' has to be activated for proper functioning!
- The remaining Navigation Keys in between; used to effect view
translations and zooming
For Windows, using group 3 and 4 keys may be the only
way to manipulate the view reliably.
View Rotation
Rotate the view by fixed steps by hitting keypad (KP) keys:
- x-rotation: key '2' and '8' (down- and up-arrow)
- y-rotation: key '4' and '6' (left- and right-arrow)
- z-rotation: key '9' and '3'.
- Step size: key '+' and '-'. The angle of
rotation per key stroke in- or decreased, respectively.
View Translation, Zooming
Translate with arrow key group:
- x,y-translation: arrow keys
- z-translation: '7' and '1' keys of the keypad
- zoom: '5' and '0' keys of the keypad
- step size: '/' and '*' keys of the keypad
This modifies the distance by which the view is shifted and,
simultaneously, the amount by which the zoom is changed per key stroke.
- report and reset step sizes:
auxiliary functions attributed to 'End' and 'Home' keys respectively.
Modifying Key Definitions
Key definitions can be modified in the .Moloc initializing file.
Current settings are displayed when writing settings (.../[/s).
Allowed key names are:
kp_0, kp_1, kp_2, kp_3, kp_4, kp_5, kp_6, kp_7, kp_8, kp_9, kp_add, kp_subtract,
kp_multiply, kp_divide, kp_decimal, home, end, insert, help, page_down,
page_up, delete, up, down, left, right
Moving Atoms
Without Key-Control, the mouse can also be used to move
about atoms. This occurs typically in the 'forge' menu (e.g. frg/m).
With the mouse, the corresponding action is achieved by pressing the
Shift key. Moving the mouse then causes the atom to move
instead of adjusting the view.
For Key-Control, this switching takes place when
Caps-Lock is switched on (corresponding to pressing
the Shift key when operating with the mouse).
For 'frg/m' this means that pushing arrow
keys causes atoms to move when the Caps-Lock is on. To adjust the
view, switch Caps-Lock off before operating the arrow keys again.
- Caps-Lock on: atoms move
- Caps-Lock off: view changes
Picking
The switch key control (.../[/h) determines how picking works:
- switched off: Picking works as described in the
corresponding section.
- switched on: Picking works without the
Shift modifyer key.
This simplification comes at the cost of loss of view manipulation
with the mouse (not working in Windows 8, up, anyway).