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How do I Program in Custom Computer Commands for my PC on my SpringBoard?

If there is a computer command you want to use and it currently is not pre-programmed in your device, you can add the function yourself.  You must know what the keyboard assignment is when using the actual computer keyboard in order to duplicate the command in your device.  For example,  if you would like to enter the Print command on your device, you must know that when you select Ctrl P on your computer keyboard, this opens the computer's print screen .  So the command you will enter on your device will look like this.

If you look at the computer keyboard, you will find that there are many keys that do not have single character key names; for example, the arrow keys, the <Num lock> and the <Enter> keys. We call these keys "special keys", since you have to do something special or different if you want to type them using your AAC device.

For special keys, you must program a string of characters, called an escape sequence <esc>, into a single selection on your device. The string of characters is called an "escape sequence" because the string begins with the escape character. The escape character is a special character, created differently on the various AAC devices. On most PRC devices, the escape character can be created by selecting the Control function, (Ctrl), along with the left bracket  ( [  ), in the spelling overlay in your device.  When you activate this sequence, you will see a left arrow in your text area. We will refer to the escape character like this, <esc>. Remember, this is just a single character.

An escape sequence follows three rules:

The escape sequence must begin with <esc>

The escape sequence must end with a period < . >

There must be no spaces in the escape sequence.

For example, to type the <Enter> key, the escape sequence would be: <esc>enter.
The escape character comes first <esc>, followed by the key name for the key that you want to press, followed by a period < . >. All the key names listed at the end of this document (with the exception of the four keys talked about in the next section) will be typed using this same method:  <esc>keyname.

When you are storing a computer key sequence, create the <esc> command by activating CTRL[ ( Control then left bracket ) on your spelling overlay. On your display you will see a small left arrow.

This sequence is shown as <esc> in all commands at the end of this article.  If your are using an AlphaTalker, you will use the Esc key on your computer keyboard.

Typing Modifier Keys (<Shift>, <Control>, <Hold>)

These keys are called "modifier" keys, since they don't do anything themselves; they modify the action of another key. On the keyboard, a user presses and holds a modifier key while another key (e.g. the key to be modified) is pressed.

Example:  The <Shift> key is a modifier key because if you hold it down you can make a second key do something.  The <Shift> key sequence looks like this:   <esc>, hold, shift.  Once this sequence is selected on your device, it will hold down the <Shift> key on your computer.  If you select an "a" on your device after entering the shift escape sequence, the result will be a capital "A" typed on your computer via SerialKeys.

Other modifier key sequences are:  <esc>,hold,alt.     <esc>,hold,shift.     <esc>,hold,ctrl.

IBM Keyboard Keys:

IBM Keypad Keys:

Support » SpringBoard Plus » Computer Connection