John Scheffel
11-04-2002, 02:35 PM
For some time our internal customizations have included defining hot keys to enter some commonly used symbols (classic UI). This was done using ASCII codes and escape sequences. The Windows UI text editor in 11.6 now includes a new Spec Chars... button which allows entering symbols, but there doesn't seem to be an equivalent form in the classic UI.
One nice improvement in 11.6 is that symbols can be entered using a Meta Name such as <Depth> rather than the cryptic escape sequences and ASCII codes used in the past (see Code column in attached GIF). This provides a string in the edit window and command line that is easier to identify than past versions.
We have found that you can also use these meta names in the Classic UI both on the command line and for function key definitions. For example, when entering text on the command line you can type:
'This is a diameter symbol - <Diameter>'
When you place the text, <Diameter> will be replaced by the character from the hp_symbols font.
If you want to assign a hotkey to add a symbol during text entry (which works in all UIs), use a line such as:
DEFINE_KEY 5 SHIFT '<Diameter>' {diameter symbol}
See ADD_SPEC_CHAR in the Help for more info.
One nice improvement in 11.6 is that symbols can be entered using a Meta Name such as <Depth> rather than the cryptic escape sequences and ASCII codes used in the past (see Code column in attached GIF). This provides a string in the edit window and command line that is easier to identify than past versions.
We have found that you can also use these meta names in the Classic UI both on the command line and for function key definitions. For example, when entering text on the command line you can type:
'This is a diameter symbol - <Diameter>'
When you place the text, <Diameter> will be replaced by the character from the hp_symbols font.
If you want to assign a hotkey to add a symbol during text entry (which works in all UIs), use a line such as:
DEFINE_KEY 5 SHIFT '<Diameter>' {diameter symbol}
See ADD_SPEC_CHAR in the Help for more info.