The Sinclair QL Forum

Hi

This confirms what I did on paper.

I was wondering whether to hard wire the QL keyboard matrix to the MT8813, or make a user configurable pad so that any keyboard configuration can be setup.

I suppose the pressing of 2 keys at once can be handled in software, like CTRL C

Yes, simultaneous key presses are supported.

You also can define one key to act the same as a simultaneous key press.

For example: Define Key "F6" to act as press CTRL-C

Update
Stephan

XorA wrote: Thu Dec 23, 2021 9:58 pmI am working on the firmware for a very similar USB->QL keyboard adapter!

How does a USB keyboard deal with the triple key presses of the QL mechanism delete word left & right as CTRL & ALT & back or forward arrow?

It behaves as it should be:

Shift + CTRL + "<-" deletes the word on left
ALT + CTRL + "<-" deletes the line on the left

I just tried it again to be sure.

Stephan

Maskenlos wrote: Thu Dec 08, 2022 8:42 pmI just tried it again to be sure.

Thanks but it doesn't answer my question of how they are handled. Is the triplet a unique ascii code converted to the pressing of three lines?

Ruptor wrote: Thu Dec 08, 2022 9:02 pm Thanks but it doesn't answer my question of how they are handled. Is the triplet a unique ascii code converted to the pressing of three lines?

No, Spectratur translates key strokes, not characters. So when pressing the three keys on the USB keyboard, three distinct key events are generated. Each of those gets translated into the closing of the appropriate switch in the MT88xx switch matrix.

Ruptor wrote: Thu Dec 08, 2022 9:02 pm

Maskenlos wrote: Thu Dec 08, 2022 8:42 pmI just tried it again to be sure.

Thanks but it doesn't answer my question of how they are handled. Is the triplet a unique ascii code converted to the pressing of three lines?

Sorry for misreading your question. I thought you just ask whether triple key strokes works in general.

xelalex wrote: Thu Dec 08, 2022 9:21 pmNo, Spectratur translates key strokes, not characters. So when pressing the three keys on the USB keyboard, three distinct key events are generated. Each of those gets translated into the closing of the appropriate switch in the MT88xx switch matrix.

Thanks for explaining I haven't looked into how normal keyboards work.