understanding the keypad

Understanding the Accelerator Keypad 2010

Page | 2

Understanding the

Accelerator Keypad

PRO XT, PRO, BASIC & BASIC LT

A Guide to Understanding the Accelerator Keypad & Key Functions Scottsdale, Arizona 2010


Page | 3

Introduction

This guide was prepared to aide in the understanding of what all of the keys on the LaunchPad Accelerator keypad do. The key operations can vary with the different products it runs under. For example: the keypad operates in many ways very differently under Adobe® Photoshop® than it does under Autodesk® AutoCAD.® And, in other ways, they operate completely the same. Also, there are different styles of keypads, which offer different functionality from each other. So, this guide will help you further understand what can be done with each keypad, as well as some of the extended functionality that can be incorporated. In this document, we will talk about LaunchPad's newest keypad, the Accelerator PRO XT. What makes the PRO Accelerator Keypad different from the BASIC design is that it is an evolving technology. Its key layout was designed to provide an interface that can accommodate various applications and allow it to expand itself to meet the needs of some of the more complex drafting, drawing and modeling programs that are on the market today. The BASIC keypad was designed for day‐to‐day drafting operations with 2D CAD drafting products (i.e., AutoCAD®, Autodesk® Desktop products, Google® Sketchup® and Revit®). The PRO keypad will operate exactly the same as the BASIC keypad and can do all of the operations of the BASIC keypad. What makes it different, and sets it apart, is the new keys introduced with the PRO XT keypad that allow it to operate with drawing products from Adobe®, as well as some of the more complex modeling programs (i.e., 3DStudio® MAX®, Autodesk® Maya® and Autodesk® Inventor®).


Page | 4

KeyPad Types

There are (4) keypad types in the LaunchPad Accelerator family of products. They are as follows:

LaunchPad Accelerator PRO XT (20 button) LaunchPad Accelerator PRO (18 button)

LaunchPad Accelerator BASIC (18 button) LaunchPad Accelerator BASIC LT (18 button)

Each keypad comes with different capabilities, supported software products, and pricing. This guide was written to help you the user determine which keypad best suits your needs. When making this determination and doing a complete evaluation of the different keypads, certain questions should be asked before making a final decision, such as:

How long will the keypad last? Do I need to use it for 5+ years, or is 10 to 15 years more realistic?

What products does it support? Am I a CAD drafter only? Or, will I be doing 3D or using Adobe® products?

Do I need a quiet keypad? Or, maybe one with a softer touch?

LaunchPad PRO XT (20 Buttons) The LaunchPad Accelerator PRO XT keypad is our premier product (see Figure 1). This keypad supports all drawing, drafting and modeling programs in the Supported Products List (see Web site for all supported products). This keypad has 20 buttons, instead of the 18 buttons found on the other (3) keypads (see Figure 2). The extra buttons ([State] and [FN] Function keys) extend the keypad to new levels for greater expandability that is required with some of the drawing and modeling programs. See the "Feature Matrix" (Figure 3, on page 6) for other benefits of the PRO XT keypad.

Suited for: Professional CAD Drafters, Engineers and Artists.

Figure 1


Page | 5

LaunchPad 18 Button Series: The LaunchPad Accelerator 18 button keypads come in (3) variations. Even though these variations have the same buttons (see Figure 2), there are different features attached to each one. What separates them apart is physical hardware, supported products, plug‐in capabilities, and price. See the "Feature Matrix" (on page 6) for other benefits assigned to each keypad type. See below for basic differences between each of the (3) keypads in the 18 button series.

Figure 2

18 Button PRO

The PRO has the same physical hardware used in the new PRO XT model. It's a quiet keyin design that provides similar qualities of the PRO XT for the CAD drafter. Its functions and program expandability are not as diverse as the Pro XT, however, this series type has the advantage of being more durable, with high quality parts, and has a softer touch over the BASIC and BASIC LT units. See Figure 3 for all options available with this keypad type.

Suited for: Professional (full time) CAD Drafters.

18 Button BASIC The BASIC employs an earlier design model, which does not have the quieter properties of the PRO and PRO XT units, but provides the same CAD drafting basics found in the PRO designs. This is a good unit when price is the issue in making your purchase decision. This version will eventually be phased out and fully replaced by the 18 Button PRO unit. See Figure 3 for all options available with this keypad type.

Suited for: CAD Drafters.

18 Button BASIC LT The BASIC LT is essentially the BASIC keypad, with the exclusion of certain supported products and features. It also does not support the v2010 update. It will only run v2008. It is ideal when price and limited use of the supported products under LT are appropriate considerations. LT comes in only (3) colors (purple, pink & tan). This version will eventually be phased out and fully replaced by the 18 Button PRO unit. See Figure 3 for all options available with this keypad type.

Suited for: CAD Drafters, Students and new users who want to try the product at a lesser purchase price.


Page | 6

Feature Matrix

General BASIC LT

BASIC PRO PRO XT General Comments

v2008 Software support ● ● ● ●

v2010 Software support ● ● ●

Full color support ● ● ● ‐ BASIC LT comes in only (purple, pink, tan)

1 Year Limited Warranty ● ● ● ‐ 1 Year from the date of purchase.

1 year Extended Warranty (2 year) ● ● ‐ Extends warranty for a total of 2 years.

Cherry Key Mounts ● ● ‐ Rated for 50 million impressions.

Injected Numbers on keys ● ● ‐ Plastic goes thru the key (no warring off)

Function and State Keys ● ‐ Extends keyboard layout.

On the fly key programming ● ● ●

Quiet Keys ● ● ‐ Soft touch quiet keys

Internal Security Dongle ● ● ‐ Used for security applications (future).

Product Support BASIC LT

BASIC PRO PRO XT General Comments

AutoCAD® R14..Release 2006 ● ● ● ●

Autodesk Civil/LDD/MEP/Arch. ● ● ●

AutoCAD® R2007..Release 2012 ● ● ● ‐ Requires v2010 LP‐Software (excludes BASIC LT)

Autodesk® Revit® 2010..2012 ● ● ● ‐ Requires v2010 LP‐Software (excludes BASIC LT)

Google® SketchUp® Free & PRO ● ● ● ‐ Requires v2010 LP‐Software (excludes BASIC LT)

Autodesk® Impression 3 ● ● ● ‐ Requires v2010 LP‐Software (excludes BASIC LT)

Adobe® Photoshop® CS3..CS5 ● ‐ Requires v2010 LP‐Software (excludes BASIC LT)

Adobe® Illustrator® CS3..CS5 ● ‐ Requires v2010 LP‐Software (excludes BASIC LT)

Adobe® Flash® Pro CS3..CS5 ● ‐ Requires v2010 LP‐Software (excludes BASIC LT)

Adobe® InDesign® CS3..CS5 ● ‐ Requires v2010 LP‐Software (excludes BASIC LT)

Adobe® Fireworks® CS3..CS5 ● ‐ Requires v2010 LP‐Software (excludes BASIC LT)

Adobe® Dreamweaver® CS3..CS5 ● ‐ Requires v2010 LP‐Software (excludes BASIC LT)

Autodesk® 3DStudio MAX® ● ‐ Requires v2010 LP‐Software (excludes BASIC LT)

Autodesk® Maya® ● ‐ Requires v2010 LP‐Software (excludes BASIC LT)

Autodesk® Inventor® ● ‐ Requires v2010 LP‐Software (excludes BASIC LT)

Figure 3

There are (3) variables to consider when making your decision regarding which keypad is right for you:

Longevity The PRO and PRO XT models have the longest life, in terms of operation. Even though they come with a 3 year limited warranty, their estimated operational use is around 10‐15 years. These are well built units designed to last. The BASIC models do not employ the newer hardware enhancements and come with a 1 year limited warranty. Their estimated use of operation is around 4‐7 years. Compared to a mouse or a traditional keyboard, the LaunchPad Keypad holds up really well given the intensity of use that it handles all day long with high volume drawing input.


Page | 7

Capabilities The PRO XT unit provides for maximum capabilities at the KEY level, as well as expanded supported products that it will run under. If you are a student, or only use a product like AutoCAD® R14 to AutoCAD® 2006, then the BASIC LT will completely suffice. If you use multiple products, then you will realize the true benefits of LaunchPad. The ability to use the SAME input device with a variety of products, whose user input interface may be completely different, is a real benefit and convenience for usability and speed. Thousands of users have been using LaunchPad, and its predecessor AutoKEY, for around 20 years. Ninety percent or more of the users have turned it into their permanent input device for life. When deciding on which keypad to purchase, make sure it is one that will grow with you as you develop your skills with other learned products and grow and evolve with your career.

Price There is understandably a price difference between the PRO XT and the BASIC LT. If you're an occasional CAD/Drawing user, who does not do full time production, then the BASIC LT provides a very inexpensive avenue to getting started with LaunchPad. However, when you think about the fact that LaunchPad WILL make you anywhere from 200% to 400% faster with CAD/Drawing programs than the current method of input you are using, then you can see that the Pro series will more than cover the return on the investment in a short amount of time, in terms of productivity, speed and program capabilities. From an employer standpoint, if you compare these factors against the cost of what an employee in the field might cost, you will see that the real savings from using LaunchPad can be realized through the benefits it provides in staffing and production.

Why does it work? The reason LaunchPad works is because it reduces the area footprint necessary for your command input. When comparing it to using Command Aliases in AutoCAD®, the user is required to enter commands and keys over at least 75% of the traditional keyboard. The traditional keyboard was designed for (2) handed input. It was not designed for users who keep one hand on a mouse all day long. Also, using Command Aliases in AutoCAD® requires an [Esc] to cancel previous commands (sometimes more than one) and either a [Space] or [Enter] to execute the alias. So, if we compare (even with a very simple command, i.e., LINE or Zoom W): Normal Keyboard LaunchPad Normal Keyboard LaunchPad [Esc] key [5] key [Esc] key [A] key [Esc] key [5] key [Esc] key [L] key [Z] key [Space] key [W] key [Space] key ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 3‐4 keys 2 keys 4‐5 keys 1 key That's an average (even with the simplest commands) of a 50‐65% reduction in keystrokes (more complex alias/macros will produce even higher percentages). And, if you have these keystroke savings all day long, that really adds up. I like to look at it this way, the customer or client does not pay you to enter commands. They pay for the work generated. So, why wouldn't you want to reduce the amount of time given to something that does not pay you for it. Now, if you are an employee of a company, you DO get paid to enter commands. But, with the state of the economy being what it is, being faster is not a negative in keeping, or even getting a job. It comes down to enhanced productivity and job security, and that benefits everyone.


Page | 8

Keyin Distance

Figure 4

When you compare the distances required to enter the keys above, LaunchPad's small footprint/one‐handed keypad wins hands down. When you add up: key reduction; reduced key distance (see Figure 4 above); one‐handed input ‐ where one hand stays on the LP keypad fulltime and the other hand on the mouse focused on the work full time, with no need to look down and away from the work on the screen to find the keys on a (2) handed keyboard, you can see where the 200‐400% speed improvement is achieved.

HotKey Commands When comparing against Hotkey based programs (i.e., Adobe® Photoshop® or Autodesk® 3DStudio Max®), LaunchPad can still provide a serious benefit. One of the major disadvantages to hotkey based interfaces is the need to map nonsensical key combinations to drawing commands. Example: the "Auto Contrast" command under Photoshop® is Ctrl‐Alt‐Shift L. How is "L" and Auto‐Contrast associated? It's used because there are not enough key combinations to map out all of the commands found in Photoshop®. Not to mention, some hotkey combinations are just not practical by reach, and can only be reached with (2) hands. Therein lies the problem with using hotkeys for user input. Some hotkey combinations require (2) hands to enter them. Once you take the hand off the mouse, the time savings is seriously lost. Plus, there is the indirection of your attention from the work. Add it all up, and it can generate input frustration and fatigue. Most Drawing and Modeling programs also provide command icon buttons as another method of command input. These are very useful, since looking at a picture of your command can make it very easy to find. The downside is that the user is again moving the mouse and eye contact away from the work to select the command and then going back to the work with the mouse. The key to speed with a hotkey based system is keeping your eyes and mouse (at all times) focused on the work, and using the other hand to enter commands. Now, it is agreed that [43] on the keypad does not associate itself to the Auto‐Contrast command either, but that brings us to the phenomenon of where the real speed of LaunchPad is achieved, and that is through Muscle Memory. Repeated use of entering commands daily on a one‐handed device can and will become a learned motion (i.e., CPA entering on a 10 key machine or a pianist playing keys on a piano keyboard). In the pianist example, the musician does


Page | 9

not think about the keys that are being pressed. It's a learned motion that allows the musician to enter the keys effortlessly with complete amazement. When entering hotkeys, no muscle memory can be learned, since the keys are too peculiar in their combinations, and sporadic in their keyboard positions. With a small footprint, it is easy for the hand on the keypad to develop muscle memory of the keypad and keys in a short amount of time. And it will not be long before the device can be operated without even looking down at it. When talking to longtime users of LaunchPad, they don't even remember the key number combinations for the commands, it's just memorized motions. Eventually, a good user of the keypad could work with it without any letters on the keys. The keys have assigned letters to help facilitate the learning curve.

Specialized Keys Especially with the PRO XT version of the keypad, there are specialized keys that are designed to do operations that extend the keyin operations that cannot be traditionally achieved on the keyboard. Example: The Ctrl‐Alt‐Shift combinations are heavily used and executed with Adobe® products. To reduce the key held combinations, LaunchPad provides single keys that achieve the same thing (see Figure 5) for all C‐A‐S combinations available (see Figure 13 on page 17).

Figure 5

Pressing down the [D] key on the LaunchPad keypad is equivalent to holding down the Control‐Alt‐Shift combination on the standard keyboard. It requires only one finger and no looking down at the keyboard for incredible ease of use. Also, depending on what has focus in your application or what overlay on the keypad is defined, the key can change its mode of operation. As indicated in Figure 5 above, a single key can take on multiple modes and operate completely differently.


Page | 10

Key Presses & Layouts There are a variety of different methods used for entering keys with your LaunchPad keypad. Below are the various methods that each type of keypad (18 or 20 button) can provide. Each drafting/drawing product uses some or all capabilities of each talked about key layout below.

1‐Key keyins

A 1‐Key keyin is a button type in which a single key press on any assigned 1‐key button is executed. Once pressed, this will execute a pre‐programmed macro or hotkey (depending on drafting/drawing program). If Alpha keyins are configured (see Alpha keys under Figure 7) as 2‐key keyins (i.e. A7, BC, D2, etc.), then the [A] [B] [C] [D] keys cannot be assigned as 1‐key keyins (since the LaunchPad program will be wanting to see the second key pressed before executing a programmed macro). To use, press the key and release immediately. The pre‐programmed macro or hotkey will be immediately executed. Under drafting type programs, these 1‐key combinations are useful for zooming operations, since they need to be handled pretty regularly. I would never program a command like SOLID to a single key, since it does not get used that often, and I want my fastest buttons used on my most used commands. Also, you would not want to assign the [5] key to a 1‐Key keyin (LaunchPad restricts this since it is not practical), since it would eliminate the other (9) 2‐key keyin combinations that could be available with a [5] key (i.e., 50, 51, 52, etc.). All colorized keys fall into this keyin group and only the yellow legend is active in this mode (see Figure 6 below).

Keys Legend

.A. B. C. D. When programmed as (1) key keyins, each will execute with a single press.

.. Tab / .. Ortho Cannot be programmed, it is either a . (decimal key) or hard coded to application.

.CR. / .Enter. Cannot be programmed, it is hard coded as a CR (Carriage Return/Enter/Return).

Figure 6


Page | 11

2‐Key keyins A 2‐key keyin combination is any [0] to [9] or Alpha [A] [B] [C] [D] key. 2‐key keyins require a second key to be entered to execute a programmed macro or hotkey. Example: 55 on the keypad in AutoCAD® will trigger a LINE command with built‐in Escapes and Enters. If the first key is entered, and then a small amount of time is allowed to elapse, then the first key will be thrown away. That way the first key does not just sit in the buffer waiting for a second key to be pressed. The amount of delay time is long enough for new users to get acquainted with the key layouts, but is not so long that it will clear away when a mistake in the first key is entered. If the [A] [B] [C] [D] keys (shown colorized in green) are programmed as 1‐key buttons (see 1‐Key keyins on page 10), then they cannot be used in the 2‐key collection. When the [A] [B] [C] [D] keys are not programmed as 1‐key keyins, then that expands the 2‐key keyin collection with another 56 keyin possibilities. Example: Alpha keyins could be: AA, A8, D3, etc. Normal keyin combinations could be: 55, 43, 28, etc. All colorized keys fall into this keyin group and only the yellow legend is active in this mode (see Figure 7 below).

Keys Legend

.A. .B. C. D. Can be programmed, and when programmed as (2) key keyins, each will execute when the second key in a 2‐key combination is pressed (i.e., A4).

.0 to .9 Can be programmed. Each will execute when the second key in a 2‐key combination is pressed (i.e., 54).

Figure 7


Page | 12

Pre‐Hold keyins

Pre‐Hold keyins are 1‐key keyins that are triggered when the user presses a single key, without releasing it for a short amount of time. Once the Pre‐Hold timer expires, the Pre‐Hold event in the keypad will execute (Pre‐Hold event is never reached if first key is released in time or a second key is pressed). Once fired, the assigned macro or hotkey will be executed. All colorized keys fall into this keyin group and only the yellow legend is active in this mode (see Figure 8 below).

Keys Legend

.A. .B. C. D. Under the PRO XT keypad, CAD products or applications that do not use the C‐A‐S keyin options allow the ABCD keys to be programmed with Pre‐Holds.

.A. B. C. D. Under the BASIC LT, BASIC and PRO keypads, the [A] [B] [C] [D] keys can be programmed. If keys are programmed as 1‐key, then holding will clear the single key press.

.0 to .9 Can be programmed as Pre‐Holds (great for regularly used commands).

Figure 8


Page | 13

Post‐Hold keyins Post‐Hold keyins are 2‐key keyins that are triggered when the user HOLDS the second key in a 2‐key keyin. An example of a Post‐Hold keyin would be [55]hold, [43]hold, etc. The amount of time held on the second key is minimal (if second key is released before hold timer is reach, then the 2‐key keyin is executed). Once the held time is reached, the pre‐programmed macro or hotkey assigned to the Post‐Hold keyin is executed (not the 2‐key keyin since the KeyUp on the second key was not reached first). Post‐Holds are a great addition to LaunchPad since it expands the base (100) 00 to 99 keyin combination by 2 (since we can have 55 and 55h). All colorized keys fall into this keyin group and only the yellow legend is active in this mode (see Figure 9 below). Any green colorized keys are available for Post‐Hold keyins, as long as they are not already predefined as 1‐key keyins (see Figure 6, on page 10).

Keys Legend

.A. .B. C. D. Under the PRO XT keypad, Post‐Hold can be programmed, since C‐A‐S is only used in the pre‐ hold state.

.A. B. C. D. Under the BASIC LT, BASIC and PRO keypads, the [A] [B] [C] [D] keys can be programmed. .0 to .9 Can be programmed as Pre‐Holds (great for regularly used commands).

Figure 9


Page | 14

Number keyins

Number keys are numerical keys and numeric symbols that can be accessed when the [#] or [C]NUM key is pressed. By pressing the [#] or [C]NUM key, there will be a red [#] symbol on your Launcher icon in the icon tray. This indicates that you are in the Number Mode and all [0] to [9] keys will no longer be 2‐key keyins, but rather 1‐key numeric keys similar to your 10‐key keypad on your keyboard. To exit out of Number Mode, just press the [#] or [C]NUM key on the keypad and you will notice that the Launcher icon is restored in the icon tray. All colorized keys fall into this keyin group and only the yellow legend is active in this mode (see Figure 10 below).

Figure 10

Keys Legend

.A. .B. C. D. Under the PRO XT and BASIC keypads, and in Number mode, the [A] [B] [C] [D] keys send number or distance symbols. Example: Under AutoCAD®, a distance (@2'4<180) can be entered by typing [A] [2] [B] [4] [C] [1] [8] [0]. It looks like a lot, but a quick and experienced LaunchPad user will tell you they swear by it.

.0 to .9 Normal number keys, as you would receive on a 10 key number pad.

.0 to .9 hold Holding the keys will trigger orientation in AutoCAD® and Desktop products (i.e., [4]hold will trigger a <180{enter}). Under Photoshop®, [4]hold will send a 180{enter} (see Figure 11). After both {enter}'s in each example, it will toggle the Number mode and restore you to normal keyin mode.

.. Hitting the [.] will enter a decimal character.

.PC. BS/U In the Number Mode layout, the PC key triggers a "BackSpace" for wrongly entered numbers or symbols.

.CR. ENTER Hitting the [CR] [Enter] key will send an {enter} to the drawing application, as well as toggling from Number Mode back to Normal Keyin Mode.

.5. hold Hitting the [5]hold under AutoCAD® will send the "Close" command.

.0. hold Hitting the [0]hold will send an "Escape" command.


Page | 15

PC / State keyins

PC Key

The [PC] key (which denotes Pause Continue) is used to Continue the playing of Pauses programmed into a macro. Once a PC key has completed the contents of a macro that HAS programmed pauses in it, pressing the PC key again will restart the whole process over again. PC is also used anytime after any other 2‐key keyin is used. The [S]State key is used to toggle macro set overlays in products that support it (non‐Hotkey key applications). Under hotkey based applications, the State [hold] is a Shift State keyin (see C‐A‐S keyins). But, under the function layout (hit [FN]key to access function layout), the State key is a programmable/temporary macro recorder/player (see State Recorder/Player on page 18, for a more detailed description). All colorized keys fall into this keyin group and only the yellow legend is active in this mode (see Figure 11 below).

Keys Legend

PRO XT .A. PC Alt state (PRO XT)

PRO/BASIC/BASIC LT .PC. BS/U Pause/Continue

PRO XT .S. State Shift state (main overlay) Recorder/Player (function overlay)

Figure 11

.


Page | 16

C‐A‐S keyins C‐A‐S keys are the [A] [B] [C] [D] keys and the vertical [C] [A] [S] keys on the right, as indicated by the colorized keys below (see Figure 12). C‐A‐S stands for Control‐Alt‐Shift. Example: the [D] key in the C‐A‐S mode will trigger a "Control‐Alt‐Shift" state when that key is held. The C‐A‐S keyins are only available on the PRO XT version of the keypad. C‐A‐S keys are only active in products that take advantage of the C‐A‐S keyins (i.e., Photoshop®, MAX®, Maya®, etc.). Products like AutoCAD® ignore the C‐A‐S keyins and treat the keys as Alpha keyins or 1‐Key keyins. To use: Pre‐Hold the key, the Pre‐Hold timer will fire. When fired, the C‐A‐S state is in mode. When you release the key, the C‐A‐S state is released.

Keys Legend

.A. CA Control‐Alt state

.B. CS Control‐Shift state

.C. AS Alt‐Shift state

.D. CAS Control‐Alt‐Shift state

.C. C Control state

.A. A Alt state

.S. S Shift state

Figure 12


Page | 17

Function keyins The Function keyins are normal keyboard characters that can be traditionally found on your standard keyboard. These keys are useful and used in certain products. To help keep your LaunchPad hand from having to leave the keypad, LaunchPad has placed those special characters on the keypad. To access those keys you will need to place the keypad into "Function Mode." To do this, press the [FN] button in the lower left corner. There will be a GREEN [Fn] icon in place of the LaunchPad Space Shuttle icon in the lower right icon tray. This helps you to know that you are in the Function Mode. From that point, all of the yellow highlighted characters shown on the PRO XT keypad are made available (see Figure 13). On another note, the [C]num button will toggle into Number Mode from the Function Mode layout. There you can enter numbers, and when done, selecting the [C]num button will restore you back to the Function Mode Overlay. When you are done with the Function Mode Overlay, select the [FN] button again. This will restore you to the main overlay. PRO XT is the only keypad that supports this mode.

Figure 13


Page | 18

[S] State ‐ Recorder/Player

The [S] State key, when used under the "Function Overlay," is configured to allow users to record and play temporary "on‐the‐fly" macros that can be used to perform repeated tasks quickly and efficiently and then throw them away when they are done using them.

Recording Mode To put the Recorder in recording mode, first make sure you are in the "Function Overlay." To do so, click the [FN] key to toggle the "Function Overlay State." To know if you are in the "Function Overlay," look to the icon tray and see if the GREEN [Fn] icon, in place of the LaunchPad Space Shuttle icon, is on. If it is, then press the [S] State key and hold it. This will trigger the Recorder and a popup window will display indicating that it has started (see Figure 14).

Figure 14

Once the window displays, start typing the commands you would like to record. If you need a mouse pick, or if you have a macro that needs variable data typed into your macro, then inserting a PAUSE will be needed (see below). Inserting PAUSE(s) To insert a PAUSE into your macro, click and hold the [A]PC key under the "Function Overlay." Once pressed, a popup window will display indicating that the PAUSED was programmed into your macro (see Figure 15).

Figure 15

Saving the Macro To stop the recording of your macro, click and hold the [S]State key. Once pressed, a popup window will display indicating that the macro has been STOPPED (see Figure 16).

Figure 16

Playing Mode To play your macro, all you need to do is click (without holding) the [S]State key. Once pressed, you will notice your macro playing in your drawing editor. The macro will play itself out until it either reaches the end of the macro, or if it encounters a recorded PAUSE, the macro will stop playing. This will allow you to either enter mouse picks or type variable data. Once entered, reselect the [S]State key and the balance of the macro will be played. Multiple PAUSES can be recorded into a macro. Once a macro has completed, hitting the [S]State key will repeat the entire playing process over again.

understanding the keypad

Documents