60-key QWERTY Keyboard

The 60-key keyboard has 101 keyboard functions, including a numeric keyboard pad. Please refer to Key Maps for keypress combinations.

The 60 key keyboard is also available with overlays designed for use with IBM 3270 and IBM 5250 terminal emulations.

Key Maps

The 60-key keyboard supports all 101 keyboard functions. However, because the keyboard only has 60 keys, all functions are not visible (or printed on the keyboard). Therefore the Thor VX8 keyboard supports what is called hidden keys -- keys that are accessible but not visible on the keyboard.

On standard keyboards many keys are found in the Alphanumeric section as well as on the Numeric keypad (i.e. the 1 key is found on the numeric keypad and above the alpha characters on standard keyboards). However these keys send distinctly different scan codes when the keys are pressed. The default codes for the Thor VX8 number keys correspond to the numeric keypad on standard keyboards. In order to duplicate the codes sent when the alphanumeric key is pressed, the hidden keystroke must be used.

The hidden keys supported by the Thor VX8 are listed in Key Maps.

Unused Key Functions

There are several key functions on the 60-key keyboard that are not used on the Thor VX8. These include:

•2nd F3 – The Resume/Suspend function is not used as Microsoft Windows controls all power management modes.

•2nd F4 and 2nd F5 – The Display Brightness functions are not used as the display brightness is adjusted by the buttons on the Thor VX8.

•2nd F6 and 2nd F7 – The Contrast functions are not used as the contrast is not adjustable on the TFT display on the Thor VX8.

•2nd F8 and 2nd F9 – The Volume control keys are not used as volume is adjusted via the Microsoft Windows Volume icon in the System Tray.

•2nd F10 – Please see below for details on toggling the keyboard backlight.

NumLock

The 60-key keyboard does not have a NumLock indicator or key. NumLock can be toggled On or Off using the 2nd SHIFT F10 keypress sequence. Changes made to the NumLock status persist across a Windows restart.

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