Mapping Emulator Function Keys with Laptop Touchpads

IBM i PF CMD Keys

I like big old physical keyboard buttons for my big old physical fingers, and occasional thumb.

All IBM-i Programmers will be painfully aware of the constant usage of a range of Function keys ranging from PF/01 through PF/24 (or CMD01-CMD24 in old 1980’s language).

Functions keys ranging from PF03 (Exit) to PF05 (Refresh) to PF12 (Previous) to PF15 (Subset) to PF23 (Options) are commonly used through many IBM i Applications. Using this in modern laptops is simple enough… until you come up against one o these clever laptop keyboards with virtual top row smart bar. Or of course, try using a mobile device with a virtual keyboard.

On my desk today, I am using three completely different devices with three different keyboard layouts:

I love my old Thinkpad X1 Carbon (middle image) but I detest the smart bar on the top row. The constant switching function to switch between insert/delete and Function Keys is a royal P.I.T.A.

The solution to this problem?

IBM i ACS has a nice solution with the very obvious KEYPAD view:

and this shows us an easily clickable alternative to finding those pesky Emulator Function Keys on the keyboard