COPYRIGHT (C) PFU LIMITED 1999 Happy Hacking Cradle Driver Manual Release Date: Oct/27/1999 ========================= 1. About the "HHC driver" ========================= The "HHC driver" is special software that works with the PalmOS to allow you to connect a Happy Hacking Keyboard (or similar) to your 3COM PalmIII series, or IBM WorkPad series organizer. It will provide most applications the ability to accept keyboard input. The main characteristics of the "HHC driver" are: * It is a low-level system extender, NOT an application, and so enables keyboard input for most applications. As the keyboard is connected through the serial port, network access will prevent keyboard use. * On-screen text may be selected by holding the keyboard's Shift key down and using the cursor keys, just as you do with a normal desktop computer. The "HHC driver" requires the following environment to run: * Compatible Devices: PalmIII, PalmIIIx, PalmIIIe, WorkPad 8602-30, 8602-30X, 8602-30J * Compatible OS: PalmOS 3.0 or higher * Compatible Keyboards: Happy Hacking Keyboard Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite 104-Key Keyboard 101-Key Keyboard ================= 2. Usage Cautions ================= * The "HHC driver" cannot be used in conjunction with other keyboard drivers. * While the "HHC driver" has been validated for use with a wide variety of applications, for obvious reasons it has NOT been checked for compatibility with ALL applications, and so 100% usability cannot be guaranteed. However, if you do have compatibility problems with some application you are using, please do not hesitate to let us know. ========================= 3. Using the "HHC driver" ========================= +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Note: Refer to the accompanying "Happy Hacking Cradle User's Guide" | | for a detailed description of how to install the "HHC driver" | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ (1) Setting up for keyboard use Before you can actually use the keyboard you have to work through the following four simple steps: "Connect the keyboard"; "Turn the Happy Hacking Cradle ON"; "Switch the serial port"; and "Start the HHC driver". * Connect the keyboard Attach the keyboard's connector cable to the Happy Hacking Cradle's keyboard connector. * Turn the Happy Hacking Cradle ON Move the Happy Hacking Cradle's Selector Switch to the KB(ON) position. Check that the LED flashes twice, then turns off. If the LED flashes continuously, or does not flash at all, this indicates that the Cradle's batteries should be replaced. * Switch the serial port If you are using 3COM's IR Enhancement, IrLink, or some other software that utilizes the IR port, then the "Cradle (Serial Port)" setting should be selected. If the IR port is selected, the keyboard will not be usable. If you are not using IR Enhancement, IrLink, etc. or are using IBM's IrSynchronize, then this step may be skipped. * Start the HHC driver Tap the Home icon to bring up the list of available applications. Find the "HHC driver" icon and tap it to set it running (this also opens the Keyboard Driver screen). After the "HHC driver" has started, press the "Start" button. The message "Now you can type" should appear, indicating that keyboard access has been enabled. This screen allows for test input from the keyboard, so try typing something and check that what you typed appears in the test area. Refer to section 6. "Troubleshooting" if there are any problems. (2) Tidying up after keyboard use After you have finished using use the keyboard you should work through the following three simple steps: "Stop the HHC driver"; "Turn the Happy Hacking Cradle OFF"; and "Disconnect the keyboard". * Stop the HHC driver The HHC driver may be stopped by any of the following three methods: a) Tap the Home icon to bring up the list of available applications. Find the "HHC driver" icon and tap it to open the Keyboard Driver screen. Press the "Stop" button. "Driver stopped. Now you can HotSync" should appear on the screen, indicating that the HHC driver has been disabled. b) Entering the "Alt+<>+q" key combination from the keyboard will also stop the HHC driver. +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Note: On a 104-Key Keyboard the equivalent of the <> key (Meta key) | | is the Windows key. | | On a 101-Key Keyboard the Control key may be made equivalent | | to the <> key (Meta key) in the driver settings. | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ c) If the Selector Switch on the side of the Happy Hacking Cradle is moved to the Serial(OFF) position, the HHC driver automatically shuts itself down. * Turn the Happy Hacking Cradle OFF Move the Happy Hacking Cradle's Selector Switch to the Serial(OFF) position. This completely isolates the Palm device from the keyboard, and in this state it is ready to HotSync as needed. * Disconnect the keyboard Detach the keyboard from the Happy Hacking Cradle. ============================== 4. Data entry via the keyboard ============================== (1) Text Input Text may be entered just as with a regular desktop computer, and if a key is held down for a given period, it will start auto-repeating. The Caps Lock key also functions as usual (press it once to enter Shift mode, press it again to exit Shift mode). If the Shift key is held down and the Up/Down/Left/Right Cursor keys are pressed, the entry cursor moves on the screen, highlighting any text under it as it goes. The Left/Right Cursor keys will move the entry cursor one character left/right, while the Up/Down Cursor keys will move the entry cursor up/down a whole line at a time. (2) Special Key Combinations Pressing combinations of the Alt key and <> key (Meta key) with other keys allows a number of special functions to be invoked: Alt+b : Switches the backlight On/Off Alt+f : Opens the Find/Search dialog box (equivalent to tapping the Search icon) Alt+l : Starts the Launcher (equivalent to tapping the Home icon) Alt+Up Cursor : Scrolls up one screen (equivalent to tapping the Up scroll button) Alt+Down Cursor : Scrolls down one screen (equivalent to tapping the Up scroll button) <>+Up Cursor : Moves the entry point to the previous field (when entering addresses, etc.) <>+Down Cursor : Moves the entry point to the next field (when entering addresses, etc.) <>+Alphanumeric : Executes the equivalent menu shortcut Alt+<>+q : Stops the HHC keyboard driver =================== 5.Advanced Settings =================== (1) Keyboard Driver Settings Such items as the key click sound, key repeat start time, and key repeat rate may be freely changed as desired. If you are using a 101-Key Keyboard, then the Control key may be assigned as equivalent to the <> (Meta) key. Tap the Home icon to bring up the list of available applications. Find the "HHC driver" icon and tap it to open the Keyboard Driver screen, then press the "Setting..." button. The settings screen should appear. "Click Sound" sets the key click sound: * OFF : No key clicks (default setting) * Hi : there is a high pitched click when a key is pressed * Med : there is a medium pitch click when a key is pressed * Low : there is a low pitched click when a key is pressed "Use Control as Command" changes the Control key function: If the checkbox is checked, the Control will emulate the <> (Meta) key. To enable use of key commands this setting should be checked if you have a 101-Key Keyboard (the default setting is unchecked). "Repeat Initial Delay" sets the key repeat start time: * Long : keys start repeating only after a long delay * Medium : keys start repeating after a medium delay (default setting) * Short : keys start repeating after a short delay * Off : keys do not repeat "Repeat Speed" sets the key repeat rate: * Slow : keys repeat at a slow pace * Medium : keys repeat at a medium pace (default setting) * Fast : keys repeat at a rapid pace The test field may be used to check the effects of the different settings. Pressing the "OK" button will save the new settings. Pressing the "Cancel" button will revert any changed settings to their previous state. ================== 6. Troubleshooting ================== When the "HHC driver" is started a number of messages are possible: >> "Successfully started. Now you can type." Means : The HHC driver is now running and the keyboard may be used. >> "Failed in starting. Serial port is used by other application. Please soft reset and retry." Means : The HHC driver was not able to start because the serial port is being used by some other application. Causes : Another keyboard driver is running. : The Modem or IR Link, etc. is being used. : A debugger is running. Action : If the cause is known, then resolve the problem and try to start the HHC driver again. : If the cause is not known, do a Soft Reset and then try to start the HHC driver again. >> "Failed in starting. Please soft reset and retry." Means : The HHC driver was not able to start. Cause : Unknown error. Memory shortage can cause this. Action : Do a Soft Reset and try to start the HHC driver again. >> "Failed in starting. Keyboard is not connected." Means : The HHC driver was not able to start because the keyboard is not responding. Causes : The keyboard may not be connected properly. : The Happy Hacking Cradle's Selector Switch may be in the SERIAL(OFF) position. : The Happy Hacking Cradle's batteries may need replacing. Action : Resolve the problem, then try to start the HHC driver again. =============== 7. Support Info =============== Happy Hacking Cradle related support, including provision of the most recent version of the "HHC driver" for download, is available via the following URL: http://www.pfuca.com Happy Hacking Cradle related e-mail may be sent to the following address: hhc@pfuca.com ------------------------------------------------------ * Palm, PalmIII, PalmIIIx, PalmIIIe and HotSync are registered trademarks of Palm Computing, Inc. * WorkPad and PS/2 are registered trademarks of the IBM Corporation.