APLXKeyboardLayouts

APLX Keyboard Layouts

The APLX interpreter supports two popular keyboard layouts. The screen shots included here for reference are taken from the Windows version of APLX. The Macintosh and Linux versions are similar:

The Unified APL layout

This is similar to an ordinary ASCII keyboard layout for unshifted and shifted keys. Special APL symbols are obtained by using AltGr or Shift-AltGr combinations (Alt on the Macintosh). If you are learning APL, MicroAPL recommends that you use this layout.

The Standard or Traditional APL layout

This is based on the traditional APL keyboard where alphabetic keys unshifted give upper-case letters, shifted give APL symbols, and with the Alt or AltGr key give lower-case letters. It is recommended only for people who are used to programming in APL using a special APL keyboard.

Within these two schemes APLX also lets you choose between different language versions, for example a keyboard layout including all the characters needed to type Danish or French.

Customisation

In addition the keyboard layout can be fully customised, as shown in the following screen shot

The QuickSym Popup

The QuickSym feature of APLX allows you to enter special APL symbols without using a special keyboard layout. By pressing a single key (the 'Menu' key in Windows, which is usually to the right of the space bar next to the Ctrl key, or a function key - by default F1 - under MacOS), you can bring up a panel which displays the APL symbols:

For more information on entering symbols in APL, see here

Author: SimonMarsden

CategoryAplx