Keyboard Mnemonics and Special Keys
Unlike OpenWindows applications, CDE applications use mnemonics, or memorable key combinations, to enable you to select menu items without using the mouse. Mnemonics for a menu item are indicated by an underlined letter in the menu item name, such as the letter F in the File menu in File Manager. You activate a menu by pressing the Alt key and the underlined key, for example Alt+F to activate the File menu in File Manager.
As with OpenWindows, CDE supports the standard keyboards supplied with SunTM WorkstationsTM. For keyboards on IA-based systems, you need to use special key combinations, such as Control+Alt for the Meta key, to emulate keys not provided.
| Task or Feature | OpenWindows Method | CDE Method |
|---|---|---|
| To access a menu | Point and click |
Point and click the mouse. Use keyboard mnemonics (Alt+underlined _key) |
| To switch the focus from one application window to another | Click on the window | Click on the window, or press Alt+Tab repeatedly until the window has the focus |
| Key mappings | OpenWindows defaults | CDE defaults (same as OpenWindows defaults) |
| Delete key | Deletes previous character | Deletes next character |
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