KTM v1.04 To leave this help screen, hold down the key and press . Many DOS and Windows programs make use of the function keys. They can increase your productivity by allowing frequently used commands to be executed with a single keystroke. The problem is, it's not always easy to remember which function key does what. For example, Lotus Symphony has twenty-three function key combinations defined, and WordPerfect for Windows has sixty-four key combinations for you to remember! F1 is usually the "help" key, but beyond that, there is very little consistency between programs. Some commercial software comes with keyboard templates, but they get lost easily, and their formats are not always consistent. "KTM" is a program that allows you to store and print your own keyboard templates. Since they are created by the same program, you can arrange all of them the same way. The first row above each key represents the function of that key by itself, the second line up represents the function of that key when the is held down, the third line represents the key with , and the fourth line shows the function of the key with the key. At the top of the template, the key names are repeated, and the name of the program is shown in the top left. On the right, you can enter the function of other key combinations. Of course, you are free to change the arrangement around, but you will probably want your templates to follow the same pattern. All of your templates are stored in files with the "KTM" extension. A special file called "BLANK.KTM" is used to store your basic pattern. These are text files, so you can edit them using another text editor if you really want to. The menus and the editing keys work the way most programs do. You can get to the menus by using a mouse or by holding down the key and pressing the highlighted letter on the appropriate menu. I have included templates for several applications, such as WordPerfect and Quattro Pro. Just choose File|Open to see a list of them. Pick the one you want to print and then choose "OK". If you are using a program that is not listed, then pick "BLANK.KTM". Choosing File|New also brings up BLANK.KTM. The file will be placed in the main window, where you can edit the text. You can press the key to toggle between insert and overwrite modes, but you will probably want to use overwrite mode most of the time. To save the template for future use, choose File|Save. Give the template a descriptive filename, up to eight characters followed by ".KTM". Be careful not to save it as "BLANK.KTM" unless you want to change the default arrangement as discussed below. To print the file, choose File|Print. Your printer must be capable of printing in "compressed" width. If you are using a wide-carriage printer, you can select File|Print_setup and then check the box next to "wide carriage". This program has been tested mainly with Epson printers, but it should work with most other dot matrix printers. Sorry, laser printers are not supported. Look at the end of this help file for a program which does support laser printers. If you have a keyboard with a non-standard arrangement of function keys, you can edit the BLANK.KTM file and save it as BLANK.KTM. For example, many portable computers have narrower function keys with no gaps after F4 and F8. This program is released as "bannerware". This means that you can make copies of it and distribute them, but do not decompile or modify it. There is no registration charge for using this software. Please let me know if you have any problems with this program, or any suggestions for enhancements. The CompuServe account number should always be valid, even if I move. Mike Adams 911 Willow Oak Dr. Columbia SC 29223 CompuServe 71461,1256 (c) 1994 -- NOW AVAILABLE -- KTW: a Function Key Template Printer for Windows If you like KTM, but prefer to work with real Windows applications, KTW is for you. It is similar to the program you are now using, except that you enter the text into a spreadsheet-like grid. It will work with just about any Windows-compatible printer, including laser printers! You can also print the templates sideways, eliminating the need to cut-and-paste, even if you don't have a wide-carriage printer. The cost is only $15, including shipping and handling! Yes, the Windows program can read data files entered with the DOS program, so in most cases you will not have to re-type anything. Just send $15 to the address above! Specify which disk size you want.