Hello all, Much earlier this year I mentioned there are iPhone apps that emulate numeric keypads, and that in addition to being able to enter numeric data this way (on both Macs and PCs), on a Mac it is possible to turn on NumPad Commander and use these numeric keypad apps to run the custom VoiceOver shortcuts in the NumPad Commander menus. The specific advantage is that for laptops that do not have numeric keypads you can use your iPhone or iPod Touch running such an app to use NumPad Commander shortcuts with VoiceOver and customize your frequently used keystrokes to keys on the (virtual) numeric keypad of the iPhone app. When you have NumPad Commander turned on, and the numeric keypad running through the app you can, for instance, touch the "+" key of the virtual numeric keypad to interact instead of pressing the Control-Option-Shift-Down Arrow keys on your laptop for the same functions. The numeric keypad apps can also be used to enter shortcuts for the Sibelius music program when you use a laptop.
Last month David Poehlman wrote: > I have noticed a marked change in some apps like number key for > instance. sad I was hoping to use it for numpad commander but when > adding a modifier, it does not pass the key. David was referring to a specific numeric keypad app named "NumberKey" (and "NumberKey Free") by Balmuda Design LTD and the fact that although it correctly passed on NumPad Commander definitions when you pressed single keys, it did not work correctly for NumPad Commander definitions in instances where you hold down a Shift key, Control key, or Command key on your keyboard while you double tap the numeric keypad key on the app. At the time I posted back: <begin quote> The problem with NumberKey Free (and Remote Key) is that they haven't been updated since iPhone 2.2.1. The last update of the iPhone software (to iPhone 2), broke the functionality of the earlier version of the app. It's possible that the additional functionality of working for NumPad Commander with the modifier keys could be put in if they updated to iPhone 3.0. The designers of the NumberKey app (Balmuda Design LTD) are in Japan, so I don't know how easy it would be to contact them for a fix. Alternatively, there's another paid app by Edovia called "NumPad - Wireless Numeric KeyPad" ($2.99): http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=297623436&mt=8 The latest version has been released for iPhone 3.0, so this might work. <end quote> I'm reporting that Edovia's "NumPad" does correctly handle modifier keys in NumPad Commander so, for example, if I enable NumPad Commander under VoiceOver on my MacBook and press the Shift key on my laptop while I double tap or split tap the "1" on the (virtual) numeric keypad on my iPod Touch (sitting to the right of my laptop keyboard), VoiceOver will move to the last item in a table or list, as though I had pressed Control-Option-Fn-Shift-Right arrow on my laptop keyboard. If you use NumPad, Mac users will need to setup screen sharing under the sharing menu of System Preferences by checking the box to turn this service on. (There are different instructions for Windows use at the support web site.) I also password protect this by then pressing (VO-Space) the button for "Computer Settings" and checking the box for "VNC viewers may control screen with password" and then type a password into the text field of the dialog window. When you password protect your screen sharing session, you will have to additionally type in a password when you select the server (laptop or desktop computer) you connect to in the app. The sequence goes as follows: 1. when you launch the app, the numeric keypad comes up, with focus on the "Network" button (at the top right) 2. double tap or split tap the "Network" button 3. you'll be on the "Servers" page with an entry labeled "Tap on a server to connect". If you have followed the instructions for setting up screen sharing on your computer(s) and they are on the same network as your iPhone/iPod Touch, they will show up automatically in the list. Choose your computer (which should be connected to the same network as your iPhone or iPod Touch) and double tap or split tap. 4. flick right to the "More Info" button and double tap 5. you'll be on the "Server Details" page that lists the name and IP address of your selected server. Flick right until you come to the password field entry and double tap so that you can enter your password. 6. when you've entered your password and tapped the "Done" button at the bottom right of the keyboard you'll be returned to the "Server Details" screen. Flick left to navigate back to the "Servers" button in the upper left corner or touch it directly and double tap. 7. in the list of servers to connect to, double tap again to select your computer. 8. flick left to the "Done" button in the upper right corner and double tap to be returned to the numeric keypad screen. Other comments: • Read through the support documentation for NumPad at Edovia's web site: http://www.edovia.com/support • You can also run NumPad on an ad hoc network consisting of only computer and your iPhone/iPod Touch. (I'm not sure of the Windows's instructions, but on the Mac instead of selecting a network under the wireless menu, you choose "Create Network…" and assign a name like "Esther's MacBook". Then you choose this as the network that your iPhone or iPod Touch joins). • There's a settings menu for the app that can either be accessed from the main iPhone Settings app under "NumPad" or from the screen where you select which server (computer) you connect to. Several user configurations such as disabling sleep mode, enabling auto-connect, or playing keyboard sound can be set there, and the decimal separator can be set to either period or comma. The "delete" key can be set to clear or to delete. One of the "skin" options is setting up the numpad for Sibelius keys. As far as I know, an accessible interface to the Sibelius music composition program only exists under Windows, but this "skin" option seems as though it could be useful for laptop users of Sibelius. Hope this is useful and of interest, if a bit lengthy. Cheers, Esther -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en.
