Just curious - Does anyone use the ScrollLock key?

Bob Russell · 05-05-2010, 09:10 PM

I have vague memories of using Scroll Lock with Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheets, but other than that it just confuses me when I accidentally push it.

So I'm wondering, as I look at my Dell Mini 9 netbook keyboard that is without a Scroll Lock or SysRq key, whether they have any modern day usage.

Or, even more interesting, does anyone here actually use those keys?

I think I used SysRq with a terminal emulator for a mainframe, but it's been so long I don't remember. Does that ring a bell with anyone?

Gerli · 05-05-2010, 11:05 PM

Never used it, but it turns on a little light so... it's cool with me

SneakySnake · 05-06-2010, 12:20 AM

Now you make me feel old. I too have vague memories with Lotus 123. In the days when spreadsheets were one big mother of a spreadsheet and we had to make our own pages in descending diamonds so that inserting rows or columns did not mess it up. And then we got windows wow, and then we got excel wow, and never have I used the scroll lock key since. Geez I feel old now.

Just noticed my keyboard doesn't even have a scroll lock!

wodin · 05-06-2010, 01:20 AM

Mine does, but not a system request key. It does have a "Pause" key though, which I've never used either.

Sweetpea · 05-06-2010, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Russell

I have vague memories of using Scroll Lock with Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheets, but other than that it just confuses me when I accidentally push it.

So I'm wondering, as I look at my Dell Mini 9 netbook keyboard that is without a Scroll Lock or SysRq key, whether they have any modern day usage.

Or, even more interesting, does anyone here actually use those keys?

I think I used SysRq with a terminal emulator for a mainframe, but it's been so long I don't remember. Does that ring a bell with anyone?

Scroll lock I've never used (I didn't even know what it did until I had pushed it by accident the other day while I was using Excel...). The SysReq is doubled up on the PrintScreen button, which I do use regularly. No idea what SysReq is though...

kindlekitten · 05-06-2010, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerli

Never used it, but it turns on a little light so... it's cool with me

actually with mine it shares the numbers lock and turns off a little light!

GeoffC · 05-06-2010, 07:58 AM

oh - that key !

well, I never ....

nope.

TGS · 05-06-2010, 08:07 AM

The wonderful Wikipedia on the function of the Scroll Lock key in various applications

Bob Russell · 05-06-2010, 08:25 AM

Yes, indeed. Good articles in Wikipedia on Scroll Lock and SysRq.

But Wikipedia is as dangerous as it is wonderful - sometimes I just can't seem to stop myself from reading all the related articles in a never ending thirst for information. Found this interesting tidbit in my wandering from this topic...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UCSD_p-System

Seems that in addition to PC-DOS and CP/M, the original IBM PC also had an OS called UCSD p-System offered, which was a machine independent OS. It used a virtual machine to accomplish this. And, something I hadn't known at all despite being somewhat familiar with Java is the following

Quote:

James Gosling cites UCSD Pascal as a key influence (along with the Smalltalk virtual machine) on the design of the Java virtual machine.

But, anyway, back to the Scroll Lock key. I do find it fascinating to remember now how it was useful for scrolling the whole screen instead of moving the cursor. I suppose it's true that scroll bars pretty much make it irrelevant these days, unless one is trying to do something with keyboard only - not such an easy feat these days, unfortunately.

dsvick · 05-06-2010, 11:05 AM

I dont think I've ever used either of them, here are a couple I use all the time though....

Steven Lyle Jordan · 05-06-2010, 01:06 PM

The what?

DuncanWatson · 05-06-2010, 01:39 PM

I have only used it when needing keys for games or whatever and then I mapped it to a function.

It isn't a very useful key because it is not easy to reach when typing at all. I don't use capslock either except when I map it to my left control key instead.

wodin · 05-06-2010, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

No idea what SysReq is though...

It's "System Request", it's left over from the days of mainframes when PCs were often used as terminal emulators. It was a way to get the attention of the mainframe.

alecE · 05-06-2010, 04:15 PM

Now I too am feeling ancient. Haven't ever used scroll lock except by accident since I first played with a Sinclair ZX80, likewise SysReq. (And how can 30-odd years just whizz by like that? Cackles in senile fashion and trips over his long white beard...)

ShortNCuddlyAm · 05-06-2010, 04:28 PM

I haven't used the scroll lock key for an awful long time, although I have had to advise others about it. It's annoying that modern keyboards still have it - accidental pressings cause quite a few support calls.

05-05-2010, 09:10 PM	#1
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Just curious - Does anyone use the ScrollLock key? I have vague memories of using Scroll Lock with Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheets, but other than that it just confuses me when I accidentally push it. So I'm wondering, as I look at my Dell Mini 9 netbook keyboard that is without a Scroll Lock or SysRq key, whether they have any modern day usage. Or, even more interesting, does anyone here actually use those keys? I think I used SysRq with a terminal emulator for a mainframe, but it's been so long I don't remember. Does that ring a bell with anyone?

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SneakySnake I'm watching you! Posts: 6,113 Karma: 22344652 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sunny Coast Qld, OZ Device: Sony PRS-900(unused lately) iPadAir2, want me Kindle Oasis	Now you make me feel old. I too have vague memories with Lotus 123. In the days when spreadsheets were one big mother of a spreadsheet and we had to make our own pages in descending diamonds so that inserting rows or columns did not mess it up. And then we got windows wow, and then we got excel wow, and never have I used the scroll lock key since. Geez I feel old now. Just noticed my keyboard doesn't even have a scroll lock!

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wodin Illiterate Posts: 10,279 Karma: 37848716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Sandwich Isles Device: Samsung Galaxy S10+, Microsoft Surface Pro	Mine does, but not a system request key. It does have a "Pause" key though, which I've never used either.

05-06-2010, 07:58 AM	#7
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	oh - that key ! well, I never .... nope.

05-06-2010, 08:07 AM	#8
TGS Country Member Posts: 9,058 Karma: 7676767 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Denmark Device: Liseuse: Irex DR800. PRS 505 in the house, and the missus has an iPad.	The wonderful Wikipedia on the function of the Scroll Lock key in various applications

05-06-2010, 11:05 AM	#10
dsvick Wizard Posts: 2,737 Karma: 635747 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northeast Ohio, USA Device: PRS-900	I dont think I've ever used either of them, here are a couple I use all the time though....

05-06-2010, 01:06 PM	#11
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	The what?

05-06-2010, 01:39 PM	#12
DuncanWatson Kindle Convert Posts: 190 Karma: 62704 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Woodinville, WA, USA Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Nook (all)	I have only used it when needing keys for games or whatever and then I mapped it to a function. It isn't a very useful key because it is not easy to reach when typing at all. I don't use capslock either except when I map it to my left control key instead.

05-06-2010, 04:15 PM	#14
alecE Evangelist Posts: 412 Karma: 546196 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: UK canal boat Device: sony prs505, prs650, kobo Glo HD liseuses	Now I too am feeling ancient. Haven't ever used scroll lock except by accident since I first played with a Sinclair ZX80, likewise SysReq. (And how can 30-odd years just whizz by like that? Cackles in senile fashion and trips over his long white beard...)

05-06-2010, 04:28 PM	#15
ShortNCuddlyAm WWHALD Posts: 7,879 Karma: 337114 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mitcham, Surrey, UK Device: iPad. Selling my silver 505 here	I haven't used the scroll lock key for an awful long time, although I have had to advise others about it. It's annoying that modern keyboards still have it - accidental pressings cause quite a few support calls.

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