Bidirectional Keyboard Functions for 3270

The keys unique to Bidirectional 3270 are:
  • Language selection: This function is activated by the key combination Alt+Shift and allows you to change the language layer. If the language layer is Latin, pressing the Alt+RightShift key combination changes the language layer to Arabic. If the language layer is Arabic, pressing the Alt+LeftShift key combination changes the language layer to Latin.
  • Screen Reverse: This function is activated by the key combination Alt+NewLine and reverses the screen image. If the screen orientation is left-to-right, pressing this key combination reverses the screen image right-to-left. If the screen orientation is right-to-left, pressing this key combination reverses the screen image to left-to-right.

    Note that the operator information area is not reversed by this operation.

    When the screen orientation is changed, the language layer is changed to the default language of the new screen orientation. If the screen is reversed to right-to-left, then the language is changed to Arabic. If the screen is reversed to left-to-right, then the language is changed to one using Latin characters.

    If the swapping of symmetric characters is enabled, the inversion of the screen causes directional characters to be replaced by their counterparts.

    If the swapping of numeric characters is enabled, the inversion of the screen causes Hindi numerals to be replaced by their Arabic counterparts and the Arabic numerals to be replaced by their Hindi counterparts.

  • Field Reverse: This function is activated by the key combination Alt+NumLock and toggles the field orientation to either opposite to or the same as the screen orientation. The text in the field is not inverted. The cursor orientation is set equal to the new field orientation and the language layer is selected accordingly.

    If the cursor is in the first logical position of a field or line, when you select the field reverse function, the cursor skips to the other side of that field or line, which becomes the first logical position. If the cursor was not in the first position of the field or line, when selecting the field reverse function, the cursor remains in its position and allows natural and correct editing of existing text.

  • Auto Field Reverse: This function is activated by the key combination Alt+NumPad5, which toggles the auto field reverse mode for the current screen orientation.
    Auto field reverse affects the automatic selection of the field orientation of unprotected fields:
    • When auto field reverse is disabled, upon initial entry to a field (whether numeric or alphanumeric), the field orientation is always set equal to the screen orientation.
    • When auto field reverse is enabled, upon initial entry to an alphanumeric field, the field orientation will be set to right-to-left (for both left-to-right and right-to-left screen orientations).
    • When auto field reverse is enabled, upon initial entry to a numeric field, the field orientation will be set to left-to-right (for both left-to-right and right-to-left screen orientations).
  • Push/End Push: This function is activated by the key combination Shift+NumLock and allows the entering and editing of text whose direction is opposite from the field direction. When this function is activated, the cursor orientation is reversed, the language layer is changed accordingly, and a push segment is created.
    The PUSH function has two secondary modes:
    • Boundary mode: This mode is activated upon entering push mode. In this mode, the cursor remains in its position, and the typing of additional characters pushes the text in the direction opposite from the field direction. To indicate this boundary mode, the cursor has a block shape.
    • Edit mode: This mode is activated when the cursor is moved from its boundary position into the PUSH SEGMENT area. In this mode, you can edit the text within the PUSH segment, while typing in the field's natural direction.
    END PUSH, activated by the Shift+NumLock key sequence, terminates the push mode.
    Note:
    In Windows® mode, END PUSH is activated by the Shift+Numpad/ key sequence.

    The cursor jumps to the end of the PUSH segment, and its direction changes to the original direction. You can also perform END PUSH by pressing any field exit keys (for example, Cursor Up or Cursor Down) or an AID key (for example, Enter)

  • AutoPush: This function is activated by the key combination Alt+NumPad/ and assists the terminal operator in typing mixed left-to-right and right-to-left text. When enabled, reversed segments are automatically initiated and terminated, according to the entered character or the selected language layer. This mode relieves the operator from manually pressing Push, as it is automatically invoked.
    • In right-to-left fields, typing a digit or a Latin letter causes the automatic initiation of Push, without language change. Further Latin letters or digits will continue the push mode; any other character automatically terminates push mode. This feature allows you to type Arabic text with imbedded numbers or Latin words without using Push/End Push.
    • In left-to-right fields, typing an Arabic character or special character causes the automatic initiation of Push, without language change. Typing any digit or Latin character causes the automatic termination of the mode. This allows the user to type Latin text with imbedded Arabic words using language layer selection rather than Push/End Push.