It also provides the ability to map ANSI characters back into raw codes. Keymap.library offers some of the keymap commands of the vice, enabling applications to inquire after the default keymap and map key codes to ANSI characters. In this article, the term ANSI refers to the standard 8-bit character definitions which include printable ASCII characters, special characters, and escape sequences. Programs which perform keyboard input using the vice, CON:, RAW:, or Intuition VANILLAKEY, will receive custom keymaps, or may need to perform their own translation between raw key codes and ANSI characters. This includes the translation of special deadkey sequential key combinations to produce accented international characters. The vice translates the raw key codes into the correct characters based on the installed keymap. Generally, the user's startup-sequence will set a system default keymap that is correct for the user's keyboard. A keymap is a file which describes what character or string is tied to what key code. This allows national keyboards to be supported by using keymaps.

The Amiga uses the ECMA-94 Latin 1 International 8-bit character set, and can map raw key codes to any desired ANSI character value, string, or escape sequence.

The second key on the fifth row will generate the same raw key code on all Amiga keyboards, but should be decoded as a Z on a US keyboard and as a Y on a German keyboard. For instance, on the German keyboard, the Y and Z keys are swapped when compared to the USA keyboard. Since the physical position of a key determines the raw key code that it generates, raw key codes are not internationally compatible. However, in different countries, the keycaps of the keys may contain different letters or symbols. All Amigas have keyboards which are physically similar, and keys which output the same low-level raw key code for any particular physical key. 2.3 Accessing the Keymap for the Current ConsoleĪmiga computers are sold internationally with a variety of local keyboards which match the standards of particular countries.

Amiga workbench 3 1 adf scan