passed through transparently via the EZKey-XS. PC keyboards are a different matter, having no intrinsic ability to pass through such keystrokes to the controller. In fact having a key pressed when a PC keyboard is first initialised results in a failure of the keyboard�s POST routines in many cases.

When using a PC keyboard the EZKey-XS implements the power-up key sequence as follows:

First the PC keyboard goes through its own POST routine flashing the NumLock, CapsLock and ScrollLock lights together briefly (the length of the flash depends on the particular keyboard used).

Next the EZKey-XS starts communication with the PC keyboard and flashes the three keyboard lights again for around a quarter of a second.

The EZKey-XS then illuminates the NumLock and ScrollLock lights only for a period of around 2 seconds. Any PC key pressed during this period is captured and stored

until the period is over. In the event of more than one key being pressed during

this period it is the last key to be pressed which is stored.

Finally the EZKey-XS establishes contact with the Amiga and transmits the character stored (if any) to the Amiga in the correct format as part of the initialisation sequence.

This means that a PC Keyboard can be used for accelerator maintenance functions. To the best of our knowledge this feature is unique to the EZKey-XS.

The two second flashing of the NumLock and ScrollLock lights can also be taken as an indication that the EZKey-XS is functioning properly.

4 different keyboard keymaps

The EZKey-XS allows user selection of four different mappings of PC to Amiga keys, to best suit the type of keyboard you are using.

Different keymaps are selected by successive pressing of the Pause/Break key on the

PC keyboard. The actual keymap currently selected is indicated by the state of the NumLock and ScrollLock lights on the keyboard, as follows:

Both off -> map 0 (default)

Scroll light on -> map 1

NumLock light on -> map 2

Both on -> map 3

Map 0 is the power up default and is suitable for the majority of PC keyboards

Map 1 is a variation of map 0 with the � \� and

� #� keys exchanged allowing a key layout closer to the original Amiga keyboard, once the two keycaps have been physically exchanged.

Map 2 is for compact/infrared PC keyboards without a right Windows key

Map 3 is for older AT-style PC keyboards without Windows keys.

The full PC key mapping is given in the table below.

Special mapping of PC keys

A PC keyboard has several additional keys not available on an Amiga keyboard. These have been mapped to special Amiga keys or functions. Note that these mappings are the

same for all four key maps above (although some of the keys below may not physically exist on the PC keyboard in use). These are:

EZKey-XS user selectable PC key mapping

MAP N_LED S_LED NUMLOCK CAPLOCK L_CTRL R_CTRL WINMENU BKSLASH HASH

0 off off lft-blank capslock control control next screen bkslash rt-blank

1 off on rt-blank capslock control control next screen lft-blank bkslash

2 on off lft-blank capslock control control R_Amiga bkslash rt-blank

3 on on capslock control L_Amiga R_Amiga none bkslash rt-blank

Where:

�lft-blank� is the (usually) blank key (raw key code $30) next to the left shift key on international Amiga keyboards

�rt-blank� is the (usually) blank key (raw key code $2B) next to the return key on international Amiga keyboards

�next screen� is the equivalent of L_Amiga + �M� and cycles between open screens on the Amiga