◊ “Electric Dvorak QuickRef”, which you should print with TeachText
◊ This manual, which you may also wish to print
If you are missing any of these, complain! They should be distributed only as a set, and unmodified. The rate for distribution must not be more than the usual cost for other free, public domain or shareware programs. If you’d like the latest editions, try user groups and online information services, or send $5.00 or a formatted disk with SASE to me. (You’ll find my address at the end of this manual.)
You have 30 days to examine this package. Then, if you don’t like it, give it to a friend who could use it; if you do like it, give a copy to a friend anyway and send me a post card. Why? Well, I want the Mac world to have Dvorak available, and I like getting post cards. (If you really don’t want to pass it on, just send me $9.95; I don’t mind.)
All of this package should work properly with any Macintosh™ using System 4.0 or later, including the Mac SE and Mac II. If your System is not recent enough, ask your Apple® dealer or user group (see “Getting Help”, below). This works with all ADB keyboards, and with the original Mac and Mac Plus keyboards. By the way, Apple Computer’s Technical Support department has given its blessing to the method of redefining the keyboard used by Electric Dvorak, although this product itself is not endorsed by Apple.
As far as I’ve been able to test, it works with all software that doesn’t redefine the keyboard itself, including (especially!) all word processors. Electric Dvorak doesn’t slow down the Macintosh any, but some applications and desk accessories are just unable to keep up with any fast typist, no matter what the layout.
Because of the rearrangement of the keys, some key combinations appear different to some applications, especially ones that use key shortcuts without the Command key. Write to the authors and distributors, and ask that they support Dvorak! (I’ll even give them what technical assistance I can, for what it’s worth.)
Dvorak Installer will install or remove the Electric Dvorak keyboard layout and the “switching by keyboard” option. It will not affect other keyboard layouts or key combinations you may have installed. Since the System file is what will be modified, you should first have a backup copy of it, just to be safe. Electric Dvorak will add less than 3K to it.
Using the installer will take only a moment. Be sure the disk which will have Dvorak installed on it is unlocked and has at least 3K available on it. Start the Mac with it. (If you have MultiFinder, don’t use it now.)
The best way to use the Dvorak Installer with a large disk (like a hard disk) is to move the installer onto the large disk, then open it. The best way to install onto a diskette is to keep the installer on another diskette that doesn’t have a System file. (Why? If the installer is on the same diskette as a System file, it will try to install to that one, which may not be the one you want.) The installer will let you know in case your System file is an old version that cannot accept different keyboard layouts. (See “Getting Help”, below.)
Now you can choose which key combination to use for switching by keyboard. If any key combinations are already installed, they will appear dimmed. (Usually those will be combinations three and four. The combinations one and two are used for ejecting diskettes, in case you wondered where they went.) Let the installer choose key “5” for you if you’re not sure which one to use. Then click the Install button to install both Electric Dvorak and the key combination.
The installer will let you know what’s happening throughout the installation. When you’ve finished, click the Done button.
To tell the Macintosh to use the new keyboard layout, there are two methods. The first is to use the Control Panel desk accessory (keyboard section). Older forms of the Control Panel may not have the keyboard resource to switch keyboards in this way. If yours doesn’t, or if you can’t find the Electric Dvorak selection, ask your Apple dealer or user group about the Control Panel.
The second method is the “Switching by keyboard” option. If you have installed this, you may switch among the available keyboards by holding down the Command key (with the cloverleaf symbol) and the Shift key, and then pressing the digit “5” (or whichever other one you selected with the installer).
Because you may not know which keyboard is active, switching by keyboard has a special feature. If you depress the three keys of the combination for more than a moment, instead of switching to the next keyboard layout, it will switch to the first (usually QWERTY). Nimble typists can try pressing Option after the digit key has been depressed; the second layout will be selected (usually Dvorak). When you use either of these shortcuts, the menu bar will light up to show that the switch was noticed. (If the keys stay depressed for more than a few minutes, try a trip to the zoo, or a box of candy.)
Before you start typing with Dvorak, it’s a good idea to print a copy of the “Electric Dvorak QuickRef” sheet by using TeachText, or at least use the Key Caps desk accessory to view the key layout.
The Electric Dvorak keyboard layout is a form of the standard Dvorak keyboard adapted for use on the Macintosh. Dvorak is described in detail in the October 1986 issue of Macworld magazine. Dvorak is a rearrangement of the standard (“QWERTY”) keys to promote faster typing. If you’re learning to type, type Dvorak!
(By the way, I’ve heard of Dvorak software that actually slows down the computer because of the process of translating QWERTY to Dvorak! Since one point in favor of Dvorak is speed, Electric Dvorak doesn’t slow the Macintosh at all. This is because Electric Dvorak doesn’t translate QWERTY, it simply replaces it. Some applications and desk accessories may not be able to keep up with fast typists on any layout, though.)
This form of Dvorak allows you to rearrange the key tops to match the layout. If you’re unsure about how to do that, ask your Macintosh user group or Apple dealer for help. I wouldn’t bother rearranging the key tops; it’s only necessary if you look at them while you type. (And why should you do that?)
Here are some special things to know about Electric Dvorak and the Macintosh:
• First, the key shortcuts typed while holding the Command key (cloverleaf) stay in their original arrangement. That is, even though C is in a different place, you’ll use Command–C with the QWERTY C to Copy. This is so that the common shortcuts for Undo, Cut, Copy and Paste will all be conveniently placed on the keyboard, and so that certain applications, especially ones with many keyboard shortcuts, will work properly with Electric Dvorak.
• Second, some characters are typed with the Option key, or Shift and Option. (Many typists are not concerned with these; they are special, scientific or international characters like ø®†◊œ°≤≥π¥. They do include the curly quotes ‘’ and “” though.) Use the Key Caps desk accessory, in the Apple menu, to see what optional characters are available in a certain font. They reside on keys that may help you to remember them; for example, ç is on the c key and Ω is on the z, and ones that have upper case equivalents are typed with the Shift key.
To type certain accented characters, use an Option key combination. For example, the character á is typed by typing Option–e (the combination for the acute accent) followed by typing the letter a. You can find the five accent characters ` ´ ¨ ^ ~ on the keys ` e u i n, respectively.
• Finally, the Electric Dvorak layout will let you type all 255 characters, although some applications may not be equipped to deal with all of them. This is helpful with some fonts, especially Symbol, Boston, and some LaserWriter fonts, that have more characters than the keyboard normally types.
You may even type the “control characters” that aren’t normally available on the older keyboards without a “Control” key. By typing Option–Tab, followed by a letter or a digit, you can type a special character. Option–Tab followed by a letter indicates the control character associated with that letter, while Option–Tab followed by a digit indicates a special character at the end of the character set. You may also type on a QWERTY Control keyboard by using Option when Caps Lock is down, or just the Control key, if you have one. (Most applications can’t handle the control characters at all. Avoid typing them if possible.)
It seems that whenever Apple makes a new keyboard for the Mac, they put either or both of the keys ` (grave accent) and \ (backslash) in different places than ever before. Electric Dvorak just lets them stay where they were under QWERTY. On the QuickRef sheet, though, I’ve put them at the ends of the bottom row.
When you start the Macintosh, the keyboard is still set up in the same arrangement you used last with that startup disk. So that others who share the same startup disk won’t be startled by a new arrangement of keys, some may want to have the keyboard set back to QWERTY on startup. If the document “QWERTY Startup” is in the System Folder at startup time, QWERTY (or the first keyboard in the list) will be selected automatically. “Dvorak Startup” does the same selecting for Electric Dvorak (or the second keyboard layout), for those who would use it. Remember, the “Startup” must be in the System Folder.
Dvorak International is an organization whose purpose is to promote the Dvorak Keyboard. DI prides itself in knowing “all there is to know” about the Dvorak Keyboard. Requests for information are addressed immediately. DI works with computer manufacturers, corporations, companies and individuals, helping to implement the Dvorak Keyboard. Membership includes the quarterly newsletter Dvorak Developments.
You may use TeachText or most word processors to print the Membership application. Membership is $30.00 per year.
Dvorak International (802) 247-6020
11 Pearl Street
Box 128
Brandon, VT 05733
The easiest way to get help with using Macintosh is a user group. Some problems will require talking with an authorized Apple dealer. Apple will help you find either one; call (800) 538-9696.
Do you have a question about the Electric Dvorak layout? Let me know at the address below—I’ll reply if you send a SASE. I’m even willing to offer (limited) technical assistance to those who want to try customizing Electric Dvorak for their own use. (But don’t distribute any modified copies, please!)
That disclaimer notice full of lawyer talk: Electric Dvorak is not endorsed by Apple Computer Inc., nor by Dvorak International, nor by anyone else I know of but me. Macintosh is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. I cannot take responsibility for [all that lawyer talk]; but I use Electric Dvorak myself, and I’ll try to fix any bugs. Send me a post card if you like Electric Dvorak.
Shareware authors deserve your support, but the Electric Dvorak layout is free! Pass along the whole file set, too, so no one is left in the dark. Sic transit QWERTY!
