What does this button on my keyboard do?

Question

What does this button on my keyboard do?

There is a button on my computer keyboard; at the top-left of the numeric keypad, just below the reduce-volume button; it's like a parallelogram with a big cross (X) through it. - What does this button do? - I can't seem to find a use for it.

Also, while we're talking buttons, the buttons above the arrow keys seem to correspond to Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down on PC's, but they seem (annoyingly) to perform slightly different functions. - Any explanations?

And finally, I know you can get a hash symbol using various modifier-key combinations, but it's so much simpler on a PC when you can see it above the 3 number. (Especially on a music computer when you need it frequently as the sharp sign).

 Dual 2.3 GHz PowerMac G5, Mac OS X (10.4.3), 1GB RAM, Logic 7.1.1

Posted on Nov 5, 2006 9:11 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 5, 2006 10:02 AM in response to Little Endian

There is a button on my computer keyboard; at the
top-left of the numeric keypad, just below the
reduce-volume button; it's like a parallelogram with
a big cross (X) through it. - What does this button
do? - I can't seem to find a use for it.

That's the forward delete button. It will delete items to the right of the cursor, rather than to the left.

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Answer 2

Nov 5, 2006 12:31 PM in response to Stephen Giles

No; I'm not talking about the 'delete' button. I'm talking about on the right numeric keypad; above the number 7, to the left of the = sign. - Where the NumLock is on most PC keyboards. (But this button doesn't seem to have a comparable function on PC's).

What does it do?

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Answer 3

Nov 5, 2006 1:23 PM in response to Little Endian

Hello! All of my older Apple keyboards call the key the "num lock" or clear (calculator function of the keypad). Tom

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Answer 4

Nov 5, 2006 4:00 PM in response to Thomas Bryant

I've found it interesting to learn that on some Apple keyboards, the button in question has the word "clear" marked on it (and nothing else).

My button doesn't have 'clear' on it, or any words, just this symbol of a crossed-out parallelogram. (It's in exactly the same place as the 'clear' key, but performs no delete function that I can tell).

I can't find a good picture, but you can sort of make it out here:
http://homepage.mac.com/noodlenick/GarageSaleImages/GarageSale_116276558123051.jpg

Doesn't anyone know what it does?

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Answer 5

maclover

Level 4

3,850 points

Nov 5, 2006 4:21 PM in response to Little Endian

If you try it in Excel, you may find that it opens a cell for data entry, and then acts as a delete key. And acts as the 'Clear' key in the Calculator application, as mentioned above. Oh - and the Calculator Widget.

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Answer 6

Nov 6, 2006 12:58 PM in response to maclover

Ah yes; it does clear the calculator! - Thanks.

Doesn't seem to do anything else though (I don't have Excel, but it doesn't do anythign in NeoOffice).

Seems odd to have a button just for that, but oh well.

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