Windows alt codes do not work in TextPad 9

General questions about using TextPad

Moderators: AmigoJack, bbadmin, helios, Bob Hansen, MudGuard

User avatar
bbadmin
Site Admin
Posts: 878
Joined: Mon Feb 17, 2003 8:54 pm
Contact:

Re: Windows alt codes do not work in TextPad 9

Post by bbadmin »

No versions of TextPad, right back to the first, have had their own keyboard handler for the numeric pad. Instead, they rely on Windows to handle it and send TextPad the appropriate messages. Only if Num Lock is on does Windows send characters corresponding to the character code value typed while the Alt key is held down. Some Microsoft apps, such as Edge and the new version of Notepad, don't need Num Lock to be on, while others such as MS Office apps, Visual Studio and PowerShell behave the same as TextPad.

Have I misunderstood the issue here?
pitterson63
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Aug 28, 2024 3:18 pm
Contact:

Re: Windows alt codes do not work in TextPad 9

Post by pitterson63 »

The theory exposes a strange subtlety in how various Windows apps handle the number pad, especially if applying Alt codes. TextPad, like other Microsoft apps such as MS Office and Visual Studio, relies on Windows' default behavior, which requires Num Lock to be enabled for Alt codes to work. The difference in behavior between apps such as Edge and the new Notepad shows a shift in Microsoft's strategy, maybe indicating an evolving standard for how input is processed across different software settings.
Last edited by AmigoJack on Thu Aug 29, 2024 6:29 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: removing unnecessary full quote
User avatar
bbadmin
Site Admin
Posts: 878
Joined: Mon Feb 17, 2003 8:54 pm
Contact:

Re: Windows alt codes do not work in TextPad 9

Post by bbadmin »

The Num Lock requirement has been eliminated in release 9.5.2 and 8.19.2.
Post Reply