What does sl mean on the keyboard. Computer storiesstories in detail about computer parts

In fact, this key was once very necessary on older machines, since in the era of console mode this key allowed you to scroll the position of the information displayed on the monitor screen. In console mode with Scroll Lock disabled, the arrow keys act as cursor controls. But with Scroll Lock enabled, these keys worked like scrolling the screen. This function still works this way in the console of the Linux operating system. In addition, in the Linux console, when running any applications that output to it, turning on scroll lock stops the scrolling of the output. But all this is history, and use in deep areas of the IT sphere.

Scroll Lock in Excel

The average user does not need the original functionality of this key. Although there is one application in which this key performs its true function. This is an Excel spreadsheet processor from the Microsoft office suite. When Scroll Lock is enabled, the cursor keys will scroll the table area instead of moving across table cells. It's worth a try, however, if you're already used to using mouse scroll or the pg up and pg down keys to do this, I don't think you'll find it convenient.

Scroll and Linux

So, a very good way to use this thing. The Scroll Lock key itself will be useless to us. Only its indicator is interesting - we can make it work for our convenience. A long time ago, apparently, one of the Linux operating system programmers also noticed that almost no one used this keyboard function. And therefore, it was proposed to use the indicator (light) of this mode to show the inclusion of an additional keyboard layout (language). Many of those who work in Linux use this light bulb as a layout indicator. When I started using Linux, I started using this feature. And I really liked it.

KbLangLED utility

When, after a while, I had to work under Windows, I felt terribly uncomfortable without this function. In addition, I always remove the standard Windows layout indicator from the panel.

But, as it turned out, this is another confirmation of the inviolable truth in the IT world - if you are faced with a problem, do not be lazy to look for its solution on the Internet. There is a very high probability that someone has already encountered your problem, and most likely a solution has been found. After several minutes of searching, the solution was indeed found. There is a very small utility written by some kind person who also needed a Scroll LED layout indication.

This program is called KbLangLED. I don’t even remember where I dug it up, but I think it won’t be difficult - it has spread across many file hosting services and file dumping sites - just type its name into a search engine and you will find it without difficulty. Then, all you need to do is run the executable file, and after that, when you switch keyboard layouts, the Scroll LED light on your keyboard will light up. It is enough to place the executable file of the program in startup, and this function will always work for you. When the default layout is enabled, the light will not light up. When you change the layout to an additional one in your system, for example, Russian, the light will be turned on. By the way, it is the English keyboard layout that is most convenient as the default layout.

Here's the trick. In fact, this is very convenient, because the indicator on the keyboard is visible in peripheral vision, which allows you to always know which layout is currently installed without being distracted from your work.

Do you know where the key is Scroll Lock on the keyboard? Why is it needed? And why on the keyboard Sven Standard 636 Is it called laconically “K”? Read about all this further...

Let's start from the beginning. Scroll Lock key It is usually located in the very top row of keyboard buttons and is the penultimate one. It is usually placed between the Print Screen/SysRq and Pause/Break keys.

Today this key is a throwback left over from hard times. Legends say that this key first appeared on the 83-button IBM PC/XT keyboard, as well as on the 84-button IBM PC AT.

Subsequently, it was also carried over to “extended” 101-key keyboards. It was needed to switch the page viewing mode from page-by-page to scrolling mode. When Scroll Lock is turned on, the cursor buttons are used specifically for scrolling, and when turned off, they operate in normal mode.

Now this button has lost its original functionality and is used differently in different applications.

For example, in the Opera web browser, in combination with the number keys, it controls voice commands.

In Excel and Lotus Notes it is still used to move the cursor. So, if you select a group of cells in Excel and then press any cursor key, the selection will be removed and the cursor will move to the adjacent cell.

But if Scroll is enabled in this situation, the selection will remain on the group of cells, and the page will move in the specified direction. In other applications, it is not used at all or calls some specific functions.

So in Linux OS Scroll Lock is used to forcefully stop text scrolling in the console. In the BSD family of systems, the key is used for its original purpose.

On the original Macintosh keyboards, this key was originally absent altogether, but appeared on the “enhanced” keyboard. And on Dell laptops, the Scroll Lock key replaces the function key (Fn key) and to return it to its standard functions you need to go into the BIOS.

And finally, the answer to the last question. In fact, the keyboard Sven Standard 636 is a kind of joke - this is the same notorious "keyboard for blondes" On its pink keys, instead of standard symbols, there are symbols that are understandable to any blond charmer.

So, for example, the right Shift is called “You need to start writing my name with this button.” On all the top row keys, except Esc, there is an inscription “Unnecessary buttons”, which starts with F1 and ends with Pause/Break.

Thus, the last letter “k” is located exactly on Scroll Lock. So, when you come to help the next Masha Malinovskaya or Charlize Theron with a computer, know that this is not just an “Unnecessary Button”, but a very useful key.

Looking at the keyboard, we can stop our gaze on the “Scroll Lock” key. According to some users, it has incomprehensible functionality, is essentially meaningless, and it would be better to remove it from the recognized standard of PC keyboards altogether. But don't rush to conclusions. In this article I will talk about Scroll Lock, what it is on the keyboard, describe the history of this key and the features of its functionality.

Scroll Lock key

What is Scroll Lock? Translated from English, “Scroll Lock” means “block scrolling.” On a desktop computer keyboard, this key is located at the top right, between the Print Scr and Pause keys, and on a laptop it is located in different variations, but usually next to the “Backspace” key. The abbreviation for its use is ScLk, ScrLk, Slk.

History of the Scroll Lock key

This key first appeared on the 83-key IBM PC/XT computer keyboard, in which it was used to stop the progress of new information from the bottom of the screen to the top. Back then, there was no graphical user interface, and new and up-to-date information was often displayed at the very bottom of the screen. At the same time, lines of new information moved lines of old information to the top, and the appearance of a large volume of fresh data and the speed of their scrolling simply did not allow reading all the new material in time. In order to help the user fully enjoy reading the latest information, the Scroll Lock button was implemented. Pressing this key allowed you to stop scrolling the text and fully enjoy studying a fresh array of data. Pressing it again reactivated the scrolling mode previously stopped by the user.

Today, this Scroll Lock key is used much less frequently and in a limited number of programs.

I'm useless... Everyone ignores me.

Scroll Lock functionality on the keyboard

Nowadays, this button serves primarily to switch the cursor function, and is accompanied by an indicator that allows you to determine whether the functionality of this key is enabled. When active, this key allows you to control screen movement using the cursor keys; when inactive, you can change the position of the cursor on the screen.

To understand that this is Scroll Lock, you also need to know that it is involved in various programs. One of the most popular utility programs, Microsoft Excel, by turning the “scroll lock” key on and off, allows you to scroll both the table area of ​​the document itself and move the cursor between its cells.

This key is also used in the console of Unix-like Linux systems (the functionality of the button is the same as originally - stopping text scrolling, as well as enabling an additional layout), in some games (in particular Cossacks, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, MapleStory, etc. ) and utility programs (Lotus Notes, FL Studio, Forté Agent, etc.). It was also widely used in Multiuser DOS, System Manager and Real/32; pressing this key during a boot boot allowed the user to enter a special diagnostic mode.

In the well-known Opera browser, pressing this key allows you to activate the voice command mode (do not forget to install voice libraries first). However, for voice control in Opera, only English is currently available and only under Windows OS.

Video about the purpose of Scroll Lock

Above, I tried to define what Scroll Lock is on the keyboard. Initially, this key was used for comfortable viewing of rapidly changing text, but now its functionality allows you to switch between cursor and screen scrolling. I recommend trying the functionality of this button for those who previously simply “didn’t notice” it on their keyboard - perhaps you will find using Scroll Lock very entertaining and useful.

I recently purchased a backlit keyboard. The backlight is turned on with the Scroll Lock button.
It turned out that this button is also on regular keyboards, but we don’t use it.
I was wondering why this button is needed if we don’t use it.

I started remembering when we need this button. I don't remember a single time when I used it before.
I couldn’t even explain to myself why it was needed at all?

What kind of miracle is this button - Scroll Lock.

The name of the button itself resembles scrolling, turning pages.

First of all, let's turn to theory and, of course, to Wikipedia.

It says the following:

The function of this key varies depending on the software.

For example, in Microsoft Excel - Scroll Lock and is used to enable the document scrolling mode using the cursor keys (that is, it performs its original function).

Without going into details, the button was used to make it easier to view pages on the screen by switching the mouse cursor mode. That is, for convenient viewing of changing pages of text.

Today, this function is practically not used anywhere, except in Microsoft Excel. Even in this table editor, no one uses it, if only a few.

Now another use has been found for this button. Some games assign a specific function to this button by default. In various programs, they give it some kind of role, so as not to use the usual buttons for everyone, leaving them with standard values.

In my case, it was used to turn on the keyboard backlight.

Something like this.

As a rule, in the Linux operating system this button does not work correctly; how to configure it is described in detail in this

The Scroll Lock button is used to change the behavior of the cursor on the computer screen. It is most often used in Excel to view large tables.

When Scroll Lock is turned off (it is turned off by default), by clicking on the arrows on the keyboard, the cursor will move to adjacent cells in the Excel document. In this case, the appearance of the table will not change in any way.

When Scroll Lock is enabled, when you press the arrows on the keyboard, the cursor will not move to other cells in the Excel document, but the table itself will move. This can be handy when you don't feel like it or it's awkward to use the scroll bar.

Where to find and how to enable Scroll Lock

Large full-size keyboards usually have a separate Scroll Lock button, as well as an indicator showing its activity:

On laptop keyboards, Scroll Lock is usually combined with other keys to save space:

In this case, you must press the Scroll Lock button together with the FN key. We have .

Some programs additionally display Scroll Lock activity. Here's what it looks like in Excel, for example:

There is no Scroll Lock button on the keyboard, what should I do?

On some laptop keyboards, manufacturers do not place a Scroll Lock button at all. In this case, the easiest way is to use the on-screen keyboard:

It can be found in Programs in the Start menu. It will be faster to use the search - start typing the words “on-screen” in it and the only result will be the on-screen keyboard.

If you still have questions, be sure to, also do not forget to read our other articles about special buttons on the keyboard - and.