Provides control configuration for prompting text.
Hot Keys
Hot Keys are customizable keyboard shortcuts for use in Prompt mode. The action a Hot Key performs is listed before it. Hot Keys can be changed by selecting the field next to the action name and pressing a new key to change the assigned shortcut. You can prevent any key from triggering the action by clicking the button that appears next to a to a selected Hot Key.
If you require an action for both Edit mode and Prompt mode, use the action’s keyboard shortcut in its menu item (for example, ⌘↩ for Start/Pause). Keyboard shortcuts can also be useful when configuring remotes and controllers so the device has functionality in both modes. Most third-party devices have configuration software that allows you to set a particular button or feature on the device send a keyboard shortcut to the frontmost app.
Number keys set speed: In Prompt mode, numbers 0 – 9 on the keyboard become Hot Keys which set the prompter speed. On the number row, keys 1 through 9 set speed to 1 through 9, with key 0 setting speed 10, and the ` key left of key 1 setting speed 0. On an extended keyboard with a number pad, Numpad 0 sets the speed to 0 instead of 10, since it closer in proximity to Numpad 1, 2, and 3 (which set speeds of 1, 2, and 3) so it is a more natural fit. If the Option key is held before any number press, it sets the speed to the negative of the key value (e.g., Option + 2 sets speed to –2, etc.).
Additional Keyboard Controls
The following keyboard controls apply in Prompt mode.
Line-by-Line Scrolling: Hold the Option key while invoking the Scroll Down or Scroll Up Hot Keys to scroll in a line-by-line manner in Prompt Mode. Defaults: Option + Down Arrow or Option + Up Arrow.
Shift: Adds a speed boost to the current scroll direction while the Shift key is held down. If the prompter is paused, the Shift key scrolls slowly in the direction of the speed. This can be a useful modifier to configure on remotes and controllers with limited buttons.
Mouse and Trackpad
In Prompt mode, when the prompter receives the specified mouse or trackpad action the selected behavior occurs. An action can be disabled by selecting “Do nothing” which may be better for certain trackpad users.
Primary Click: “Start or pause” runs the prompter if paused or pauses the prompter if it is running.
Secondary Click: “Switch direction” takes the current speed and adjusts it to the opposite of what it currently is (for example, a speed of 5 becomes -5 and vice-versa).
Scrollwheel: “Scroll up or down” provides default scrollwheel behavior (to scroll up or down). “Change speed while prompting” increases or decreases the scroll speed.
Cursor movement adjusts speed: When the prompter is started the cursor is “captured” and moving the cursor’s position up or down will adjust the speed of scrolling. When the prompter is paused the cursor reappears and works as usual. This setting is usually used in tandem with a hidden toolbar and scroll bar which can be turned off in the Prompt preferences.
macOS 10.6 “Snow Leopard” users have another option:
Natural scroll direction: Scroll, gesture, and cursor actions (including “Cursor movement adjusts speed”) track finger movement in Prompt mode. The effect is that it reverses scroll direction and speed adjustment which is more natural for some users. This setting does not appear on macOS 10.7 “Lion” because the “Use natural scroll direction” System Preference affects all apps.
Speed
Speed change rate: The amount the speed slider changes when using Decrease speed or Increase speed actions in Prompt mode.
Default speed: The 'baseline' speed you want documents to use. It is applied to new documents and also affects the next setting.
Set default speed exiting Prompt mode: Some operators want to enter Prompt mode at the default speed more often than not. Setting the speed on exit (instead of enter) achieves this while affording other changes before entering Prompt mode.
Set speed on pause: Every time the prompter is paused, it sets the specified speed. This makes pause serve as both a stop and a speed-reset so that start resumes from a specific speed. This accompanies a slider so operators can make pausing set a non-default speed value (like a lower speed to allow them to manually ramp-up the speed after a pause, if desired). Setting this speed to 0 allows a pause to perform a “full stop”. This setting is often desirable with the next setting.
Changing speed starts the prompter: When paused, any speed change starts the prompter again, which is generally convenient.
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