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General discussion

"Numeric Lock" on MacBook Pro 17

Jul 6, 2007 2:23AM PDT

The keyboard (French layout) does not have,as you know, a separate pad for numbers. I have to use the top row numbers and this means holding down the Upper Case key all the time. If I use the "Caps Lock" key it just produces Capitals -no numbers! Is there a " Numeric Lock" key on this Keyboard somewhere that I haven't yet discovered?
Could I buy a Numeric Keyboard (little thing) and plug it in via a USB 2
port?

Discussion is locked

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MacBook Pro 17"
Jul 6, 2007 9:52AM PDT

I just type a long missive about this and then decided that maybe the French were kinda different.
So I went to the System Preferences > International and added two more inputs to my collection.
French and French Numerical. Lo and behold, pressing the row of numbers causes the symbols to appear, and not in the order that they are on my keyboard, and holding down the shift key produces numbers.
Strangely that happens in both inputs.
I don't have a laptop that I can test my next theory on, but take a look at the F6 key which, on a dismantled iBook keyboard, is shown as a Num Lock key. You may have to hold down the FN key to activate it.

If all else fails, and to answer your original question, Yes you can purchase a number pad which connects via the USB port

Good luck and let us know if the F6 thing worked

P

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Numeric Keypad for MacBook Pro 17
Jul 8, 2007 1:42AM PDT

Thank you, Mr Macfixit.
I have tried F6 - with it down, I can type numbers from the letters keys.For example:- J=1
K=2

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Numeric Keypad
Jul 8, 2007 2:10AM PDT

While I cannot personally recommend a USB Keypad, my keyboard has a keypad, this was one of the first Google hits for "USB Keypad".
http://www.usbgeek.com/prod_detail.php?prod_id=0491

You are probably going to want someplace closer to home so, Google on your side of the pond for an answer.

This one is a decent price but I have not gone any further than that.

Good Luck

P

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Numeric Keypad for MacBook Pro 17
Jul 8, 2007 8:03PM PDT

Once again, thanks.
I have been on to USBGeek and they can supply me for $20 including Postage to France! Wonderful!!

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Mac Book Pro
Sep 10, 2008 10:27AM PDT

My MBP, purchased Jan 08, shows a green light when F6/numlock is pressed. The green light stays on until pressed again. While the green light is on, the combination keys with letters and numbers operate in a standard adding machine layout. 7,8,9 are the same in both modes, the other numbers are on letter keys below 7,8,9 as described in a post in this discussion. In addition, the mathmatical operands of =,*,+,-,. become available on those keys showing same on lower right quadrant of a key.