Alpha allows users to change the keyboard shortcuts associated with menu items and other functions. The user interface for doing so is less than ideal, and in general you need to know something about Tcl and AlphaTcl to take full advantage of this capability in order to make proper use of the Bind]] and [[ascii commands.
One exception -- an example of a better user interface -- are the functions found in the
Config > Special Keys
dialog. Each of the functions found here can be 'bound' to any keypress/modifier combination that you want. These functions include:
Most of these functions are related to 'electric' behavior in Alpha -- see the FAQ.ElectricsPrimer for a quick explanation. If the following descriptions seem a bit cryptic, see the
Help > Electrics Help
file for (hopefully) a bit more information. (Note: the default shortcuts assigned to these functions have long been a topic of debate in the AlphaTclMailingLists?.)
Clear All Stops
Remove all 'electric template' stops in the active window.
Complete
Invoke an electric completion for the hint preceding the cursor -- see the FAQ.ElectricsPrimer.
Expand
Invoke an electric expansion for the hint preceding the cursor -- see the FAQ.ElectricsPrimer.
Next Stop
Advance to the next 'electric template' stop in the active window.
Next Stop Or Indent
If there is a 'next' electric template stop, advance to it; otherwise indent the current line/selection.
nth Stop
Advance to the nth 'electric template' stop. Only functions if the Better Templates feature has been turned on.
Prev Stop
Move to the previous 'electric template' stop in the active window.
Real Tab
Insert a 'real' tab at the cursor position.
Typewriter Tab
Insert a string of just enough space characters to visually represent the 'tab' column in the current line.