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General Keyboard Options, Keyboard Settings, and Text Entry
General Keyboard Options, Keyboard Settings, and Text Entry

This document provides some general guidance on keyboard options and settings as well as different text entry capabilities.

Bill Call avatar
Written by Bill Call
Updated over a week ago

Keyboard Options and Settings

Keyboard Entry

During the lab, you may input text into the Main Console. Besides directly typing it in, there are two very helpful methods of entering data which make it easier to enter complex data.

Click and Drag Lab Manual Content Into Console Active Window

You can also click and drag text and Command Line Interface (CLI) commands directly from the Lab Manual into the active window in the Main Console.

Accessing the Online International Keyboard

You can also use the Online International Keyboard found in the Main Console.

  1. Click on the Keyboard Icon found on the Windows Quick Launch Task Bar.

Modifying the Lab Keyboard Settings

In general, the VMware Learning Platform (the Hands-On Lab portal) will automatically detect most settings. However, within the Hands-On Lab portal, the portal itself has additional ansi-keyboard related settings in the off-chance some modifications need to be made.

To utilize or optimize these settings, simply browse up to the gear in the upper right-hand corner and click on the gear.

This will bring up the settings window (shown below) which allow for changes to the following:

  • Interception of COPY/PASTE

  • Remapping the macOS Command

  • Manual Keyboard Shortcut support

  • Non-Ansi Keyboard support

  • Mouse Scroll Settings

The settings are pretty self explanatory above so, as an attendee, please feel free to make changes to these settings if you feel the need to alter a setting.

Lab Controls

These are the additional controls for the lab manual use and placement on the screen. Please take a few moments to understand these so your experience within the VMware Hands On Labs is optimal.

Lab Manual Controls

  • Clicking the Manual tab on the left of the slide-out (right-hand side of the screen) will show or hide the lab manual.

  • Use of the Lab Manual Controls in the upper left allows you to dock or undock and move the lab manual around to fit your screen.

  • Using the Table of Contents option under the MORE OPTIONS menu will allow you to jump to any point in the lab manual.

  • Using the Split Screen option under the MORE OPTIONS menu will allow you to use a tablet as a second screen to view this manual while you work in the Hands On Lab.

  • Using the Font Sizer buttons in the upper-right corner below the More Options menu will change the text size of the lab manual for better viewing.

  • Additionally, dragging the corners or edges of the lab manual display will allow you to decrease or increase the size of your lab manual.

  • Clicking on images will show larger pop-out versions of the manuals.

NOTE: The above interface images shown may not look exactly the same but functionality still exists and works as defined.

Send Text To Console

  • In the unlikely event local info is needed to be pasted into the ControlCenter desktop, use the SEND TEXT button to enable the Send text to console feature of the VMware Hands On Labs.

  • The SEND TEXT button can be found either directly above the console.

NOTE: The above interface images shown may not look exactly the same but functionality still exists and works as defined.

Switching Console

Within your lab, you may be switching between systems using the VMware Learning Platform (VLP) Consoles tab. By default, this is located on the left side of your browser window.

Once you click on the CONSOLES tab, it will open and allow you to select from the various systems displayed there.

Clicking the "X" will close the console tab.

Ending a Hands-On Lab

For any lab on the VMware Hands On Labs portal (labs.hol.vmware.com), if you wish to end your lab you may do so by using the END button at the top of the page, then click the CONFIRM button and return to the home page to re-Enroll into a new lab.

NOTE: If an option is presented at the end of the lab to fill out a survey, please take the time and let us know your thoughts on your experiences.

To see if your system and browser are compatible, please visit the VMware Hands-On Labs Compatibility Checker.

References:

If you are looking for more information, please see the larger document on General Lab Guidance, Controls, and Settings.

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