Keyboard Controls - Reference

Keyboard controls – reference

This section lists all the keys you can use to control Abel and the ringing.

Function Keys	Description
F1	Display help system
F2	Silence: leave all bells ringing, but stop them making a noise; also silences prompts
F3	Pause
F4	Reset external connections
F5	Bob
F6	Single
F7	Call X
Ctr+F7	Call Y
F8	Plain
F9	Start the bells ringing rounds
F10	Auto start. Abel (optionally) fits in to the speed the bell is ringing.
F11	Go next time
F12	Back to start (if you started from a row other than rounds)

Control Keys	Description
Ctrl+B	Rotate the bell circle to put a specified bell at bottom right (left if anticlockwise ring)
Ctrl+F	Save a striking file in "Lowndes" format, for analysis by CAS striking analysis software. It is saved in an "AbelSim\Striking" folder in My Documents.
Ctrl+L	Show the blue line for the current composition or method.
Ctrl+M	Select a method from the current method collection and composition
Ctrl+N	Create a new, empty, method collection file
Ctrl+O	Open a method collection file
Ctrl+P	Print the contents of the blue line window
Ctrl+R	Reset striking statistics, clear striking records
Ctrl+S	Save the current method collection file
Ctrl+T	Select a composition (touch) from the current method collection
Ctrl+U	Key Starts Bell Movement. This applies only when you have moving bells pictures selected: see Screen and Print Options for full details

You can change many of the keys in the table below, by clicking Options/Keyboard Mappings. The table shows Abel's standard mappings.

Key	Description
Esc	Stops Abel from performing the current action: in a method, it forces rounds; in rounds, it calls stand. In a dialog, it exits the dialog. If the ringing is paused, Esc will restart it. If you "double press" Esc while the bells are ringing, the second press causes an immediate stop.
g	A multi-function key. Does "Start" if the bells are not ringing; "Go" if the bells are in rounds; "Bob" if the bells are ringing a method.
w	Pause (Wait)
q	Silence (Quiet)
k	Faster ("Kwicker")
d	Slower ("Slow Down")
a	Bob
;	Single
p	Plain
x	Call X
y	Call Y
. (dot)	Stop at rounds (toggle)
<	Lower pitch of bells
>	Raise pitch of bells
l	Blue line on/off
j, J	First manual bell
f, F	Second manual bell
r	Third manual bell
u	Fourth manual bell
s	Show striking review
1 .. 8	Change method
A..E, G..I, K..R	Ring bells 1..16*
S..Y	Various voice prompts, plus F4 reset*

* The upper case letters are intended for use by programs working with Abel, not for use by ringers at the keyboard, and apply only when Abel is not itself ringing. When Abel is ringing, upper case letters have the same effect as lower case letters.