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→Special Function Keys
The Terminal Emulator II module features a wide variety of functions that help you communicate with the other system and work with your data. The functions fall into two basic categories: those that signal the other system to perform a predefined function and those that help you work with your data. Most of the functions in this second category are control characters in the ASCII Character Set. For a listing and explanation of the ASCII control characters available with the module, see Appendix A.
[[File:Terminal Emulator - Keyboard.png|center|600px]]
====Using the Function Keys====
While exchanging information, you may find it necessary to perform various functions. For example, you may want to output to a mass storage device or change the case of the characters you are sending to the other system.
You can select a function after you finish selecting the parameters on the COMMUNICATION SETUP display. If you want to select a function while receiving data, it is best to do so when the other system pauses while sending data. In most cases, the Home Computer will store incoming data in a temporary 256-character buffer while you are using a function. This allows about eight seconds of transmission (at 300 Baud) before the buffer overflows and the first data received is lost.
'''IMPORTANT:''' Incoming data is not stored while your Home Computer is performing the '''CTRL 1''' (SPEAK) or '''CTRL 2''' (OUTPUT) function or if you are pressing the paper advance button on the TI Thermal Printer.
Once a function is performed, the information stored in the buffer is quickly displayed. When the displayed information catches up to the remote system's transmissions, the characters appear at normal speed. If some of the information seems to be missing, the data transmitted probably exceeded the buffer's limit.
The remainder of this section describes the various functions available with the Terminal Emulator II module, except the ASCII control characters 1 through 31. For a listing of these ASCII characters, see Appendix A.
===Control 1 (SPEAK)===
Holding down the '''CTRL''' key and pressing 1 instructs the Home Computer to speak all the text displayed on the screen. Pressing '''CTRL 1''' (SPEAK) has no effect unless the TI Solid State Speech<sup>TM</sup> Synthesizer is properly attached to your Home Computer. For information on accessing text-to-speech in a TI BASIC program, see Appendix C. ''Note:'' You cannot use '''CTRL 1''' when you are in the graphics mode.
===Control 2 (OUTPUT)===
Holding down the '''CTRL''' key and pressing '''2''' (OUTPUT) allows you to transmit a page of currently displayed data to a printer or a mass storage medium, such as a cassette tape or diskette. Once you press '''CTRL 2''' (OUTPUT), the module asks you to enter the device name. The module accepts any of the following device names, provided the device is properly connected to the computer and turned ON.
