# Use the string pop-up scratchpad

To enter string values, the operator must open the string pop-up scratchpad by pressing a string input enable button. The number of characters the scratchpad accepts depends on how you set up the String Input Enable button.

The scratchpad does not contain any buttons. The computer must have an external keyboard or keypad to use and close the pop-up scratchpad. If the runtime terminal is a keypad terminal, the operator can enter numbers in the scratchpad and close the scratchpad.

When the scratchpad is open, no other objects in the graphic display can accept input.

## To use the pop-up scratchpad

1. Use the keys on an external keyboard or keypad to enter a string in the pop-up’s scratchpad.
2. Press Enter on the external keyboard or keypad.

   Tip: | If the graphic display changes remotely before the operator has pressed the Enter key on the external keyboard or keypad, the pop-up closes without writing anything out. If the computer’s resolution is smaller than 236 pixels wide by 44 pixels high, the pop-up scratchpad cannot open.

## Use the keys on the external keyboard or keypad

- Insert/Overstrike

  Press the Insert key to toggle between insert and overstrike modes.

- Left arrow

  Press the Left arrow key to move the cursor to the left.

- Right arrow

  Press the Right arrow key to move the cursor to the right.

- Escape

  Press the Esc key to close the pop-up without writing the string to the Value connection.

- Delete

  Press the Delete key to clear the scratchpad.

- Backspace

  Press to delete the character to the left of the cursor. Hold the button down to delete multiple characters.

- Enter

  Press to write the string to the Value connection.

## See also

How the string pop-up scratchpad works at run time

Causes of run-time errors for the string pop-up scratchpad

Causes of run-time errors for the string input enable button