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How to debug on a laptop that has different Function keys?

On a PC those buttons work, but on my laptop they don't because, for example the F9 key (which should run the program) locks the screen. The F6, F7 and F8 keys do other things, too, like locking the touchpad. I start the program with the mouse, clicking the button in the RAD Studio that says "Run", but then when it reaches the breakpoint I don't know how to start moving to the next line.

Edit: The FN button helped me. I use laptop Lenovo IdeaPad 3

Ineffable21
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  • You would probably get a better answer if you mention the brand and model of your laptop. – MartynA Oct 17 '22 at 16:17
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    You have to press the **Fn** key altogether which you won't find on a real keyboard - f.e. on a [Fujitsu Lifebook it's at the bottom left](https://www.google.ca/search?tbm=isch&q=fujitsu%20lifebook%20keyboard). It works like **Shift** or **Alt** or **Ctrl**, altering the meaning of keys. Yes, it's horribly stupid. – AmigoJack Oct 17 '22 at 16:24
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    The toolbar has "Trace into" (F7) and "Step over" (F8) buttons. They are just to the right of the Play/Pause/Stop buttons. The same commands are also found on the Run menu. – Andreas Rejbrand Oct 17 '22 at 16:30
  • Isn't the IDE by now able to customize all key assignments? See also [How can I change Delphi's 'Run' and 'Add Breakpoint' shortcut keys?](https://stackoverflow.com/q/2301302/4299358) – AmigoJack Oct 17 '22 at 16:35
  • @AmigoJack Thank you very much it works with the FN button. Customizing the keys wouldn't have been useful for me, because I sometimes work in the office, where I use a pc and a keyboard that don't have a problem with the Function keys, and I sometimes work from home and I use remote desktop connection, so I wouldn't want to change the keys because I'm used to these already, and I don't want to have to change the keys everytime I go to the office and home. – Ineffable21 Oct 19 '22 at 12:04
  • Edit your question to include brand/vendor and model of your laptop (as suggested by @MartynA already) and I can add an actual answer. – AmigoJack Oct 19 '22 at 15:36
  • @AmigoJack I saw his response, but since the FN button does the job I didn't think it's needed to add what I use but I will edit now for next people to see I guess if they ever have such problem. – Ineffable21 Oct 19 '22 at 15:39
  • That was only a comment. Take the [tour] to learn how this website works and why questions should have enough details and why answers are better than just comments. – AmigoJack Oct 19 '22 at 15:42

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Your Lenovo IdeaPad 3 has (like also Fujitsu's Lifebook) the additional key Fn on the lower left, which occurs for compact keyboard layouts (such as on laptops). Handle it like you would handle Ctrl or Shift or Alt: press and hold it down first, then the actual key you want to press.

In general multiple actions of a keyboard key are distinguished by their printed position:

  • bottom left: the default action - have a look at f.e. , or 8 or Home.
  • top left: when holding Shift - this also explains why all letters are printed in uppercase. See also how you'd press ? or > or :.
  • bottom right:
    • if you have: when holding Alt Gr - on f.e. German layouts by this you achieve pressing µ or € or ³. If you also have a Fn key then actions for for that are enclosed in a rectangle.
    • if no Alt Gr is available, it is meant for holding Fn (and then actions are not essentially in rectangles) - that's how you finally can press F9 and such, while the key's default action is device specific.
  • top right: almost only encountered outside latin alphabets, when whole input method menus need to be used.

See Wikipedia for different layout examples, including potential Fn positions.

AmigoJack
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