---
title: Send Non-Printable Keys
slug: hardware/send-non-printable-keys
docTags: 
createdAt: 2025-03-11T06:58:11.202Z
---

# Serial Port

Non-printable keys (e.g., function keys, ENTER, CTRL, ALT, ESC) can be sent via the player's serial port. To do this, use the **Send -- Serial byte** command to send the decimal value of the desired key. For example, if you need to send the serial string **ESC A** to turn on your display:

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Create a presentation with an [Advanced Zone](docId:0Vm0UTpL2j8dss-DFNhMo).
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Open the Media State or Event where you want to send the command.
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Click the **Advanced** tab.
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Use the **Add Command** button to add two commands.
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Set the first **Command** to **Send** and the **Command Parameters** to **Serial byte**. 
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Set **Port** to 0 (this works for most standard serial devices) and set **Byte** to 27 (the decimal value for ESC).
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Set the second **Command** to **Send** and the **Command Parameters** to **Serial string (no EOL)**.
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Set **Port** to 0 and **Byte** to the letter A.
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::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/511c8QBH-VHiwWnyzIwUb/awvE3eWsTg9zgU4e42DH0_screenshot-2024-04-05-at-104914-am.png" size="50" width="1293" height="1500" position="center" alt="Screenshot 2024-04-05 at 10.49.14 AM.png" darkWidth="1293" darkHeight="1500" showCaption="false"}

# Keyboards

BrightSign players can accept input from non-printing characters on a keyboard. For example, to have the space bar trigger an event, you would enter "\<sp>" as the input value for the Keyboard event in your BrightSign Author or BrightAuthor Classic project. 

To do this:

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Select the code in the chart below that corresponds to the keyboard character you need.
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Add a [Keyboard Event](docId\:r8m4YUQd_FjfoWzNE7IG4) to your content and enter the selected code in the **Specify keyboard input field** field.
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## Codes

| **Key**     | **Code** | **Key**           | **Code** |
| ----------- | -------- | ----------------- | -------- |
| Space       | \<sp>    | F1                | \<f1>    |
| Left arrow  | \<la>    | F2                | \<f2>    |
| Right arrow | \<ra>    | F3                | \<f3>    |
| Up arrow    | \<ua>    | F4                | \<f4>    |
| Down arrow  | \<da>    | F5                | \<f5>    |
| Return      | \<rn>    | F6                | \<f6>    |
| Enter       | \<en>    | F7                | \<f7>    |
| Escape      | \<es>    | F8                | \<f8>    |
| Page Up     | \<pu>    | F9                | \<f9>    |
| Page Down   | \<pd>    | F10               | \<f10>   |
| Backspace   | \<bs>    | F11               | \<f11>   |
| Tab         | \<tb>    | F12               | \<f12>   |
| Insert      | \<in>    | F13 (prnt scrn)   | \<f13>   |
| Del         | \<de>    | F14 (Scrl Lck)    | \<f14>   |
| Home        | \<ho>    | F15 (Pause-Break) | \<f15>   |
| End         | \<ed>    |                   |          |

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See [Send Non-Printable Keys in BrightAuthor Classic](docId\:GeffetRyzsyKnQhC9bBOn) for BrightAuthor Classic instructions.
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