Editing Fun cluster

{{TODO photo}}
A '''fun cluster''' is a term for a cluster of [[Function keys|'''fun'''ction keys]] together, often to the left side of the main typing area.

The term is more often used for named keys with dedicated functions than for general-purpose numbered [[Soft key|softkeys]].

Some keyboards have more than one cluster, with different functions.

== Xerox Star ==
One of the earliest computer systems with a fun cluster was the '''Xerox Star''', one of the earliest systems with a graphical user interface.
''Drag and Drop'' had not yet been invented, so named keys in the fun' cluster on the left were used together with mouse clicks to perform actions.
There was also named keys on the top of the keyboard for formatting text.

Some actions of the keys in the function cluster are these days most often available as commands in context menus. For example, the "PROP'S" key opened a "Properties" dialogue-box for the selected object.

Early keyboards had a cluster on the left:
{| class="key-layout"
|-
| AGAIN
| class="key-1-5u" | DELETE
|-
| FIND
| class="key-1-5u" | COPY
|-
| SAME
| class="key-1-5u" | MOVE
|-
| OPEN
| class="key-1-5u" | Props
|}

... and a cluster on the right:
{| class="key-layout"
|-
| rowspan="2" | <u>SKIP</u><br/>N<br/>E<br/>X<br/>T
| class="key-1-5u" | HELP
| rowspan="2" | UNDO
|-
| class="key-1-5u" | MARGINS
|-
| rowspan="2" | <u>DEF'N</u><br/>E<br/>X<br/>P<br/>A<br/>N<br/>D
| class="key-1-5u" | FONT
| rowspan="2" | STOP
|-
| class="key-1-5u" | KEYBOARD
|-
|}

Later keyboards omitted the right cluster for a numeric keypad, and the
left cluster was extended and rearranged into:
{| class="key-layout"
|-
| STOP
| class="key-1-5u" | DEL
|-
| UNDO
| class="key-1-5u" | AGAIN
|-
| FIND
| class="key-1-5u" | COPY
|-
| SAME
| class="key-1-5u" | MOVE
|-
| HELP
| class="key-1-5u" | PROP'S
|}

== Xerox X998 ==
Left cluster:<ref name="haataxeroxx998">
Deskthority thread. 
[http://deskthority.net/photos-f62/xerox-x998-t12336.html Photos:Xerox X998]. Posted 2015-12-11. Retrieved 2015-12-13.</ref> 
{| class="key-layout"
|-
| class="key-1-5u" | FORMAT
| DEL
| &#10515;
|-
| class="key-1-5u" | PROGRAM
| COPY
|-
| class="key-1-5u" | SEARCH
| MOVE
|-
| class="key-1-5u" | STORE
| RPLC
|}

Right cluster:
{| class="key-layout"
|-
| MARK
| class="key-1-5u" | PARA
| PAGE
|-
| UND
| class="key-1-5u" | LINE
| rowspan=2 | ACCPT
|-
| SCROLL
| WORD
|-
| RVRSE
| class="key-1-5u" | CHAR
| STOP
|}

== Xerox Docutech ==
Left cluster<ref name="e3edocutech">Deskthority thread [https://deskthority.net/photos-f62/xerox-docutech-keyboards-and-restoration-t13229.html Photos:Xerox Docutech Keyboards and Restoration (Alps SKCM Neon Green)]. Retrieved 2016-03-06</ref>
{| class="key-layout"
| STOP
| class="key-1-5u" | DEL
|-
| UNDO
| class="key-1-5u" | AGAIN
|-
| FIND
| class="key-1-5u" | COPY
|-
| SAME
| class="key-1-5u" | MOVE
|-
| OPEN
| class="key-1-5u" | PROP'S
|}

== Sun ==
Workstation keyboards from [[Sun Microsystems]] had several groups of function keys.
On the [[Sun Type 3]] the keys in a cluster on the left-hand side were labeled L1..L10, but they had often distinct uses in programs and stickers with names of them were available.
Starting with the [[Sun Type 4]] keyboard, the keys were named and a [[Help key|Help]] key was added. This continued with the [[Sun Type 5]], [[Sun Type 6]] and [[Sun Type 7]] keyboards.

[[File:SFFunCluster.jpg|256px|thumb|right|The ''fun cluster'' on a Swedish-layout [[Sun Type 5]] ]]

On Sun Type 4 the Help key was at the bottom.
{| class="key-layout"
|-
| Stop
| Again
|-
| Props
| Undo
|-
| Front
| Copy
|-
| Open
| Paste
|-
| Find
| Cut
|-
|colspan="2"| Help
|}


On [[Sun Type 5]] through [[Sun Type 7|7]], the Help key is above the cluster.
{| class="key-layout"
|-
| colspan="2" | Help
|- class="spacer"
| colspan="2" |
|- 
| Stop
| Again
|-
| Props
| Undo
|-
| Front
| Copy
|-
| Open
| Paste
|-
| Find
| Cut
|}

{{-}}

== PC keyboards ==
Several various keyboards have been made with named function keys in various locations, often intermingled with [[media key]]s.
The most often used are Cut, Copy and Paste.

=== Kinesis Freestyle ===
The [[Kinesis Freestyle]] line has a 2×5 fun' cluster on the left-hand side, except for the ''Freestyle Edge'' gaming keyboards on which they are instead generic macro keys.
Above the cluster is a 2u [[Escape key|Esc]] key.

Rubber-dome keyboards have vertical [[homing bar]]s on the right side; keyboards with [[Cherry MX]] switches do not.

{| class="key-layout"
!colspan="2"|Freestyle2!! !!colspan="2"|Freestyle2 Mac!! !!colspan="2"|Freestyle Pro!! !!colspan="2"|Freestyle Edge 
|-
| ⇦<br/>Web || ⇨<br/>Web
| style="background:none;border:none" rowspan="5"|
| ⇦<br/>web || ⇨<br/>web
| style="background:none;border:none" rowspan="5"|
| Desktop || Last App
| style="background:none;border:none" rowspan="5"|
| <div style="font-size:150%">①</div> || <div style="font-size:150%">②</div>
|-
| Search || Web home
| abc<br/>⇤ || abc<br/>⇥
| Select All || Undo
| <div style="font-size:150%">③</div> || <div style="font-size:150%">④</div>
|-
| Cut || Del
| <br/>undo || <br/>cut
| Cut || Delete
| <div style="font-size:150%">⑤</div> || <div style="font-size:150%">⑥</div>
|-
| Copy || Paste
| select<br/>all || <br/>copy
| Copy || Paste
| <div style="font-size:150%">⑦</div> || <div style="font-size:150%">⑧</div>
|-
| Fn || Menu
| <br/>fn || <br/>paste
| Fn || Menu
| Fn || <div style="font-size:150%">☼</div>
|}

In the original ''Freestyle'', the [[Fn key|Fn]] and [[Menu key|Menu]] keys' position was swapped, and the Mac version had Cut, Copy and Paste keys on the left.

An early concept for the Freestyle Pro/Edge showed [[media key]]s in the fun cluster.
<ref name="dtkplanninggaming">Kinesis brochure—[https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?p=230013#p230013 posted in Deskthority thread] "Kinesis planning split ergo gaming board" on 2015-05-14</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Function keys]]
* [[Nav cluster]]

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Keyboard terms]]
[[Category:Keyboard keys]]