Using Numeric Keypad with Windows Applications (44112)

This article was previously published under Q44112

To use the numeric keypad with Microsoft Windows applications, the NUM LOCK key must be activated. For example, to use the numeric keypad for calculations with the Windows Calculator or to enter values in a Microsoft Excel version 2.0 worksheet, the NUM LOCK key must be activated.

This condition is true for MS-DOS applications in general. The NUM LOCK (abbreviation for Numeric Lock) key toggles the function of the keys in the calculator-style numeric keypad at the right side of the keyboard between cursor movement and numbers.

For example, when the NUM LOCK key is activated (on most keyboards a NUM LOCK light indicates that the NUM LOCK key is activated), pressing the 4 key types a "4" into an application; without the NUM LOCK key activated, pressing the 4 key is the same as pressing the LEFT ARROW key on the keyboard.