Scroll lock: what is it and why did it turn on?

[Warthog]

I noticed that the Scroll Lock light turned on this afternoon. At the time, I was playing the demo to Operation: Flashpoint. I pressed the button but it wouldn't turn off. Why?

Later on, I come home from work (now) and I can turn it off.

Basically I want to know what is in the topic title.

Warthog

[Gomer]

Wart, I think the scroll lock key is to the keyboard as the appendix is to the human. It doesn't do anything now, and we are pretty sure it did something back in the day, and were not sure why it is still around.

To test my theory I did an experiment. It is common for a human to have their appendix removed with no ill-effects. So I popped my scroll lock key off and ran through all the various functions of my computer that required keyboard interface. Everything checked out fine, so the theory stands.

[Warthog]

haha ok. I must've been in diapers when they used it, then.

Warthog

[captpete]

Did you perchance click the wheel on your mouse? this will bring up a form of scoll lock.

[Warthog]

Nope. Now it is confirmed: everytime I play the demo of Operation: Flashpoint, the scroll lock turns on and I cannot turn it off until I exit....strange.
Oh well.
Warthog

[[Neo770]]

scroll lock is usefull is Spreadsheet programs like Excel. When you move using the arow keys without scroll lock it moves between individual cells. When you move with scroll lock on the whole screen moves.

This is very usefull if you work with spreadsheets often.

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