The manual data input (MDI) panel usually has just one key for
the left bracket and another one for the right bracket. While typing,
whether the bracket will appear as a square bracket or a parenthesis,
depends on your parameter setting. If the machine has Fanuc 0i or a similar
control, set the first bit (from right), which is conventionally
referred to as bit #0 (the eight bits are designated as #0 through #7,
starting from the right), of parameter number 3204 to 0 for a square
bracket, and 1 for a parenthesis.
Obviously, it would not be possible to use square brackets and insert
comments at the same time with this parameter setting. If some comments
are desired to be inserted in a macro program, first type/edit
the program using square brackets, wherever required. Then change
the parameter setting to get parentheses, for the purpose of inserting
comments. After inserting comments, if again some corrections in the
program involving square brackets are needed, another change in
parameter 3204 would be required.
There is, however, a way to use both types of brackets, with the same
parameter setting. For this, set parameter 3204#2 to 1 (3204#0 should
remain 0; status of the other six bits does not affect this feature.
Such a parameter setting displays an extended character set, as
soft keys, in the EDIT mode, displaying “(“, “)” and “@”. With this
setting, if square brackets are needed, use the bracket keys on the
MDI panel, and if parentheses are needed, do the following (in EDIT
mode):
• Press PROG on MDI panel (press PROG again if the current
program is not displayed).
• Press the OPRT soft key.
• Press the right extension key (>) twice.
• Press the C-EXT soft key.
After this, soft keys for left parenthesis, right parenthesis, and @
(which can be used in the comments inserted in a program) will
appear which can be used as and when required for editing in EDIT
mode. However, a change in display screen will make these soft keys
disappear. If they are needed again, the process to display them will
have to be repeated.
Note that the MDI panel and the LCD screen (color or monochrome)
come as an integral unit as well as separate units. The standalone
type MDI panel is larger and has more keys. So, there is a lesser
need to use the SHIFT key for typing alphanumeric characters/arithmetic
operators, which makes typing faster. The keypad also has
separate keys for both types of brackets, obviating the need for displaying
soft keys for them.