# Keyboard Emulation

Keyboard emulation lets COM Agent **type measured values directly into another program** — exactly as if you had typed them on the keyboard. This is ideal for entering readings into a spreadsheet, a QA database, an ERP screen or any other application, without copying and pasting.

When a measurement completes, COM Agent types the selected value(s) into **whichever window and field currently has keyboard focus**.

<!-- docshot: keyboard-options crop=.kb-options -->
![](../_images/com-agent-keyboard-options.png)

## Enable it

Tick **Keyboard emulation** under [Output Formats](rhopoint-com-agent-output-formats.md). The **Keyboard Options** appear below.

## Values

Tick one or more values to type. **Mean** is selected by default.

| Value | Types |
| --- | --- |
| **Mean** | The mean of the measurement set |
| **Minimum** | The smallest reading |
| **Maximum** | The largest reading |
| **Std Dev** | The standard deviation |
| **Measurements** | Every individual sample reading |
| **Raw** | The complete raw data as received from the instrument |

When several values are selected, they are typed in the order shown above, each separated by the chosen **Separator**.

## Separator and suffix

| Option | Purpose |
| --- | --- |
| **Separator** | The key pressed *between* values (and between individual measurements). Choose **Tab**, **Enter** or **None**. |
| **Suffix** | The key pressed *after the last* value. Choose **Tab**, **Enter** or **None**. |

> [!info] Use **Tab** to move to the next cell or field, or **Enter** to confirm an entry / move to the next row. For example, *Separator = Tab* and *Suffix = Enter* fills a row of cells and then moves to the next row — perfect for spreadsheets.

## Decimal separator

Set the **Decimal Separator** to match the target application — typically a full stop (`.`) for English locales or a comma (`,`) for German/French locales.

## Keyboard delay

The **Keyboard Delay** sets a short pause after each emulated keystroke.

> [!warning] If typed values arrive **garbled or with repeated characters**, increase the Keyboard Delay. Some applications and PCs accept injected keystrokes more slowly than others. Start at the default and raise it (for example to 100 ms) until values appear correctly. The setting is saved per PC.

## Example

With **Mean** and **Minimum** selected, *Separator = Tab*, *Suffix = Enter*, typing into a spreadsheet produces:

```
1089.4 ⇥ 1088.4 ⏎
```

The mean lands in the first cell, the minimum in the next, and the cursor moves to the following row — ready for the next measurement.

> [!info] Keyboard emulation does not write a file. To keep a record *and* type values, also tick **Text** or **CSV** under [Output Formats](rhopoint-com-agent-output-formats.md).

[Next: capture measurements](rhopoint-com-agent-capturing-measurements.md)