Convert ASCII to Scan Codes
Map ASCII characters to IBM PC XT set-1 keyboard scan codes. Runs entirely in your browser, so your data never leaves your device.
0 chars · 0 lines
Output
The result appears here as you type.
How to use Convert ASCII to Scan Codes
- 1. Type the characters to translate. Enter text in the input pane. Each character is mapped to the IBM PC XT set-1 scan code of the key that produces it, so A yields 1E, the code for the A key.
- 2. Format with the separator. The Separator option arranges the hex codes. Spaces suit reading alongside a keyboard-controller datasheet, while commas prepare the list for an array in emulator or driver code.
- 3. Remember scan codes track keys. Scan codes identify physical key positions, not characters, so shifted symbols share codes with their unshifted keys. Release events on real hardware add 80 hex to the make code.
- 4. Copy the scan code sequence. Copy the values into your emulator input queue, BIOS-level experiment or driver test. The scan-codes-to-ASCII tool performs the reverse lookup when analyzing captures.
When to use Convert ASCII to Scan Codes
Convert ASCII to Scan Codes translates text into the set-1 make codes an IBM PC XT keyboard sends to the machine. Anyone working below the operating system, in BIOS code, DOS emulation or keyboard firmware, deals in scan codes rather than characters, and this mapping saves a trip through aging hardware references.
- Injecting keystrokes into emulators. DOSBox-style emulators and virtual machines accept synthetic keyboard input as scan codes. Convert the command you want typed and feed the sequence to the emulated keyboard controller.
- Developing keyboard firmware. A custom keyboard or converter for vintage PCs must emit correct set-1 codes. Generating the expected sequence for test phrases gives your firmware a ground truth to match.
- Writing OS-development keyboard drivers. A hobby OS reading port 60h receives raw scan codes long before any character mapping exists. Knowing what your test string looks like as codes makes the interrupt handler debuggable.
- Analyzing keylogger or capture data. A hardware capture of a PS/2 line shows hex bytes, not letters. Encoding candidate words to scan codes lets you match patterns in the capture to typed text.
Examples
Letter
Input
A
Output
1E
Word
Input
hi
Output
23 17
About the Convert ASCII to Scan Codes tool
Convert ASCII to Scan Codes does its work locally, right in the browser. Map ASCII characters to IBM PC XT set-1 keyboard scan codes. There is no upload step, no queue and no account, and your data never travels over the network.
It belongs to the ASCII Tools collection on EditSafely, a set of 81 small, focused ASCII utilities that share the same instant, private workspace.
You can shape the output with the Separator setting, and the result refreshes the moment you change it. 2 worked examples further down the page show exactly what the tool produces for real inputs.
Running locally also makes the tool fast and dependable: results appear as you type or drop a file, there is no server outage that can take it down mid-task, and confidential data can be processed without a second thought.
Frequently asked questions
Is Convert ASCII to Scan Codes free to use?
Yes, it is completely free. All 2,658 tools on EditSafely work without an account, a subscription or usage limits.
Is it safe to paste sensitive or confidential data?
Everything happens locally. Your browser downloads the tool's code once, then does all the processing itself; nothing you enter is transmitted, stored or logged. You can even go offline after the page loads and it will still work.
How much text can I process at once?
There is no fixed limit. Because the work happens on your own device rather than on a shared server, the practical ceiling is your machine's memory, which comfortably handles inputs far larger than typical online tools allow.
Do I need to sign up or install anything?
No. The tool works in any modern browser on desktop, tablet or phone. There is no account to create, no extension to add and no software to install.
How do I use the result?
The output panel has a one-click copy button, and you can keep refining the input while you work; the result updates in place as you type.