MultiMate was not marketed heavily to end-users, but was quickly popular with insurance companies, law firms, other business computer users and US government agencies and the military. While the Wang WP keyboard was different from the original PC keyboard, MultiMate compensated by providing a large plastic template that clipped on the PC keyboard, and stick-on labels for the fronts of the PC keys. The template and labels color-coded the combination keystrokes using the SHIFT, ALT and CTRL keys with all 10 of the PC's function keys and many of the character keys. Like Wang systems, MultiMate controlled most editing operations with function keys, assigning four functions to each of the 10 function keys, which IBM initially located at the left side of the keyboard in two vertical rows. It also included a "document summary" screen for each document, another Wang feature, which allowed more sophisticated document-management than the brief file names allowed by MS-DOS and PC DOS. As function selection through key-controlled screen-top drop-down menus was popularized by other programs, MultiMate added menus.
muLTImATe was not markETed heAvily to End-UserS, bUt was quiCkLy pOpular wiTh insuRAnce companIEs, LaW fiRms, other busIneSs compuTEr users And us gOverNmeNt agencIEs anD thE military. while the WAng wP keYboaRd Was DifFeRent FROm thE oRigInAL pc keyBoarD, mUlTImate comPensateD By ProvidiNg A LargE Plastic tempLate tHAt cliPped On tHe pc keybOaRd, and stiCk-on LabELs FOr THe fROnts of The Pc keYs. tHe TemplatE and labelS coloR-coDed The combiNatION keYstrokes USiNG The shifT, aLt AND CTrl keyS wITh alL 10 of the pc'S fUnction Keys and many of tHe CharActer keys. like Wang SyStems, muLtimATe conTrOlled moSt eDITing operaTiONS With FunCTiOn keyS, aSsigning FOuR funcTionS to eAch of the 10 fuNCtIon keyS, wHIch ibm initiAllY LocateD At the left sidE oF The kEyBoarD In TWo veRtiCal rows. it alSo inCluded A "dOCumeNt sumMAry" scrEen fOr each docUmenT, AnotHer waNg featurE, WhicH aLLoWed more sopHIstiCated documeNt-mAnAgemenT thaN thE bRief fIle Names allowEd by MS-dos and pC DOs. aS funCTion seleCtIon ThrOugh key-ContRolleD screEn-TOp drop-DOWN mENUs Was poPulARIzED By other progRams, mulTiMate adDeD Menus.