Topic Function keys

We have an evaluation version of keyman and the developer tools (v6.2).

I'm trying to reproduce the keystrokes that one of our users is used to using with another keystroke remapper. This user has re-mapped the control + function keys, and I can't seem to reproduce that effect in Keyman.

The Wizard apparently doesn't support mapping of function keys, so I mapped another key (K_1) with the wizard, then edited the source code by hand.

Specifically, I edited the line
+ [CTRL K_1] > U+1EB9 U+0300
to
+ [CTRL K_F1] > U+1EB9 U+0300
where I got '[CTRL K_F1]' from Tools | Virtual Key Identifier.

Before editing, the <CTRL>'1' key would give me the Unicode chars in question. After editing, there is no change--the CTRL-1 key still gives me the Unicode chars, and the CTRL-F1 key does not.

Does Keyman not support re-mapping (control) Function keys?

[quote="Mike Maxwell"]Before editing, the <CTRL>'1' key would give me the Unicode chars in question. After editing, there is no change--the CTRL-1 key still gives me the Unicode chars, and the CTRL-F1 key does not.

Does Keyman not support re-mapping (control) Function keys?[/quote]

Hi Mike,

Although I have not seen it commonly used, Keyman does support re-mapping function keys (I just tested this to ensure that it works!)

The fact that the Ctrl-1 gives the Unicode characters even after editing suggests to me that the keyboard needs recompiling. You can do this by pressing F7 within the edit window (or Keyboard menu->Compile Keyboard). You can then test this by pressing F5 (debug window) or F9 (simple test window). You can install the newly compiled keyboard into Keyman by pressing Ctrl+F9.

Kind regards,

Marc Durdin
Tavultesoft Pty Ltd

I was re-compiling, but somehow Toolbox did not seem to be recognizing the new keyboard. I shut down Toolbox, re-re-compiled, and then started up TB again, and now it works. Odd...guess I'll have to look at the steps for Keyman in the Toolbox Help.

Another oddity: Each time I start a new app (like Notepad), Keyman seems to revert to "no keyboard." Maybe this has to do with the fact that not all apps accept Unicode. (Notepad does accept Unicode in WinXP; I can't recall whether it does in Win2k.) I'm not sure whether this user will want to use his Keyman keyboard in apps other than Toolbox, so maybe this is irrelevant.

Anyway, it looks like it will work fine. I'll have our people pay you today :-), so we can register this.

[quote="Anonymous"]Another oddity: Each time I start a new app (like Notepad), Keyman seems to revert to "no keyboard." Maybe this has to do with the fact that not all apps accept Unicode. (Notepad does accept Unicode in WinXP; I can't recall whether it does in Win2k.)[/quote]

Keyman remembers the selected keyboard per application (which is also what Windows does). You can select a default keyboard with Keyman by associating it with your default Windows language. Information on how to do this is available in the Keyman help file, under topic Installing a Keyboard, section Using Keyman keyboards in place of Windows keyboards.

[quote="Anonymous"]Anyway, it looks like it will work fine. I'll have our people pay you today :-), so we can register this.[/quote]

Thank you!

Kind Regards,

Marc Durdin
Tavultesoft Pty Ltd