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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: pixel5 on Mon, 29 July 2013, 09:16:30

Title: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: pixel5 on Mon, 29 July 2013, 09:16:30
Example: I use scroll-lock for mumble mute. If the LED is red, I can talk...if not, I am muted.

Anyone got a good use for Pause/Break or the random F keys?
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: esoomenona on Mon, 29 July 2013, 09:18:04
I use all the keys from A to Z to measure my dong.
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: oTurtlez on Mon, 29 July 2013, 09:19:43
I use all the keys from A to Z to measure my dong.

Literally from the A key to the Z key or all the keys layed out in a row?
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: esoomenona on Mon, 29 July 2013, 09:23:13
I use all the keys from A to Z to measure my dong.

Literally from the A key to the Z key or all the keys layed out in a row?

Yes.
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: oTurtlez on Mon, 29 July 2013, 09:25:26
I use all the keys from A to Z to measure my dong.

Literally from the A key to the Z key or all the keys layed out in a row?

Yes.

Me: "I've got a 7 unit spacebar on my PHANSI-150 Layout board... No big..."

Moose: "Yeah well I've got a 26 unit dong on my Moose layout body..."
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: CommunistWitchDr on Mon, 29 July 2013, 09:28:18
I use all the keys from A to Z to measure my dong.
Same here, with Dvorak.
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 29 July 2013, 09:28:46
Wonder how many keys it takes to make a typical dong.

I don't remap keys....YET! :o

If I ever get my phantom back I will.
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: badcop on Mon, 29 July 2013, 09:31:18
lol this got off topic pretty quickly.

i remapped \ to backspace on my poker because im cool like that. :cool:
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: esoomenona on Mon, 29 July 2013, 09:36:38
In all seriousness, here is one thing I've done: with AHK, I set up a script for my numpad. Numlock is set to always on state, so I can never turn it off (sooo annoying). When I press Numlock, it open the Calculator. When the Calculator is open, pressing Numlock is Escape (to clear your calculations). If the Calculator is open, but not in focus, pressing Numlock brings it into focus. Also, while the Calculator is open, PgDn is Shift+5, or the percent sign for easier calculating.
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: esoomenona on Mon, 29 July 2013, 09:41:47
Also, when typing that, I thought of another addition, so I just added this: When the Calculator is open, pressing End is Alt+F4, closing the Calculator.
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 29 July 2013, 09:42:00
In all seriousness, here is one thing I've done: with AHK, I set up a script for my numpad. Numlock is set to always on state, so I can never turn it off (sooo annoying). When I press Numlock, it open the Calculator. When the Calculator is open, pressing Numlock is Escape (to clear your calculations). If the Calculator is open, but not in focus, pressing Numlock brings it into focus. Also, while the Calculator is open, PgDn is Shift+5, or the percent sign for easier calculating.

That's actually kind of cool.
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: CommunistWitchDr on Mon, 29 July 2013, 09:42:46
Not sure how much this counts with a programmable keyboard in a nonstandard layout.
Used to have the caps lock location as backspace, now have it as escape since one of my edox thumbs is backspace. Fn-caps is insert. Because I actually use insert.
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: alaricljs on Mon, 29 July 2013, 09:45:36
My capslock is my Fn key... Fn+Right shift is capslock.  Other than that no main-level changes yet.
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: oTurtlez on Mon, 29 July 2013, 09:48:15
My capslock is my Fn key... Fn+Right shift is capslock.  Other than that no main-level changes yet.

Using the TMK firmware as well? That's how mine is. Then FN+Pause/Break is Sleep, there's also some media functions on that layer.
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: esoomenona on Mon, 29 July 2013, 09:48:54
Another thing: since using the HHKB, I've grown to like the layout, so on my Model M, I've switched Capslock to Ctrl, Ctrls to Alts, Alts to Supers, and swapped Backspace and \|.
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: TheSoulhunter on Mon, 29 July 2013, 10:44:04
Capslock -> Delete on my Poker...
On the GH60 is will use Capslock as FN,  \| -> Backspace,  Backspace (split) -> \| and Delete
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: czarek on Mon, 29 July 2013, 11:00:15
Caps Lock -> Control obviously
F13 - Mute
F14 - Volume Down
F15 - Volume Up
I also use Num Lock to switch the Tenkey purpose from normal number input to the macro layer, where I have fancy Vim / OS X stuff mapped to each key.
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: esoomenona on Mon, 29 July 2013, 11:17:35
One thing I want to do is to set up a layer for Numpad, where normally, it works with the scan codes for the Numpad keys (which seem to have more purpose, such as using them with Alt for codes, which you CAN'T do with the number row), and having Shift+Numpad work the same as the number row (Shift+numpad5 is percent).
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: tehsprayer on Mon, 29 July 2013, 11:36:11
What software do you guys use to remap keys?
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: oTurtlez on Mon, 29 July 2013, 12:25:17
In all seriousness, here is one thing I've done: with AHK, I set up a script for my numpad. Numlock is set to always on state, so I can never turn it off (sooo annoying). When I press Numlock, it open the Calculator. When the Calculator is open, pressing Numlock is Escape (to clear your calculations). If the Calculator is open, but not in focus, pressing Numlock brings it into focus. Also, while the Calculator is open, PgDn is Shift+5, or the percent sign for easier calculating.

AHK = Auto Hot Key
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: kenmai9 on Mon, 29 July 2013, 12:37:10
Caps lock = delete on my poker. Now I never have to type fn backspace for delete. And I never caps lock. I want to change my right Ctrl cus I never use it, but idk what
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: daerid on Mon, 29 July 2013, 12:37:38
Anyone got a good use for Pause/Break or the random F keys?

I use Pause/Break all the time for interrupting builds. Also, I pretty much use all of the F* keys pretty consistently. (Except possibly F7).

Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: fohat.digs on Mon, 29 July 2013, 12:37:51
Left F10 => Windows
NumLock => Escape
F13 => Escape
F14 => Calculator
F20 => Print Screen
F21 => Media Pause
F22 => Volume Down
F23 => Volume Up
F24 => Mute
Center Arrow => Down Arrow

I use wcass's method to program these directly into the Teensy.

Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: czarek on Mon, 29 July 2013, 12:53:23
I use ControlleMate on a Mac. This is the input interface freak's heaven software.
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: esoomenona on Mon, 29 July 2013, 12:53:33
What software do you guys use to remap keys?

As Turtz pointed out, I use AutoHotKey on Windows to script changes. I also use keytweak to make certain changes as well.
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: compgeke on Mon, 29 July 2013, 14:05:59
I had Caps Lock on my laptop mapped as AltGr. Sure did annoy people, but hey, can't accidentally hit it.
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: meiosis on Mon, 29 July 2013, 14:26:25
I use all the keys from A to Z to measure my dong.

Literally from the A key to the Z key or all the keys layed out in a row?

Yes.

Me: "I've got a 7 unit spacebar on my PHANSI-150 Layout board... No big..."

Moose: "Yeah well I've got a 26 unit dong on my Moose layout body..."

There's no keys between A and Z, the Z is right below A
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: Torious on Tue, 30 July 2013, 12:24:48
I have a Quickfire TK and remapped quite a bit:

- the top 2 rows of the numpad I've remapped to cursor keys (permanently losing access to the number keys). Around that some more remapping for page up/down and home/end.
- left alt -> enter
- right alt -> backspace
- left win, right win -> ctrl
- left ctrl -> win
- righ ctrl -> application key
- both shifts -> alt
- caps lock -> shift
- enter -> shift

That's about it I guess. It was an attempt to make a more ergonomic layout. The numpad changes translate into less arm movement when using cursor keys (you don't have to move down / your elbow back). Enter / backspace on alt keys to use them with thumbs. But I have to admit that's not optimal either, because on a standard keyboard, the alts are just too far to the side, so you have to bend your thumbs inwards too much. But this will do until I get one of those next-generation Kinesis Advantage keyboards when they're out...
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: Thimplum on Tue, 30 July 2013, 14:25:39
I use all the keys from A to Z to measure my dong.

So THAT's how he gets the 20% warning...
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 06 August 2013, 10:18:30
I use all the keys from A to Z to measure my dong.

So THAT's how he gets the 20% warning...

I'd say its much more subtle than that ;)
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: snoopy on Tue, 06 August 2013, 11:32:02
I use PrintScreen, ScrollLock and Pause for volumecontrol under OS X.

I also use capslock as command
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: Tony on Wed, 07 August 2013, 07:19:10
Capslock -> Backspace. I am a Colemak layout user
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: Findecanor on Wed, 07 August 2013, 09:14:46
I used to use the Print Screen-cluster for Previous Track, Next Track and Play/Pause. Play/Pause would be on the Pause key...
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: daerid on Wed, 07 August 2013, 15:26:27
I use ControlleMate on a Mac. This is the input interface freak's heaven software.

Ain't that the truth. I use it heavily when working with Pro Tools.  Just wish it would detect the top two buttons on my Slimblade, grrrr
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: ch_123 on Wed, 07 August 2013, 16:25:50
I use Scroll Lock under Linux to bring up Guake. Aside from that, I tend to map Caps Lock to either be Meta/Super or Ctrl, depending on which is more convenient.
Title: Re: What are your 're-purposed' keys?
Post by: spiceBar on Wed, 07 August 2013, 17:36:18
I do a lot a remapping... :(

I'm using .Xmodmap under Linux and KeyRemap4MacBook under MacOS to remap these:

PrtScr    -> Mute
ScrLock -> Vol-
Pause    -> Vol+

As I use a PC keyboard and often switch between Linux and a Mac, under MacOS I remap the modifiers keys to act exactly like on a PC. So Ctrl will act as Command and Win acts as Ctrl. The navigation key are remapped when needed to emulate the behavior of a PC. For example PgUp shows the previous page AND moves the cursor, instead of showing the previous page but leaving the cursor in place (which is the default behavior on a Mac and I hate it).

Then, because I'm an AZERTY user and also a programmer, I remap some symbols that are very awkward to type on AZERTY:
  [ I get with the key at the left of 1 (on AZERTY it does superscript 2 which I never use)
  ] I get with Shift and the key at the left of 1 (it does superscript n on AZERTY, never used it)
  {  I get with AltGr and the key immediately above
  } I get with AltGr and the key immediately above and at the right
  | I get with AltGr L
  \ I get with AltGr and the key immediately at the right of L
  # I get with Shift and the key immediately to the left of the right Shift (on AZERTY it does the paragraph symbol which I never use)

I'm seriously considering switching to QWERTY keyboards just because typing programs is so much easier on them. I know I can do it as I learned to type on QWERTY anyway (on a TRS-80, more than 30 years ago).

Now that I have a programmable keyboard (KBT Pure Pro), I do all this remapping in the keyboard itself. I have even added a key which does this:
  [ ] Left-arrow
So it types the brackets and moves the cursor back between them. Very convenient for C, Objective-C and many other programming languages.

Oh and one last thing. On the KBT Pure Pro, the right Ctrl and Shift are not very useable because they are small and packed with the arrow keys. So I remap Shift to Home and Ctrl to End and it's very convenient. I have found it quite easy to adapt and use only the left Ctrl and left Shift as modifiers. I don't miss them much on the right.