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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: QuincyJones on Mon, 06 June 2016, 21:50:22

Title: Numeric keypad as an extension keypad?
Post by: QuincyJones on Mon, 06 June 2016, 21:50:22

So, here's an idea.

1. Buy a cheap laptop numeric keypad
2. Write an application / driver that can target a specific usb device and alter the keycodes on the fly
3. Target the keypad device and map keycodes to some unused codes
4. Use autohotkeys to do cool things with the new keycodes (assuming it sees the new keycodes, not the old ones).
5. ?????
6. Profit!

Is this feasable?

Title: Re: Numeric keypad as an extension keypad?
Post by: FrostyToast on Mon, 06 June 2016, 22:03:27

This (http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-Female-Soarers-Converter-for-Mechanical-Keyboards-Remapping-Macros-NKRO-/301452854832?hash=item462ffd8630:g:Z3cAAOSwkNZUmO5n) might help you out.
You just plug your keypad into this and then plug the converter into your PC and it will replace whatever keys you want with whatever macros you want.

Title: Re: Numeric keypad as an extension keypad?
Post by: zombiegristle on Mon, 06 June 2016, 22:06:11

Well, that's a nifty little piece of cable.

Title: Re: Numeric keypad as an extension keypad?
Post by: QuincyJones on Mon, 06 June 2016, 23:14:05

the converter price is criminal compared to how much you can buy them for from china  - $0.1-1.25 / Piece

Title: Re: Numeric keypad as an extension keypad?
Post by: zombiegristle on Mon, 06 June 2016, 23:18:10

Do those ones also have the programmable controller inside the cable?

Title: Re: Numeric keypad as an extension keypad?
Post by: Bucake on Mon, 06 June 2016, 23:29:38

not that orihalcon's cables are cheap, but i very much doubt that those chinese ones have similar hardware inside. they're likely just passive adapters.

Title: Re: Numeric keypad as an extension keypad?
Post by: QuincyJones on Mon, 06 June 2016, 23:49:41

Quote from: Bucake on Mon, 06 June 2016, 23:29:38

not that orihalcon's cables are cheap, but i very much doubt that those chinese ones have similar hardware inside. they're likely just passive adapters.

Welcome to Chinese prices! And yes, they include all the reprogrammable stuff. Where do you think that lead came from in the first place?

Title: Re: Numeric keypad as an extension keypad?
Post by: ddot on Tue, 07 June 2016, 00:06:14

I remember a similar thread from several years ago.  HID macros is a Windows based program that could intercept keycodes and assign macros.  Not quite as elegant as a programmable cable, but the price is right.  See my old post here:

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=35588.msg666122#msg666122

Title: Re: Numeric keypad as an extension keypad?
Post by: QuincyJones on Tue, 07 June 2016, 01:23:03

Quote from: ddot on Tue, 07 June 2016, 00:06:14

I remember a similar thread from several years ago.  HID macros is a Windows based program that could intercept keycodes and assign macros.  Not quite as elegant as a programmable cable, but the price is right.  See my old post here:

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=35588.msg666122#msg666122

Interesting - thanks! I came across this along the same vein - https://autohotkey.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=7545
It seems crazy to have to buy a cable to reprogram a functioning keyboard! (And I'm too frugal!)

Title: Re: Numeric keypad as an extension keypad?
Post by: QuincyJones on Tue, 07 June 2016, 17:08:58

Has anyone hacked together something as simple as a few of these together:

 www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4x4-Matrix-Keypad-Keyboard-module-For-Arduino-atmel-Stmap-S1-2-16-Botton-mcu-/141743413701

I'd imagine the combining of the matrices would be a pita, and finding keycaps awkward, but a quick dirty custom solution with plenty of possibilities?