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Author Topic: Kinesis - how to get both AltGr and Win key?  (Read 12444 times)

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Offline zenblu

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Kinesis - how to get both AltGr and Win key?
« on: Wed, 16 November 2011, 00:27:48 »
Hi,
I have a problem with my Kinesis Advantage. I need AltGr key to type international characters, but also need the "Windows" key (Super in Linux) as well. The only way I can get my Kinesis to produce AltGr is to switch it into "PC Non-Windows" mode (by pressing =p). The key above PgUp becomes AltGr then. But there is no Windows key on the keyboard at all then! I also tried setting the "x" option (=x), but then I get right alt instead of AltGr. Also, there is that "international key" below x, but it seems to never produce AltGr. Is there a way to force it to do that?

Basically, I would like to have Windows key (Super) and AltGr both present on the keyboard at the same time. Was anyone able to do that?
Thanks!
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Offline Input Nirvana

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Kinesis - how to get both AltGr and Win key?
« Reply #1 on: Wed, 16 November 2011, 00:32:33 »
Hmmm, being in the US and using English, that's not something on my plate. I can't look it up right now. If you have read the Owners Manual and there is no info there, definitely call Kinesis asap and Rick should know if it can be done or not. Pacific Standard Time.
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Offline zenblu

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Kinesis - how to get both AltGr and Win key?
« Reply #2 on: Wed, 16 November 2011, 00:43:05 »
Oh, didn't know they had such a good customer service. It's a bit late, so I'll call him tomorrow.
Even if you are not using international characters, I've read that some people (programmers) use this to put symbols under letters. For example, AltGr+a could produce [, AltGr+s ] etc.

I really don't understand the function of the key below x (the one that has '\' and '|' on it), if you cannot use it for anything (it always produces '<' if I'm in international layout or \ in us layout)... It was supposed to be another AltGr I thought...

Thanks!
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Offline Input Nirvana

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Kinesis - how to get both AltGr and Win key?
« Reply #3 on: Wed, 16 November 2011, 00:53:34 »
Kinesis customer service has an impressive reputation, and has for quite a few years. I'm certain they will take care of you as well as possible.

That's the International key. It does serve a function for the AltGr you're asking about, I'm not familiar with it, but keep in mind you can re-map the AltGr key to another location. Again, I can't look this up, but I'm sure it's in the manual you can look at on the Kinesis site.
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Offline zenblu

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Kinesis - how to get both AltGr and Win key?
« Reply #4 on: Wed, 16 November 2011, 00:59:19 »
The problem is that that additional key never produces AltGr for me.

Since I can only get AltGr in non-Windows mode (instead of right alt, not on the additional key though), I tried remapping it then to another key and switching back to Windows mode. But then it changes not only AltGr back to Windows key, but the other key that I mapped to be another AltGr becomes Windows key as well...

How do you know it produces AltGr? I was never able to make it produce AltGr... Do you use a Linux/*nix system? If so, xev should say "ISO_Level3_Shift" when pressing AltGr I believe...
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Offline Input Nirvana

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Kinesis - how to get both AltGr and Win key?
« Reply #5 on: Wed, 16 November 2011, 01:07:39 »
I'm not sure the International key produces the AltGr, I thought it allowed for the AltGr to become available, maybe from the second layer? I only think this because of something I read in the manual a long time ago. I don't remember what it states, but it did mention AltGr in association with the International key.

I'm a simpleton: English language on Mac typing with Colemak and no programming on a Kinesis.
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Offline kps

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Kinesis - how to get both AltGr and Win key?
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 16 November 2011, 09:48:39 »
Quote from: zenblu;453066
I tried remapping it then to another key and switching back to Windows mode.
Don't do that. Those "modes" are just presets that program certain keys, including programming the thumb keys to send the Wdinows keys. Ignore them, start from a clean slate, and set the keys you want.

EDIT: If you tell me what functions you want to end up with on which physical keys, I'll tell you how to set that.
« Last Edit: Wed, 16 November 2011, 10:21:11 by kps »
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Offline sordna

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Kinesis - how to get both AltGr and Win key?
« Reply #7 on: Wed, 16 November 2011, 10:49:52 »
I use non-windows PC mode because I want 2 alts and 2 control keys. However, even in this mode you do have 2 Windows keys and a Menu key:
Go to the keypad layer, and you'll see that PrintScr, ScrollLock are your 2 Windows keys, and Pause is your Menu key.
You can remap them into the main layer (hit Pgm+Remap while in keypad mode, hit the PrintScr key for example, then hit Keypad to get out of Keypad mode, then hit which ever key you want to assign the Super functionality to, then hit Pgm+Remap and you're done!
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Offline Input Nirvana

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Kinesis - how to get both AltGr and Win key?
« Reply #8 on: Wed, 16 November 2011, 18:33:46 »
Sordna-support
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Kinesis Advantage cut into 2 halves | RollerMouse Free 2 | Apple Magic Trackpad | Colemak
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Offline zenblu

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Kinesis - how to get both AltGr and Win key?
« Reply #9 on: Wed, 16 November 2011, 22:25:29 »
Yep, and that's exactly the response I got from Rick as well. Would never have thought to look in Keypad mode. Thanks guys!
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Offline swesluggo

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Re: Kinesis - how to get both AltGr and Win key?
« Reply #10 on: Wed, 11 May 2016, 11:13:31 »
Hi!
I'm really sorry about necro bumping a thread the first thing i do here but this is the top hit when searching for this issue on both google and duckduckgo.
What i wanted to add was that if you have this issue and the swedish layout you first have to switch the layout to english in your OS and then the key to hold down to switch mode is the one above the left hand Tab (the ´`-key).
Big thanks to Rick for the solving the problem!
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Offline HellMind

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Re: Kinesis - how to get both AltGr and Win key?
« Reply #11 on: Wed, 05 April 2017, 12:25:59 »
Is there a way to switch alt gr for alt?
switching alt right to alt left
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Offline dantan

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Re: Kinesis - how to get both AltGr and Win key?
« Reply #12 on: Sat, 08 April 2017, 11:24:49 »
Quote from: HellMind on Wed, 05 April 2017, 12:25:59
Is there a way to switch alt gr for alt?
switching alt right to alt left

but why would anyone do that?

even the alts and contrls are normally considered the same in most softwares unless you specify LALT or RALT.

Can't wrap my head around this that you want your left hand alt to be ralt.
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Offline davkol

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Re: Kinesis - how to get both AltGr and Win key?
« Reply #13 on: Sun, 09 April 2017, 05:52:21 »
Left- and right-side modifiers send distinct codes, and some software cares about it. For example, VirtualBox uses right Control to switch focus between virtual machine and host; right Alt is interpreted as AltGr in international/non-US keymaps.

Thus, I prefer to have both Alt (left Alt) and AltGraph (right Alt) on each side of the keyboard, so that I can alternate my hands when pressing combos. HellMind might prefer something similar—or use something else instead of AltGr (e.g., Compose).
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