Programming a Chorded keys with Plum Keyboard Software

[mseaworthy]

tl:dr anyone know if the Plum software can record a chorded key combination?

I have recently picked up a Plum 84 keyboard (non-LED). Only been using it for a day so the feedback is of limited value, but I really like this Topre clone. I have an HHKB and an RU8755. While the Plum clearly doesn’t have the same quality control, the value is there for the $99 I paid to have this delivered from Aliexpress to the US.

Surprisingly one of my favorite features is the sound and feel of the switches. I’ve added Hypersphere’s rings to my HHKB, and I’ve had a Type-S…this feels and sounds a bit like a scratchy Type-S (as noted, the Plum ships with dampening rings). While I like these aspects, I sure some would hate them.

I also like the layout especially considering it’s only about ¾ of an inch wider than the HHKB yet it has dedicated arrow cluster as well as dedicated Delete, Home, Page Up, Page Down and End keys. Yes, I get that the HHKB’s chorded combinations are what offer the efficiency and the smaller footprint, but that’s the value in the difference. Some would love to have a Topre switch with these dedicated keys, at a competitive price.

Bottom line, if you ever wanted to try Topre but didn’t want to pay the premium, this is a reasonable, affordable representation. Nothing else, it might foster price compression or feature competitiveness.

The potential killer combination is the programmability. I have Hasu’s excellent controller in my HHKB. But I’m stuck on programming a chorded combo for IJKL arrow navigation (dedicated arrows while great for one-handed navigation, are not as fast as home-row navigation), and wondering if anyone can help.

I have figured out how to program a single key with the Windows software from the manufacturer however, I can’t seem to get the concept of a combination key.
It might be just that you can only record a “Combo” as a contiguous series of keys and that you CAN’T create a chorded combination. Each time I try to program a combination key, I just end up reassigning one of the two keys which need to be part of the combination. If you know how to make a chorded combo, please share it here.

[opensecret]

I haven’t figured out how to do the kind of chorded combo you want.   You may already have figured out how to do Fn + key combinations, but it took me a while.  I finally realized that, for example, to program Fn + R, I hit the button over on the left  in the software to toggle to “Level down.” Then click on the R key in the software, and proceed  normally.  It works, even though the interface doesn’t show what key is being programmed. 

The user instructions for the software could be better: the English is marginal and some things are not explained well or at all.  But there’s a lot to like on the board.   The layout is clever as you note, and I really like the programmability, as well as the many function key presets (media keys, etc.). 

I like typing on the board, but it feels  different from typing on a Realforce – kind of like the difference between an economy car and a BMW.  The Plum switches are a little scratchier, have shorter travel, and bottom out harder. But they're pretty quiet.