Apple Wireless A1255: Remapping the FN to CTRL?

[ibu]

My fingers ache for the CTRL key at the left corner at the bottom.

But at my Apple Wireless A1255 there's the FN key at this position.

Do you know if there's any way to remap the FN to CTRL under Windows XP?

Thanks.

[Brodie337]

Without a hardware mod, your answer is almost certainly no. Function Keys tend to be controlled by the keyboard controller, rather than sending a scan code, which could be remapped

[ibu]

I suspected that.
Does anyone know about a hardware mod?

[EverythingIBM]

I suspected that.
Does anyone know about a hardware mod?

Google is your friend.

And, I'd just get a good IBM-layout keyboard.

Apple keyboards have a completely different layout; not only that, they're highly inconsistent (each one changes every time). The earlier Apple keyboards went up to F15, then the eMacs went up to F16, and now the newer ones go up to F19.

However, since IBM dominated the other market of computers, most standard keyboards are all the same, and even maintain legacy keys, such as "system request" or "scroll lock".

EDIT: oh yeah, ironically, lenovo is removing system request on their newer garbage.

[ibu]

Fcn may be hardwired.   Run Aquakeytest to check for whether a scancode comes up.

I downloaded Aquakeytest from http://www.otd.kr/data/file/aikon_down/2415429267_e5a1cb8d_AquaKeyTest.exe-x

All keys but FN of the A1255 appear:

http://borumat.de/+screenshots/sc-228-11_05_25.png

Aquakeytest does not have a FN key in its interface. When I press FN, nothing appears in Aquakeytest.

Because you wrote in a past thread, that you use the A1255 as well:
Does the FN key work on your keyboard under Windows XP?
I tried e.g. FN+Arrow key left.
But nothing happens.

If the FN works at your keyboard: Did you installed a special driver?

When we talk about FN:
There's one other key at a prominent position. The eject key at the corner right at the top.
I would love to remap it. I don't need the eject function.

Something about the key caps:
Do you know if they could be removed without destroy anything?

[ch_123]

Google is your friend.

Woah, talk about the pot calling the kettle black. At least ibu was asking a sensible question.

[ibu]

I found a tutorial about the subject:
http://www.autohotkey.net/~daonlyfreez/tutorials/3p/Veil/fnkey.htm

But it is not easy to understand and it seems to be a lot of work (many many steps) to remap a FN to CTRL.

[hyperlinked]

Here's a low tech possibility that may not work. What if you could put some sort of bridge between the Fn key and the CTRL key so that the CTRL key goes down when you press the Fn key as well?

[ibu]

@hyperlinked
I will keep your idea in mind, THX. But to be honest: I really like the clean design of the a1255 a lot. A bridge would spoil it.

[ch_123]

Fns tend to be *****es to remap because of the low level on which they operate.

What about mapping Caps lock to Ctrl?

[ibu]

Capslock is occupied as a modifier "Mod3". I will use the Layer 3 of the layout of neo.

[hyperlinked]

@hyperlinked
I will keep your idea in mind, THX. But to be honest: I really like the clean design of the a1255 a lot. A bridge would spoil it.

LOL, in the back of my head I was thinking that it'd make your keyboard look like a broken down car and it'll be a real bummer if he got the keyboard for the look more than the form factor.

[ch_123]

I had an image of a bridge (in the traditional sense of the word) running from FN to CTRL

[hyperlinked]

I had an image of a bridge (in the traditional sense of the word) running from FN to CTRL

With a little car driving over the top and a guy in a blue hat collecting toll on the Fn side of the bridge?

[ch_123]

Indeed.

Incidentally, every time I see someone type on a Mac keyboard, they're always pounding on the keys (despite being proficient computer users) Why? Because there's only about 1mm travel in the keys and a poorly defined tactile point. You might as well be typing on a linear keyboard.

[DreymaR]

In my Extend layout, the Ctrl key is at Caps+T - but it only works with other extended keys (such as arrow keys, Home/End etc etc). However, the Ctrl+ZXCV short cuts are also incorporated into the layout which helps a lot and apart from these uses the physical Ctrl key isn't needed so much that its placement should matter so much. Just a tip.

[ibu]

Interesting link.  He includes a Apple Wireless script.

Yes, I saw that script. But I do understand what remappings that script does and how to change them.
Honestly, I'm not good at reading skript code.

My experience with Aquakeytest is that it DOES capture all the weird scancodes thrown at it - it must may not map it onto the screen keyboard but report it in the lower lefthand corner box.

It does not report any code in the bottom of the box.

The other way to say this is that if Autohotkey recognizes it then it can be remapped.

I hope it will be possible with Autohotkey.

[WilmaImmer]

My FN Key works as CTRL on an Apple Wireless Keyboard (A1314) now.
As well as my Eject Key works as the delete key.

I hope it will be possible with Autohotkey.

I was looking intensivly and found this:

Code: [Select]

if (FnValue = 16) {
; Fn is pressed
Send, {Blind}{Ctrl down}
fnPressed := 1
} else {
; Fn is released
Send, {Blind}{Ctrl up}
fnPressed := 0
}

This:
http://www.autohotkey.net/~daonlyfreez/tutorials/3p/Veil/fnkey.htm
combined with that:
http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/topic32592.html&highlight=apple+wireless+keyboard
made it work.