Ring finger for semicolon and equals keys?

cellard00r · 14-Jul-2012 05:42:17

Hi everyone, this is my first post on this forum. I'm three weeks into colemak, typing comfortably and loving it!

I'm currently learning objective c, and most lines end with the semicolon. From the colemak website it seems that the "correct" way is to use the pinky.

But usually after typing colon, I have to press Enter for a new line, so there is a finger repetition. Given how common this happens, I was wondering if it may be better to use the ring finger for semicolon and followed by pinky for Enter. Seems faster this way.

My second problem is the "=" key. To reach that key with my pinky I have to move my wrist. I can reach it with my ring finger without moving my wrist up. This seems faster to me.

Does anyone else have a similar problem?

Appreciate any thoughts on the subject.

davkol · 14-Jul-2012 08:36:09

Welcome!

I guess you'd better just avoid bending your wrists. Lots of people consider floating their hands above the keyboard more efficient than just having them in a fixed position.

pinkyache · 14-Jul-2012 22:07:38

Keying a + is especially awkward. Under Dvorak the square and curly braces get swapped over to the - and + spot, which I'm still not entirely sure that I prefer or not.

Either way the right pinky is overworked for us programming types.

I like the idea of putting the symbols into the middle column of the keyboard and transposing the right hand side letter symbols one or two columns to the right (you'd have to relocate letters on the right bottom row.) However you would be nearer the backspace which would make it much easier. You could then use caps for something else, and you'd benefit from a wide mod.

pinkyache · 14-Jul-2012 22:15:40

However, I do the same as you and use the ring finger for the + which is the right square bracket on Dvorak. I don't always do it like that, but when I started touch typing that's what I did at first.

There shouldn't be any difference though from keying semi-colon under Qwerty. It's in a slightly elevated position. I can't remember it being a pain in the past. I've had to get used to having the semi-colon on the left pinky under Dvorak - which isn't much fun. Especially under Vim. So count yourself lucky. Though at least I get to alternate hands on a semi-colon line return.

spremino · 15-Jul-2012 00:28:59

An alternative may be fixing your editor with a macro or something like that to enter ; followed by Enter whenever you type ;.

DreymaR · 15-Jul-2012 02:55:17

See my signature topic: I use my index finger for =+, and if I'm to type an Enter after the semicolon I'll do it with Caps+Space (which is in fact easy to do once you get used to it!).

Colemak forum

#1 14-Jul-2012 05:42:17

Ring finger for semicolon and equals keys?

#2 14-Jul-2012 08:36:09

Re: Ring finger for semicolon and equals keys?

#3 14-Jul-2012 22:07:38

Re: Ring finger for semicolon and equals keys?

#4 14-Jul-2012 22:15:40

Re: Ring finger for semicolon and equals keys?

#5 15-Jul-2012 00:28:59

Re: Ring finger for semicolon and equals keys?

#6 15-Jul-2012 02:55:17

Re: Ring finger for semicolon and equals keys?

Board footer