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  • [SOLVED]where did caps lock key go (in Windows)?

    [SOLVED]where did caps lock key go (in Windows)?

    • Started by Porgy
    • 6 Replies:
    • Reputation: 0
    • Registered: 16-Jun-2014
    • Posts: 31

    Hello again, everybody!
    Sorry to bother, but after a quick search in the Forum proved fruitless, I thought I might ask the experts themselves.
    I want to enable the CapsLock key the same way it was in QWERTY layout. How do I do it?

    In Windows, I have Dreymar's Portable Colemak program in C:\Program Files\PortableKeyboardLayout_DreymaR\PortableKeyboardLayout_DreymaR. I enabled one line in the pkl.ini file that says:

    layout = colemak-eD-It_ISO:Colemak[eD]-Italian

    and I created a shortcut of pkl.exe in Window's taskbar. What can I do to have the caps lock key working?

    Last edited by Porgy (15-Aug-2014 11:56:48)
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    • From: Viken, Norway
    • Registered: 13-Dec-2006
    • Posts: 5,343

    Okay. You'll have to redefine the CapsLock key in your layout.ini file (in the layout folder), and you'll have to stop using it as an Extend key. Myself, I disable the CapsLock key and use it as Extend so if I want to backspace I'll have to press Caps+O but then I can do all other kinds of cool stuff.

    So in the layout.ini file:
    - Find the line with 'extend_key = ' and change its value to 'disabled' (I think, or choose a key name like 'Scroll')
    - The 'CapsLock = ' value should be 'BACK    VirtualKey'
    - If you want to you could use the Backspace key for Extend? It's called 'Back' and defined with 'SC00e = '.

    I use a shortcut to pkl.exe in the 'Startup' folder; that way PKL is run whenever I log in.

    *** Learn Colemak in 2–5 steps with Tarmak! ***
    *** Check out my Big Bag of Keyboard Tricks for Win/Linux/TMK... ***

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    • Registered: 16-Jun-2014
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    Hello Dreymar!
    Sorry for the delayed reply. I tried what you suggested but it isn't working for me. I found the layout.ini file inside the layout subfolder and modified 2 lines that now look like this:

    extend_key = Scroll
    ;extend_key = CapsLock
    
    ;CapsLock = OEM_8    0    --    --    *{CapsLock}    *{LWin}    --    ; Caps Lock
    ; *** Using 'CapsLock' as 'extend_key' works best if it is mapped but otherwise disabled
    CapsLock = BACK    VirtualKey    --    --    --    --    --    ; CapsLock
    ; *** To make a key work with the 'extend_key' modifier, it needs to be virtual-mapped as below.
    ; *** When VirtualKey-mapping the BACKSPACE/ENTER keys, use their enumerations BACK/RETURN.
    ; *** Remapping the TAB key is problematic: Alt-Tab becomes 'sticky', needing Esc to get out.
    SC001 = ESCAPE    VirtualKey

    I rebooted Win7, activated Colemak then tried the CapsLock key but it's not working!
    What am I doing wrong? Can you please help me out?

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    • From: Viken, Norway
    • Registered: 13-Dec-2006
    • Posts: 5,343

    • You have left some '--' entries after 'VirtualKey'; they shouldn't be there (but the semicolon and what's after it should be okay).
    • Check carefully that you have no other 'CapsLock' lines active (not preceded by a semicolon).
    • Make sure you have the right layout.ini file (pertaining to the layout you're using, so in your case inside the 'colemak-eD-It_ISO' folder).

    You don't need to reboot windows! Restarting PKL or switching layouts back and forth (if you have a second layout chosen) is enough.

    Last edited by DreymaR (13-Aug-2014 19:52:12)

    *** Learn Colemak in 2–5 steps with Tarmak! ***
    *** Check out my Big Bag of Keyboard Tricks for Win/Linux/TMK... ***

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    • Registered: 16-Jun-2014
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    You have left some '--' entries after 'VirtualKey'; they shouldn't be there

    I've taken them off, thank you for pointing it out.
    I've tried rebooting Win7 and launching Colemak - this time, pressing CapsLock key acts like an additional Backspace for the left hand. I don't want that, I want it to make every letter that I type thereafter, a capital letter. Maybe 'CapsLock = ' is supposed to be something else...?

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    • From: Viken, Norway
    • Registered: 13-Dec-2006
    • Posts: 5,343

    Oh bother, sorry. I thought you wanted the Colemak-type CapsLock-to-Backspace key! Must've been someone else who had that request and I didn't read your post properly.

    To restore the original functionality of CapsLock, you'll want to disable it as Extend key like you've done, and simply put a semicolon in front of its definition line (no matter what the rest of that line says). That way PKL does nothing to the key and it works like before.

    *** Learn Colemak in 2–5 steps with Tarmak! ***
    *** Check out my Big Bag of Keyboard Tricks for Win/Linux/TMK... ***

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    • Registered: 16-Jun-2014
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    Wunderbar! Thank you for your help, Dreymar!

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