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    I could use some nicer layout images for use with my AutoHotKey script

    • Started by DreymaR
    • 3 Replies:
    • Reputation: 210
    • From: Viken, Norway
    • Registered: 13-Dec-2006
    • Posts: 5,343

    I've run into trouble with the button-based ColemakOnScreen project, as AutoHotKey has severe limits with what it can use as button names and hotkeys - fancy AltGr characters like ¢ and ħ are right out. I really wanted AltGr and Shift to work!

    (It's at http://folk.uio.no/obech/Files/Keyboard … Screen.zip - in case anyone gets curious. It's nice even with the limitations, I think.)

    So I'm going to try a different tack: Displaying images of each Shift state, and not bothering with showing the "pressing" of the keys since that's just for show and not really necessary. So I thought "what better to use than MS Keyboard Layout Creator's own screen images?", since those are easily made for any Windows layout including for instance such rarities as the little Polish thing I hammered together for Moskit:

    Polish_Colemak.jpg

    The problem with that image, however, is that it looks horribly clunky compared to even a simple one like the one on the Colemak front page:

    Colemak_layout_2.png
    (just so you won't have to look it up)

    How was that one made? Have anyone got other suggestions about how to make a slightly snazzy grayscale/-ish image that could be displayed semi-transparently at the bottom of your computer screen?

    I wish I could have something with the graphical quality of this (without the extra key blocks of course):

    keyboard4.png (An image I found on the SEO Consultants pages)

    For my own purposes, I think I'll Colemak-ize that one even if I don't get the Shift states to use with the OnScreen project; it's just so nice. Hope that won't be e-theft (they're selling that image, but as a vector graphic - I think I ought to get away with non-profit usage of a modified version of the screen image advertising their vector graphic?)...

    Last edited by DreymaR (25-Jan-2019 10:02:37)

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

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    • Reputation: 210
    • From: Viken, Norway
    • Registered: 13-Dec-2006
    • Posts: 5,343

    Ah, here we go me hearties:

    Colemak_SEO_DreymaR.gif?dl=1

    Naughty - but nice! Very nice, actually...

    Last edited by DreymaR (25-Jan-2019 10:00:30)

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

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    • Reputation: 1
    • Registered: 17-Nov-2006
    • Posts: 68

    Although I cannot actually help with your projcet, I downloaded the onscreen zip file, and I'm very impressed with it! The keyboard looks very sexy if I do say so myself.

    I mean, I don't really need it to help me touch type, as I can do that already, but I've been thinking about getting my nephew to switch to Colemak, and this could definitely be useful for him.

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    • Reputation: 210
    • From: Viken, Norway
    • Registered: 13-Dec-2006
    • Posts: 5,343

    Thanks Hammer! It won't improve much now – maybe a better resize dialog once I learn how to but nothing major.

    If there were a similar onscreen board except
    – you couldn't see the "clicking" of the keys; it'd be a static image
    – it looked like the pretty board in my post above this one
    – when you pressed AltGr (or Ctrl+Alt), it'd show the AltGr characters instead (both Shift key states at once, like the one above)
    – it couldn't show dead keys however; just the symbol of each dead key (and maybe something to mark it as one)

    Would that be as useful/pleasing? More? Less? Maybe a bit useful even to the seasoned Colemak user because we don't remember all the AltGr keys all the time?

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

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