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Colemak via Tarmak

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

I agree. It may be five or more changed keys, but none of them change fingers.

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

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back up over 50 wpm on 10 fast fingers now with no wrong words

i think this is going to be quite an easy mod to get into the fingers

i'm predicting a month tops to get back to top speeds - who knows, maybe exceed them?

it does feel genuinely better than vanilla colemak

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just crept back into typemaster territory on typeracer with a 55 wpm av.

its starting to come together, but not really fluent yet

10 fast fingers has been better for training as the words are easier

I still feel that the curl mods are an improvement and intend to stick with them

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  • From: Viken, Norway
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Nice! I train with Amphetype now, just hacking away at readable books. Having a stab at Lovecraft now!

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

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amphetype can be brutal if you specify a 98% pass rate - you can be typing the same old passage for a *long* time. but nothing worth doing is easy..

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  • From: Viken, Norway
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Yeah, I use 97% and 50–55 WPM for reasons of sanity. The point for me is not to make each passage an ordeal, but to type whole books to get a lot of training in. I do try to delete the whole word each time I mistype though – using Extend+T+O (=Ctrl+Back) for that is a good habit.

Last edited by DreymaR (13-Feb-2015 15:21:45)

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

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wow! i never knew ctrl+backspace. ty for the awesome tip!

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  • From: Viken, Norway
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There are many nice combos you can use with the Extend layer:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_of_ … xt_editing

Hmmm... now I want to compile a list of Extend shortcuts, to showcase the power of it. Dang, more work for me. :-)

[edit: Here we go, what do you think? Any additions or corrections? I know not everything works the same in Linux for instance]

EXTEND LAYER SHORTCUT TIPS
• Most of these work in both Windows and Linux (most of the time).
• My Extend layer doesn't support letters nor the Win/GUI key.

+===================+===============+=======================+
| Shortcut          | Extend+...    | Effect                |
+===================+===============+=======================+
| Ctrl+(Sh+)Z       | (S+)Z         | Undo/Redo             |
| Ctrl+(Sh+)X/C/V   | (S+)X/C/V     | (Line) Cut/Copy/Paste |
| Enter, Esc        | Spc, (Q or [) | Activate/Cancel Item  |
| Alt(Sh+)Esc       | A+(S+)Q       | Next/Prev Window (?)  |
| Ctrl+Esc          | T+(Q or [)    | App Menu              |
| Shift+Enter       | S+Spc         | Insert Soft Linebreak |
| Ctrl+Enter        | T+Spc         | Send Mail, etc        |
| [Ctrl/+Sh]+Enter  | [T/+S]+Spc    | Send URL+com/net/org  |
+-------------------+---------------+-----------------------+
| F1                | 1             | Help                  |
| F2                | 2             | Rename                |
| Alt+F2 <.>        | A+2 <.>       | Run App <.> (Linux)   |
| (Sh+)F3           | (S+)3         | Find Next/Prev        |
| (Alt/Ctrl)+F4     | (A/T)+4       | Close App/Tab         |
| (Ctrl/+Sh+)F5     | (T/+S+)5      | (Hard/-er) Refresh    |
| (Sh+)F6           | (S+)6         | Switch Pane           |
| Alt+F8 → Enter    | A+8 → Spc     | Resize Window         |
| F10 or Alt        | 0 or A        | Focus on Menu (?)     |
| Sh+F10            | S+0           | Context Menu          |
| Alt+F10           | A+0           | File Menu (Win?)      |
| F11               | -             | Fullscreen On/Off     |
+-------------------+---------------+-----------------------+
| Ctrl+(Sh+)←/→     | T+(S+)N/I     | Goto/Select Word ←/→  |
| Ctrl+Back/Del     | T+O/;         | Delete Word ←/→       |
| (Ctrl+)Home/End   | (T+)L/Y       | GoTo Line/Doc ←/→     |
| Ctrl+↑/↓          | T+U/E         | GoTo Paragraph ↑/↓    |
| Ctrl+(Sh+)PgUp/Dn | T+(S+)J/H     | Switch/Move Tab       |
| Alt+←/→           | A+N/I or F/P  | Browser ←/→           |
| Alt+↑ or Back     | A+U or O      | Navigate Back         |
| (Alt|Ctrl)+Home   | (A or T)+L    | GoTo Home Page        |
+===================+===============+=======================+
Last edited by DreymaR (01-Feb-2015 00:19:59)

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

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right - can someone remind me that I must slow down before I speed up?

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  • From: Viken, Norway
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Hey, bph: Remember to slow down before you speed up!

YW

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

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curl speeds creeping up

typing-test_1_BO.pngVisit the Typing Test and try!

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  • From: Viken, Norway
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Oo, nice going!

I feel faster after learning Curl. It may just be that I put in some extra exercise in Amphetype and was ready for a step-up I guess, but I have this good feeling about it. Like a small portion of the joy of changing to Colemak in the first place was revisited upon me.

typing-test_1_BS.pngVisit the Typing Test and try!

The race is on, my friend! ;-)

P.S.: Did you like that Extend Shortcut list I made? The updated version of it is in the Big Bag (XKB) topic.

Last edited by DreymaR (13-Feb-2015 15:22:59)

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

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hi dreymar - you may have hit 70 but you are definitely a bit sweatier than me..

i haven't yet entered the extend world yet - i haven't quite figured out what to do

am i right in thinking you have to hit lots of keys at the same time to use it?

i think i have added the necesary line to etc/keyboard or whatever the file is called

if you've any top tips on how one can ease into the extend stuff i'm glad to hear them, or maybe i just haven't found the relevant section in the relevant thread - i have honestly tried to get it going but it remains elusive..

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  • From: Viken, Norway
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Sweaty but happy! ;-)

In Linux, it's a matter of setting the options right. It's in my Big Bag topic. Using my setxkb script the default options will activate Extend and you could use a shortstring to get the model/layout you want easily. In etc/keyboard it's the options line (again, see the BBoKT topic).

You don't have to hit a lot of keys but you'll want to! With Caps as the Extend modifier, much of the time you'll be pressing single keys with it but the combos are very awesome as seen in that table.

Getting started is as easy as just activating it and starting to use the arrow block (UNEI keys) and Backspace/Del (O/;). After that, additional tricks will keep seeping into your repertoire, such as the fantastic T+O for Delete Word. You may want to use my help image if you need some pointers.

Last edited by DreymaR (20-Feb-2015 09:25:04)

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

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ok - what do i actually have to press to make unei act like arrow keys?

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hang on - i think i have a problem - i've got caps as ctrl to aid my emacs usage, changing that would kill me so i'll have to think of an alternative. maybe i could use the left ctrl key? whats that one called (i.e. what do i have to type into the /etc/keyboard file..

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  • From: Viken, Norway
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That's <LCTL>. I'm afraid your /etc/keyboard file won't save you unless there's a way to set that as a level5 modifier.

I made definitions to turn <CAPS> into a modifier, which means you can set the option 'lv5:caps_switch_lock' and off you go. There are no definitions for turning <LCTL> into one, but you can choose rctrl, rwin, lsgt, lwin and ralt (only the latter four have both '_switch' and '_switch_lock', but you won't need the switch_lock unless you plan to lock the Extend layer on).

Furthermore, you could get real tricksy and change the symbols/level5 file! If you substitute, say the <RCTL> entry with <LCTL> then it should work using the option 'lv5:rctrl_switch'. Much simpler than adding a new option in the rules files.

Last edited by DreymaR (16-Feb-2015 17:32:19)

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

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this is a bit confusing - what is the very easiest thing i can do to try the extend layer bearing in mind that use of caps is out of the equation?

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Oh, I'd definitely use <LCTL> myself if I didn't use <CAPS>.

Tell you what, edit the symbols/level5 file from my download and then run the install-dreymar-xkb.sh script (that way you won't have to find the system files or worry about rights). Find this bit:

// CapsLock chooses 5th level, locks when pressed together with another 5th-level-chooser
partial modifier_keys
xkb_symbols "caps_switch_lock" {
  include "level5(lock)"
  key <CAPS> {
    type[Group1] = "EIGHT_LEVEL",
    symbols[Group1] = [ ISO_Level5_Shift, ISO_Level5_Shift, ISO_Level5_Shift, ISO_Level5_Shift,
                        ISO_Level5_Lock, ISO_Level5_Lock, ISO_Level5_Lock, ISO_Level5_Lock ]
  };
};

Change that <CAPS> to  <LCTL> and now my preferred setting will be flying your LCtrl colors! If you run my setxkb.sh script (or, using the OS Settings GUI, activate the Extend mappings under options and the Caps switch/lock under level5 – but the last Ubuntu versions have lost that GUI it seems...) the Extend should now be working with LCtrl as your key. Bam.

In the /etc/keyboard file that'd be:

XKBOPTIONS="lv5:caps_switch_lock,misc:extend"

(...plus whatever other options you want, like "compose:menu,grp:shifts_toggle" for instance.)

Last edited by DreymaR (17-Feb-2015 20:53:27)

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

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  • From: Viken, Norway
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Okay, scratch that: I made you a present! :-)

Download the latest Big Bag xkb files and there's now a 'lv5:lctl_switch_lock' option! Complete with settings GUI integration.

I thought it over and it's useful if you're using the Caps key for LCtl (and I know some people do). You're welcome!

exempli gratia:

XKBOPTIONS="lv5:lctl_switch_lock,misc:extend,grp:shifts_toggle,compose:menu"
Last edited by DreymaR (18-Feb-2015 17:42:14)

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

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doesn't seem to do anything unfortunately

could be because i have caps and lctrl 'swapped' originally via a GUI option that seems to have disappeared in currunt ubuntu version (has been reported as a bug on launchpad - https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+sour … g/1218322)

maybe i should try lwin or ralt instead, rwin maps to M-x in emacs which would be a shame to lose, lwin is all the HUD stuff so not sure how well that would work

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if you run 'setxkbmap -v 9' in a terminal you should see which options are active. Yes, if you overwrite the level5 Caps mapping with another Caps→LCtrl mapping you'll lose the former.

The 'xev' command can tell you which keys you're pressing. Just 'xev &' works fine, or you can be fancy:

xev | grep -A2 --line-buffered '^KeyRelease' | sed -n '/keycode /s/^.*keycode \([0-9]*\).* (.*, \(.*\)).*$/\1 \2/p'
Last edited by DreymaR (26-Feb-2015 15:59:11)

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

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typing-test_1_BP.pngVisit the Typing Test and try!
and thats with one wrong word..

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typing-test_1_CC.pngVisit the Typing Test and try!
Using CurlAngleWide Colemak

My sweat is gone, and it got replaced by a coffee mug?

Lord, how did that happen? I'm not usually that fast – this speed is my goal (for now) but I'm usually around 70 WPM-ish. Unlucky for you, bph, who happened to duel me on a super-me day... ;-)

Last edited by DreymaR (29-Mar-2015 15:22:03)

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

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you also seem to have grown 7 hands which gives you an edge

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