Input Remapper - fn key on MacBook Pro

[Beliyaal]

I have released alpha 3 of Input Remapper. It's possible to remap the keyboard pretty much any way with this program. In this version it's possible to control the brightness with the fn-key as well as some other fixes:

* Added eject action
* Added interception of eject key on MacBook Pro
* Added brightness control of MacBook Pro screen
* Added window manipulation actions (for example to move a window to another monitor)
* Added ability to run actions when a table is changed to
* Added action to set the state of the keyboard locks (num,caps,scroll)
* Used added features in the default mapping for MacBook Pro
* Fixed Numlock Light with help of new features
* Fixed Alt-Tab if alt hasn't been remapped

Install instructions and download is available at:
http://www.olofsson.info

Tip: You can increase keyboard repeat rate past 30 cps and set the delay lower than 250 ms. This is very handy for navigating source files.

[diamondsw]

I have released alpha 3 of Input Remapper. It's possible to remap the keyboard pretty much any way with this program. In this version it's possible to control the brightness with the fn-key as well as some other fixes:
Sounds great! Since you can access the fn key, could fn-click be mapped to right click? That would avoid losing a key, and also avoid compatibility issues with ctrl-click. Also, do I need to remove the Apple Eject support before using this?

Also, according to your web page:
fn+F4 = Increase Volume
fn+F5 = Decrease Volume
This is actually flipped - reduce volume is on F4, increase is on F5. Is this just a blip on the web site?

[Beliyaal]

Yes, the website had the volume mappings flipped. Mapping fn+left-click to right-click is a great idea, I will add that mapping as default in the next version. You can add this mapping yourself if you manage to figure out how it works :)

[TJCacher]

Yes, the website had the volume mappings flipped. Mapping fn+left-click to right-click is a great idea, I will add that mapping as default in the next version. You can add this mapping yourself if you manage to figure out how it works :)

Thanks for sharing this great piece of tech. I feel I am now fully able to use my MacBook Pro with XP without being hampered by the built-in keyboard.

I'm trying to add the fn+left-click to right-click mapping as suggested above.

I added a key-binding to the "MacBook Pro" remapping table, under the "Mouse Remappings" group. It reads this way:

PrtScn(1) + Mouse-Left(2) | Mouse/Keyboard Generate (Mouse-Right)

I thought I'd done everything right, but pressing Fn+Left-Click does not result in a Right-Click, so I must not have done something right. Am I even close? If you could give me a hint about how to do it, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks again for sharing this. I really appreciate it.

[Beliyaal]

It should work if you add it to the Function Key group instead of the Mouse Remappings group. This is because the mouse remappings group ignore all other keys but the latest one pressed. The Function Key group correctly takes the fn key into the calculation as well.

[diamondsw]

Might I suggest some way of configuring the program without needing a right-click? Toolbar, buttons, or whatever. Especially since many people will likely be in the exact situation of not having such functionality.

I didn't even realize there was any interface to add or change anything until I saw a reference in another thread to right-clicking.

Otherwise, everything seems to be working perfectly. As for an icon, you could always borrow the Windows keyboard icon from main.cpl.

[Clive]

I have released alpha 3 of Input Remapper. It's possible to remap the keyboard pretty much any way with this program. In this version it's possible to control the brightness with the fn-key as well as some other fixes:

Tip: You can increase keyboard repeat rate past 30 cps and set the delay lower than 250 ms. This is very handy for navigating source files.

Hi, nice job you did :)

It seems that if you connect an external keyboard (usb) and InputRemapper is running, you don't have keyboard repeat feature anymore... I had to shutdown InputRemapper to get back keyboard repeat...

One quick question: do you plan to enable FN+F7 function (switching display when an external monitor is plugged) ??

Keep up the good work !

[Maaij]

Great work Beliyaal.

Only option I miss it trackpad scrolling. Will this be in later releases?

How hard is it to get it work? Can we accept is soon?

[TJCacher]

Works like a dream! W00t! Now I can fully use my Mac with the built-in keyboard just as comfortably as a built-in keyboard.

Thank you so much for providing exactly what Apple should have!

BTW, if you put a paypal donate link on your page, you would definitely get a donation from me....

to Maiij: Beliyaal states on his download webpage that trackpad scrolling and backlighting are on the "To Do" list. Here's a repeat from his page of his list of things to do:

Todo

* Create driver for touch pad scrolling
* Figure out how to control keyboard backlight (wait for apple to write driver)
* Improve user interface to enable copy/paste and renaming of all elements
* Change icon to something less ugly
* Import/Export remapping tables
* Write alt-tab replacement that correctly stacks applications in order of usage
* Run as service to allow remapping before logging in

[Beliyaal]

Might I suggest some way of configuring the program without needing a right-click? Toolbar, buttons, or whatever. Especially since many people will likely be in the exact situation of not having such functionality.

I didn't even realize there was any interface to add or change anything until I saw a reference in another thread to right-clicking.

Otherwise, everything seems to be working perfectly. As for an icon, you could always borrow the Windows keyboard icon from main.cpl.

I definitely have remapping without having the key you want to remap to on my list (updated todo list with this).

I could use the main.cpl icon for the taskbar icon, but wouldn't feel comfortable adding it into my executable. The best thing would be if some graphically unchallenged individual created an icon for me :)

It seems that if you connect an external keyboard (usb) and InputRemapper is running, you don't have keyboard repeat feature anymore... I had to shutdown InputRemapper to get back keyboard repeat...

One quick question: do you plan to enable FN+F7 function (switching display when an external monitor is plugged) ??

I have no problem plugging and unplugging external keyboards. Is this reproducible, or just a one time occurrence? If it's consistent I would like to know how to reproduce it.

I would maybe be able to add fn+F7 in the future if the display driver supports it. Right now you cannot even turn the internal display off with the display properties (or change the external monitor to the default display). If someone has found a way to do this please explain how and I might be able to add this feature.

Only option I miss it trackpad scrolling. Will this be in later releases?

Right now it's at the bottom of my list because it requires writing a driver to figure out how to get the touchpad into a mode where it reports two finger scrolling information (right now it doesn't even send this information over the USB bus) and apple is bound to provide a driver of this. I will however be able to add scrolling by holding another key or key combination down and I might be able to add scrolling at the edges of the touchpad.

BTW, if you put a paypal donate link on your page, you would definitely get a donation from me....

That won't be necessary. I'm not doing this for money. I created this utility out of my own needs and only some additional work was needed to release it :)

Edit: I have updated my ToDo list and ordered it by the order I will implement things. I will release a new version when I'm done with the installer (and everything before it).

[Clive]

I have no problem plugging and unplugging external keyboards. Is this reproducible, or just a one time occurrence? If it's consistent I would like to know how to reproduce it.

Sorry about that, i did a mistake: I started your app with a Run command in the registry, so InputRemapper.exe couldn't find the Settings.dat file.
It seems that when there is no settings loaded, you app considers the Keyboard Repeat Rate as 0 that's why I had no repeat...
It has nothing to do with plugging an external keyboard...

I would maybe be able to add fn+F7 in the future if the display driver supports it. Right now you cannot even turn the internal display off with the display properties (or change the external monitor to the default display).

Yeah you're right about that !! Trying to setup an external display is difficult even with the Omega drivers....

[Krevnik]

I really think that the bulk of the logic needs to get moved down into the driver level of things... Right now there is one annoying issue I am dealing with:

- Because Ctl-Alt-Del goes /poof/ when entered, (I am using remap.exe to get Del on the right GUI key) it creates a very interesting situation where your app doesn't register Del being brought back up.

Pretty much what happens is:

Keydown: Ctl
Keydown: Alt
Keydown: Del
Keyup: Del (Swallowed by Windows)
Keyup: Alt
Keyup: Ctl

So when I come back with task manager, Del is getting repeated... or even worse things... I have actually come back to watching Del get repeated into a Word document. Not fun.

[FrostyFire]

After you lock your machine, it screws everything up...once you've unlocked it:

Hit:

Ctrl, release it, hit alt, release it, then del, release it (NOT all 3 at the same time)...

You're good to go until a solution comes out.

[Beliyaal]

New version released that fixes ctrl+alt+delete and has fn+left click bound to right click by default.

[cswilliams]

I upgraded to Alpha 4, upgraded the driver again as well. Everything works fine except for ctrl-alt-delete. I still can not get that to work. I try holding ctrl-alt-FN+Delete and nothing comes up. Great work so far though, thank you for all your efforts.
-Chris

[Beliyaal]

The ctrl+alt+delete fix was for when you had remapped the enter key to delete. When you pressed ctrl+alt+delete those keys would be stuck when you unlocked or canceled the windows security screen. I have been getting reports that this fix doesn't work however. If anyone can shed some light on this it would be helpful.

The fix resides in the Settings.dat file so if you have done any customizations you would have to redo them.

[somelucky]

The apple utility for the back light can be controlled from the keyboard. Shift-CTRL-F1 and F2. However, using the Fn key would make more sense.

[diamondsw]

The apple utility for the back light can be controlled from the keyboard. Shift-CTRL-F1 and F2. However, using the Fn key would make more sense.

I didn't realize there was driver support for the backlight. If that's the case, mapping it to fn-F8 through fn-F10 would be great!

[raduma]

I didn't realize there was driver support for the backlight. If that's the case, mapping it to fn-F8 through fn-F10 would be great!

they mean the screen backlight, not the keyboard back light.

[Beliyaal]

Alpha 5 released with stuck keys after ctrl+alt+delete actually fixed.

ctrl+alt+delete+fn+backspace will be trickier and will probably require the remapping to be performed at the driver level. Windows is a little picky about where it gets its ctrl+alt+delete from for security reasons. I could add the remapkey "enter to delete" to a setup however so you don't need to do it manually with remapkey.exe.

[bohrhead]

How is ctrl-alt-del supposed to work on the MBP? Should I be able to press ctrl-alt-fn-backspace? If so, it doesn't seem to work.

[Beliyaal]

Pressing Ctrl+Alt+fn+Backspace is not yet supported. I have however managed to get it to work by running as a service. Now all I need to do is create an installer for this and create a guide for configuring your mbp. When that is done I will release a new version with support for ctrl+alt+fn+backspace and support for remapping at the login sceen.

[Silverboi]

Sorry, but how do you actually remap the right Apple key to the Del key?
I've been trying but to no avail..

[AEMV]

Install this to remap Key however you like

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9d467a69-57ff-4ae7-96ee-b18c4790cffd&displaylang=en

once installed, go to Run and type remapkey.

[Silverboi]

Install this to remap Key however you like

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9d467a69-57ff-4ae7-96ee-b18c4790cffd&displaylang=en

once installed, go to Run and type remapkey.
Thanks alot!

EDIT: Hmm, I tried this out and realised that it screws up Input Remapper's remappings..is there another to remap within Input Remapper itself?

[vaningena]

Thanks alot!

EDIT: Hmm, I tried this out and realised that it screws up Input Remapper's remappings..is there another to remap within Input Remapper itself?
Mee too! This is exactly what I'm trying to do. It is the only drawback i have right now with input remapper. Other than that.. I love it!!

[Beliyaal]

I have ctrl+alt+delete support working now, but have some work left to do before it's ready for release, maybe next weekend.

You can safely remap enter to delete with remapkeys. I have mappings in inputremapper so del works as if it was enter.

[bdj21ya]

Great work Beliyaal. This really helps make Windows more usable. Thanks a lot.

[deadelvis]

yeah! thumbs up! Your app is a life saver ;)
thanks for the effort!

[wol]

Great app cant wait for the finished product

[Jmerkow]

what key do you guys use to remapp del? i think im going to use everything, besides mabye the other enter key.

[wol]

F12 at the moment

[Krevnik]

I use the right GUI key... (Right Command key) Not much call for right-side keyboard shortcuts while in Windows.

[XPLORx4]

Hi, I have a MBP2.0, and II used remapkey to remap "Enter" to "Del", but now after I downloaded and launched "Input Remapper alpha 5", it converts my "Enter" key into a right-click. It also makes "fn+left-click" = right-click.

I will probably remap the right Command/"Windows" key to "Del", but how do I restore the function of "Enter"?

[vaningena]

Hi, I have a MBP2.0, and II used remapkey to remap "Enter" to "Del", but now after I downloaded and launched "Input Remapper alpha 5", it converts my "Enter" key into a right-click. It also makes "fn+left-click" = right-click.

I will probably remap the right Command/"Windows" key to "Del", but how do I restore the function of "Enter"?

Double click on the app down in the system tray and then click the plus on the line item 10 under remappings and right click on the one you want to delete and select delete. Don't click the red X to close the app or it will shut down. Just click on minimize and it will go back to the system tray. Now it will go back to being the delete key since you already remapped it.

[XPLORx4]

Thanks! I didn't realize it had a system tray icon, so I never looked there!

[ruc2827]

This is by far the best solution out there so far for enabling the right click context menu, but I think the best solution would be to click and hold the left mouse button to perform the right click action to display the context menu. This is how OS X work natively (e.g. if you select text then click and hold to get a context menu) and this seems to be the most intuitive user interface design, completely negating the need for a right button or key press combination. Is there any chance your utility could be used to override a "click and hold" of the left click to display the right click context menu? Thanks.

[displaced]

Hi everyone!

Great work, Beliyaal. This has made a world of difference to my use of XP on my MacBook Pro!

I've been tinkering with attempting to swap the Option (alt) and Command (Win) keys. I know it'll mean the key-caps themselves will look incorrect, but my brain's hard-wired to expect the keys in the order Ctrl, Win, Alt when it's looking at a Windows screen!

I thought I was doing OK, but I haven't figured out the right way to make the key-release work correctly. Apologies if I'm missing something obvious, but how do I properly swap L-Alt and L-Win? At the moment, I've swapped the keys, but the modifiers aren't releasing (for example, Alt-Tabbing still shows the window list even after I've released the keys).

Thanks for your help, and generous work on Input Remapper!

Cheers,
Chris

[XPLORx4]

...click and hold the left mouse button to perform the right click action to display the context menu. This is how OS X work natively.

My OSX doesn't behave that way. At least, not on my Mac Mini. Does that feature apply only to laptops?

[uc79stu2]

Crashing XP when adjusting screen brightness?

Has anyone else ran into this? When I hit Fn+F1 and F2 very quickly, sometimes my computer reboots? I don't know if this is because of InputRemapper or Apple's video card and display drivers.

Or what is the default behavior or hitting F2 quickly in XP? I know F1 is usually Help.

[Beliyaal]

I thought I was doing OK, but I haven't figured out the right way to make the key-release work correctly. Apologies if I'm missing something obvious, but how do I properly swap L-Alt and L-Win? At the moment, I've swapped the keys, but the modifiers aren't releasing (for example, Alt-Tabbing still shows the window list even after I've released the keys).


Some functions in Windows will think that you have pressed alt when you press win (the physical alt key). This can be worked around by setting the preset "Keyboard Enable Alt/Ctrl/Shift Remap" to 1. This is disabled by default because it breaks alt-tab functionality even when it's not remapped.

Alt-tab will still not work as expected. You can work around this by using a third party alt-tab utility such as smarttab (or pressing esc to dismiss the default alt tab window).

All this is a special case because windows keeps an internal state of the ctrl-alt-shift state. The only thing that I have found using this is alt-tab functionality, no other programs should be affected.

You need to make sure that you add the remapping to a group with "Ignore all keys" set on it, otherwise combinations of keys will not work.

[Beliyaal]

Crashing XP when adjusting screen brightness?

Has anyone else ran into this? When I hit Fn+F1 and F2 very quickly, sometimes my computer reboots? I don't know if this is because of InputRemapper or Apple's video card and display drivers.

Or what is the default behavior or hitting F2 quickly in XP? I know F1 is usually Help.

I have seen this (it just reboots). I thought it was because i quit and restart input remapper so much when debugging (the driver file handle is not cleanly closed). This is most likely a bug in the apple driver. It could be caused by an interaction with the default apple Brightness.exe utility. You could try to kill it with Task Manager when windows starts and see if the problem goes aways. The current version of Input Remapper does not start the driver automatically so you have to start brightness.exe once every boot for the brightness to work (I have fixed this in my unreleased version).

[deadelvis]

Crashing XP when adjusting screen brightness?

Has anyone else ran into this? When I hit Fn+F1 and F2 very quickly, sometimes my computer reboots? I don't know if this is because of InputRemapper or Apple's video card and display drivers.

Or what is the default behavior or hitting F2 quickly in XP? I know F1 is usually Help.

This is a known bug with apple's brightness application (the one present on the taskbar tray). It doesnt seem to be an InputRemapper issue and hardly an XP "feature". ;)

Although not so frequent, it can also happen when adjusting brightness via the tray app.

Let's just hope it is solved in future versions... and in the meantime make sure to save your work before adjustng brightness. ;) Just in case....

Cheers

[ruc2827]

My OSX doesn't behave that way. At least, not on my Mac Mini. Does that feature apply only to laptops?This doesn't work everywhere on a mac, but it is pretty common for application context menus. Examples include when you highlight text in any app then click and hold to get context menu or in Firefox you can click and hold to get context menu for the current page.

[XPLORx4]

This doesn't work everywhere on a mac, but it is pretty common for application context menus. Examples include when you highlight text in any app then click and hold to get context menu or in Firefox you can click and hold to get context menu for the current page.

I tried several apps to see if this is true. Safari, Entourage, Word, iTunes...None of the apps except Firefox did anything with click-and-hold.

Even Firefox is inconsistent with the way it treats click-and-hold. Sometimes it emulates right-click, sometimes it does not.

[bdj21ya]

Whether or not some programs respond to the hold click, the fact remains that it is still my favorite way of right-clicking. In OS X I use a program called "1 Finger Snap", which enables this "hold to right click" function in most every program. I would certainly prefer this same method for right-click in Windows, since it allows you to use one hand and you don't have to move it to the keyboard. I guess I'm just lazy that way, but with all the right clicking I do, it ends up saving me a lot of time too.

Beliyaal, for what my input is worth, I think a hold to right click function would be a great feature to include in some future version.

While we're on the subject, I'd like to add my rant on this subject--what is Steve Job's problem with right-click input devices? It took so many years to get the mighty mouse, how many more before Mac laptops will add this function. Seriously, I wouldn't be surprised if there is already more than one sensor under this huge button. I would pay good money for someone to write a driver that would distinguish a left-click from a right click on this trackpad button.

[junior15]

---Please ignore my post. I was impatient and tired and just didn't read one of the steps. Now it works fine.

Thanks,
Daniel

[Beliyaal]

When I try to update the driver, Windows doesn't see a new driver "...could not find a better match for your hardware..."
Yes I told it to do everything manually. I checked the INF file and the device ID of my keyboard is in there "HID\VID_05AC&PID_0217&MI_00\7&198C217&0&0000
" so I'm not sure why it's not working.


It should work if you do everything manually and your device id is in there. The next release has the driver installation automated so if you don't get it to work before this weekend the next version will be released then.

[Beliyaal]

Beliyaal, for what my input is worth, I think a hold to right click function would be a great feature to include in some future version.


I can't promise anything for the next version, but definately in the one after that.

[junior15]

I know this doesn't really have anything to do with this application, but since we're talking about doing some of the stuff with the trackpad, does anybody know how to turn off the trackpad while you're typing or when you have an external mouse plugged in? While I'm typing this message, my cursor is jumping around the screen because my palm keeps touching the trackpad. I like the option within OS X to disable the trackpad while an external mouse is plugged in since I use an external trackball quite often and then don't have to worry about accidentally moving the mouse around or clicking the button.

Thanks,
Daniel

[junior15]

I use Remote Desktop to connect to servers on my network and the fn key doesn't seem to work within my remote connections. I lose the use of the page-up, page-down, home and end keys (those are the only fn combinations I have tried so those are the only ones I know don't work).

Is there any way I can get this to work within Remote Desktop connections or am I just stuck?

Thanks,
Daniel

[Beliyaal]

Is there any way I can get this to work within Remote Desktop connections or am I just stuck?


I have found that this can be fixed by changing the keyboard setting for "“Apply Windows key combinations (for example ALT+TAB)”" to "On the local computer”".

Personally I use rdesktop through cygwin.

I have had some thoughts about making sure that Input Remapper always is the topmost keyboard hook. This might work, but a definite fix wont be available until I move remapping to a keyboard class filter driver.

[junior15]

[QUOTE=Beliyaal]I have found that this can be fixed by changing the keyboard setting for "“Apply Windows key combinations (for example ALT+TAB)”" to "On the local computer”".

OK, I got that to work, but of course, with that option selected, Alt+Tab and other combinations don't work on the remote machine. I guess I can live without the end, home, page up and page down. I tend to use keyboard shortcuts much of the time and not having some of those combinations sent through to the remote machine would just cause me to get very frustrated.

I look forward to when the input remapper drivers are more fully integrated so they work all the time.

Thanks,
Daniel

[thebalaa]

Great work. Just made this Sticky.

This is a must have for any MacBookPro'er running windows.

[hiaw]

Great job on the remapper. I just love it.

Just a quick suggestion. Maybe you want to put some google ad on your webpage so you get some ad money to pay for your bandwidth or just as a return for your work. Just google for adsense, it's quite easy to do, and I reckon anyone who visit your site would not mind seeing some ad. Cheers

[zoobazz]

Soon to be purchaser of a MBP.. think this weekend.

I'll be using WinXP (during work hours). Is this app required for proper Alt-Tab action?

Just worried as I use this alot in my daily routine and hate to see the order of applications not being consistent in WinXP.

Thanks.

[moo083]

I have been using WinXP on a Macbook Pro since the day it came out and alt tab works straight out of the box.

[mbp23456]

hey.. LOVE the remapper.. use it all day at work.. then later when i run OSX on my own time i find myself hitting the enter key to "right-click" instead of "cntl-click" of course.. this does not work

does anyone know a way to make it happen on my MBP running OSX
i'd love to use this all the time as I NEVER use that enter key
(unless i am running XP nowadays!)

help?

edit - sidetrack was PMed.. however does not run on an intel mac yet

[djrobx]

Yeah, the remote desktop issue is a big problem for me too, since I use remote desktop most of the time. I can deal without home/pgup, but I'd really like for fn-click (right-click) to work. Until then I still have to deal with kludgy workarounds like running the Apple Mouse utility on the remote machine. Otherwise you've got a great program and thanks for the hard work!

[ilkevinli]

Is there any update of the next release ? Thanks.

[Beliyaal]

A quick update.

I have been struggling with issues the last weeks, but I seem to have solved most of them by now. Remote desktop is fully working with alt-tab supported etc. This required a hack where you only send keys every 3 milliseconds. It seems to be a bug in the Remote Desktop client.

The application is now running as a service. This makes it possbile to remap fn+alt+ctrl+backspace to ctrl+alt+delete functionality, as well as allow for remapping in the login screen and security screen. This also allows the application to be used from a non-admin account, although configuring keys will not work because you cannot set windows hooks from a non-admin account.

The driver is now installed automatically when the service starts without the need for manual configuration.

What is left before I release a new version is creating an installer and possibly creating a configuration wizard that will allow you to change the behaviour of keys like enter to right click etc.

[ilkevinli]

Whan you say it runs as a service, does this mean you don't have to put it in the starup folder to get it to start automatically ?

Sounds like you have made a lot of progress.

A quick update.

I have been struggling with issues the last weeks, but I seem to have solved most of them by now. Remote desktop is fully working with alt-tab supported etc. This required a hack where you only send keys every 3 milliseconds. It seems to be a bug in the Remote Desktop client.

The application is now running as a service. This makes it possbile to remap fn+alt+ctrl+backspace to ctrl+alt+delete functionality, as well as allow for remapping in the login screen and security screen. This also allows the application to be used from a non-admin account, although configuring keys will not work because you cannot set windows hooks from a non-admin account.

The driver is now installed automatically when the service starts without the need for manual configuration.

What is left before I release a new version is creating an installer and possibly creating a configuration wizard that will allow you to change the behaviour of keys like enter to right click etc.

[Beliyaal]

Whan you say it runs as a service, does this mean you don't have to put it in the starup folder to get it to start automatically ?

Sounds like you have made a lot of progress.

Yes that will not be needed, although the installer will have the option to add the configuration taskbar icon to the registry for startup (the service does not support configuration).

[Beliyaal]

New version released.

Input Remapper 0.9.10 Beta (http://www.olofsson.info/InputRemapper_0_9_10_Beta.exe)

Install it and tell me if you have any problems with it.

fn+ctrl+alt+backspace should work like ctrl+alt+delete. I haven't tried it at the loginscreen when joined to a domain yet so don't remove remapkeys.exe remapping unless you have access to an external keyboard.

[ruc2827]

Installation bug: Upgrading from a previous beta caused the system to freeze (black screen) after the windows splash screen when restarting Windows (presumably when the driver for the new keyboard driver is being installed). I had to do a hardware shut down (press and hold power button), and upon reboot I noticed I still had the old version of the keyboard driver (no version, but dated 3/24/2006 I believe). I uninstalled Input Remapper and rebooted, and again system froze. I reinstalled the Apple keyboard driver and reinstalled Input Remapper and rebooted and everything went fine.

Other bug: Right Alt key is disabled, with no way to re-enable it (I have my left Alt key remapped to right Alt since Virtual PC requires a right Alt key).

Other suggestions:
-Have closing the system tray options dialog window minimize icon to sys tray rather than close application (have right click option on sys tray icon to Exit). This is standard behavior for most sys tray icons (Windows Defender, Windows Desktop Search, Trillian, Windows/MSN Messenger, etc).
-Have clicking sys tray bring up the friendly "Configure Your MacBook Pro Keyboard" options dialog presented during installation, and have button to bring up the advanced options (the one that is currently displayed when you click the sys tray icon).

Question: Is there currently a way to bring up the "Configure Your MacBook Pro Keyboard" options dialog other than uninstalling/reinstalling?

[bohrhead]

fn-eject doesn't prnt scrn for me. Unfortunate, since today someone needed a screenshot of a new panel I created :( .


I'm using a MBP

[bdj21ya]

This program just keeps getting better. Thanks Beliyaal!

[deadelvis]

Installation bug: Upgrading from a previous beta caused the system to freeze (black screen) after the windows splash screen when restarting Windows (presumably when the driver for the new keyboard driver is being installed). I had to do a hardware shut down (press and hold power button), and upon reboot I noticed I still had the old version of the keyboard driver (no version, but dated 3/24/2006 I believe). I uninstalled Input Remapper and rebooted, and again system froze. I reinstalled the Apple keyboard driver and reinstalled Input Remapper and rebooted and everything went fine.


No freeze here but I had to rollback from the previous InputRemapper driver that was installed (dated 23/03/2006), reboot, install new InputRemapper version, reboot again. Installing the new version over the old one did not work (old driver remained installed).

keyboard driver now displays:
date: 01/07/2001
version 5.1.2600.2825

... and everything seems to work 100%. Thanks for the effort!!

[kirreip]

everything works great for me. even the fn-eject as PrintScreen. thank you very much for your efforts beliyaal!

[ilkevinli]

Everything worked great for me. Nice Job !!!

[PhatBot]

Brilliant program Beliyaal!! :)

Works like a charm. Even ctrl-alt-del for domain logon.

One odd thing I noticed though.
Esc works like it should except in the "Windows Security"-window. An "Esc" usually brings you back to the desktop but here it does nothing.

[Beliyaal]

New version with bugfixes released (see http://www.olofsson.info for details)

Input Remapper 0.9.11 Beta (http://www.olofsson.info/InputRemapper_0_9_11_Beta.exe)

Installation bug: Upgrading from a previous beta caused the system to freeze (black screen) after the windows splash screen when restarting Windows (presumably when the driver for the new keyboard driver is being installed). I had to do a hardware shut down (press and hold power button), and upon reboot I noticed I still had the old version of the keyboard driver (no version, but dated 3/24/2006 I believe). I uninstalled Input Remapper and rebooted, and again system froze. I reinstalled the Apple keyboard driver and reinstalled Input Remapper and rebooted and everything went fine.
I was unable to reproduce this. The new way the driver is installed will not update the driver version information. The driver should be updated when you install the program and the service is started by the installer. Did you get a dialog asking you to reboot after configuring the keyboard? If you did, it could be a problem with this code.

Other bug: Right Alt key is disabled, with no way to re-enable it (I have my left Alt key remapped to right Alt since Virtual PC requires a right Alt key).
I'm not sure how this could happen. The right apple key is remapped to right alt by default if you don't configure this. Does the right apple key work as you expect right alt to work?

Other suggestions:
-Have closing the system tray options dialog window minimize icon to sys tray rather than close application (have right click option on sys tray icon to Exit). This is standard behavior for most sys tray icons (Windows Defender, Windows Desktop Search, Trillian, Windows/MSN Messenger, etc).
-Have clicking sys tray bring up the friendly "Configure Your MacBook Pro Keyboard" options dialog presented during installation, and have button to bring up the advanced options (the one that is currently displayed when you click the sys tray icon).
I will include something similar to this in the next non bugfix version.

Question: Is there currently a way to bring up the "Configure Your MacBook Pro Keyboard" options dialog other than uninstalling/reinstalling?
Quit the tray icon program. Delete settings.dat and start the tray icon program again and the dialog will be shown.

fn-eject doesn't prnt scrn for me. Unfortunate, since today someone needed a screenshot of a new panel I created.
Fixed in new version

No freeze here but I had to rollback from the previous InputRemapper driver that was installed (dated 23/03/2006), reboot, install new InputRemapper version, reboot again. Installing the new version over the old one did not work (old driver remained installed).
You should not worry about the driver version date as this is not updated with the new driver installation method. If the fn key is working the driver is working (I changed the key from PrtScreen to Menu in the driver so if the old driver is running it will not work at all).

Esc works like it should except in the "Windows Security"-window. An "Esc" usually brings you back to the desktop but here it does nothing.
Fixed in new version.

[ruc2827]

I was unable to reproduce this. The new way the driver is installed will not update the driver version information. The driver should be updated when you install the program and the service is started by the installer. Did you get a dialog asking you to reboot after configuring the keyboard? If you did, it could be a problem with this code.Yes, I got a dialog asking me to reboot after configuring the keyboard.

[bdj21ya]

If you're like me, you love being able to push an F-key in OS X to get the desktop. To create something similar in Windows, just make the quick launch bar visible, then copy the Desktop shortcut to the start Menu (this makes the hotkey work from most programs). Then, you can right click on the shortcut in the start menu and create a hotkey for it (I use F10, since F11 is taken for fullscreen browsing). This might also be a great feature to include in the remapper.

And, quick question, is there a way (in OS X) to make the keyboard backlight adjustable even when you're not in low lighting? I find it doesn't turn on as much as I would like it to.

[djrobx]

This required a hack where you only send keys every 3 milliseconds. It seems to be a bug in the Remote Desktop client. Actually you'll find there's a lot of applications that require delays between sent keys. I fought with this same thing when designing a "joystick-to-keyboard" application. That's great news that you have remote desktop working. Good job!

[Beliyaal]

If you're like me, you love being able to push an F-key in OS X to get the desktop. To create something similar in Windows, just make the quick launch bar visible, then copy the Desktop shortcut to the start Menu (this makes the hotkey work from most programs). Then, you can right click on the shortcut in the start menu and create a hotkey for it (I use F10, since F11 is taken for fullscreen browsing). This might also be a great feature to include in the remapper.
You can accomplish this by binding F10 to Win+D in Input Remapper.

[bohrhead]

fn eject is working fine now for prnt scrn. Thanks.

[djrobx]

Remote Desktop is working better, but the right shift key does not work1!

-- Rob

[Beliyaal]

Remote Desktop is working better, but the right shift key does not work1!

-- Rob

New version released that fixes this issue as well as some issues with stuck keys after ctrl-alt-delete. This should also fix the bug where right alt is not properly recognized by other programs.

http://www.olofsson.info

[djrobx]

Ahh, RDP is working awesome now, thanks Beliyaal!

[djrobx]

Ahh, RDP is working awesome now, thanks Beliyaal!

[djrobx]

Ahh, RDP is working awesome now, thanks Beliyaal!

[djrobx]

Ahh, RDP is working awesome now, thanks Beliyaal!

[djrobx]

Ahh, RDP is working awesome now, thanks Beliyaal!

[bdj21ya]

I can't reply to this post, is something broken?

[d1g1ta7]

is it possible to remap the apple key to alt and the alt/option key to the windows button?

[bdj21ya]

Well, I had always been confused about the interface of the input remapper tray icon, but today I decided to give it a try, and let me just say that this program is even more awesome than I had thought. I created two bindings that I definitely recommend for those who have grown accustomed to these hot keys in OS X. I would definitely use IR even if I had an iMac.

1st is the change Beliyaal recommended I try up above--remapping the show desktop to F11 like it is by default in Tiger. Where it says "MacBok Pro" in the IR system tray program, right click and create a new group. Name it whatever you want (I call mine "Show Desktop") and give it a priority of 15 (correct me if this is wrong, since I'm not sure if the priority matters for this function). Then, right click on the "Show Desktop" group and click "Create new key binding", and then hit the F11 key. Click "Ok", and then hit "win + D", release, then hit "win" again. (By default I think win is set to the command key, but like cmd to be ctrl for all the similar windows/OS X hotkeys (e.g. copy, cut, paste, close window, etc.) so I used Microsoft's rktools to remap the win key to ctrl). F11 will now cause all the windows to minimize or restore.

2nd is remapping cmd-Q (remember, I have the cmd key remapped to ctrl, so windows sees this as ctrl-Q) so that it acts as Alt-F4. I use this every time I exit a program in OS X, and I always used to try in Windows, but of course nothing happens. This one is a little more complicated.

Create a new group by right clicking on "MacBook Pro". I gave this one the name of "Command Keys" and a priority of 19. Then, right click on the new group and set "Don't ignore keys". Click the cmd key. Next, right click on the group again and create a new key binding. Hit "cmd-Q" then release. Click "OK" and then click "Alt-F4", release, and then hit "Alt" again. Finally, right click on this new action and select "set temporary release keys". Hit the cmd key twice and you're done! Command-Q will now act as an application closer, as it should. Make sure to minimize IR when you're done, since clicking the X closes it (I'm sure we've all done that a few times).

[bdj21ya]

is it possible to remap the apple key to alt and the alt/option key to the windows button?

Yeah, the easiest way is to use rktools (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&familyid=9D467A69-57FF-4AE7-96EE-B18C4790CFFD) from microsoft, mentioned earlier in this thread. This package installs a program called remapkey.exe, which is easy to launch from the "Run" menu by typing that name.

[Beliyaal]

is it possible to remap the apple key to alt and the alt/option key to the windows button?

Yes if you unistall and install the program this is an option in the configuration screen that appears.

[Krevnik]

I have found a potential 'bug' in the app (alpha 3 though)...

I attempted to remap the keys in such a way that Fn + F1 = F1, while F1 = Decrease Brightness. This sometimes works, and sometimes it doesn't... it is kinda iffy.

[Beliyaal]

I have found a potential 'bug' in the app (alpha 3 though)...

I attempted to remap the keys in such a way that Fn + F1 = F1, while F1 = Decrease Brightness. This sometimes works, and sometimes it doesn't... it is kinda iffy.

This might be because you need to map the bindings in the correct group. The Fx bindings need to be in the normal group and the fn+Fx bindings need to be in the Function key group.

If you are trying to use fn+Fx with ctrl,alt or shift pressed this doesn't work in the alpha releases (if you press fn before ctrl etc). In the beta releases the driver has been updated to hack around that the keyboard reports the fn key as beeing released when ctrl etc is pressed.

[Krevnik]

Thanks for the heads up, I was doing it wrong. Although either way, I had to revert the settings back to the default, or I couldn't use f-keys on my external keyboard. Whoops.

[Turtle]

Beliyaal,

First of all, thanks for a great utility. This definitely makes Mac hardware usable in XP.

I just wanted to make a quick suggestion about something though. I noticed that the default binding for the small Enter key on the MBP keyboard is a right-click.

Since Fn+Click is also the same as a right click, I thought that using the small Enter key for this is a tad redundant. What I do with my default installs of your program is remove the binding and then reassign the "Insert" key to the small Enter key instead. This is the only other (arguably useful) key that's missing from MBP keyboards. Some terminal programs use it, and even MS Word has uses for it on occasion.

Just thought I would throw this suggestion out there for the next release of your utility, since I found it useful (for myself anyways). :)

[ilkevinli]

I actually like the right click set to the enter key. I find it easier to hit 1 key then having to press 2 :D

Beliyaal,

First of all, thanks for a great utility. This definitely makes Mac hardware usable in XP.

I just wanted to make a quick suggestion about something though. I noticed that the default binding for the small Enter key on the MBP keyboard is a right-click.

Since Fn+Click is also the same as a right click, I thought that using the small Enter key for this is a tad redundant. What I do with my default installs of your program is remove the binding and then reassign the "Insert" key to the small Enter key instead. This is the only other (arguably useful) key that's missing from MBP keyboards. Some terminal programs use it, and even MS Word has uses for it on occasion.

Just thought I would throw this suggestion out there for the next release of your utility, since I found it useful (for myself anyways). :)

[Turtle]

I actually like the right click set to the enter key. I find it easier to hit 1 key then having to press 2 :D

Fair enough. BUT! Technically you're still only hitting one key, since the touchpad button doesn't count as a key on the keyboard. :D

[raduma]

I'm having some troubles with the installer. I had the version prior to the one where you introduced running as a service, and everything worked great. I tried switching to the latest version. The installer seems like it works, it does install the service and the driver, and the systray icon. But it seems to quit very fast after the start menu folder is created. Nothing else happens, and when opening the tray icon, there are no predefined bindings at all, as well as I can't add any new ones.

[Beliyaal]

I'm having some troubles with the installer. I had the version prior to the one where you introduced running as a service, and everything worked great. I tried switching to the latest version. The installer seems like it works, it does install the service and the driver, and the systray icon. But it seems to quit very fast after the start menu folder is created. Nothing else happens, and when opening the tray icon, there are no predefined bindings at all, as well as I can't add any new ones.

Either Uninstall and reinstall or quit the systray icon, delete settings.dat and start the systray icon. This should bring up the configuration dialog. If you press cancel in the configuration dialog the state you describe would occur.

[Krevnik]

As a FYI, InputRemapper does not work correctly under Vista Beta 2. It starts as a service, but I cannot get the app to start as a tray icon started after a reboot. Each time I try, it tell me what args are supposed to be used, regardless of what args I actually feed it through the prompt.

[Beliyaal]

As a FYI, InputRemapper does not work correctly under Vista Beta 2. It starts as a service, but I cannot get the app to start as a tray icon started after a reboot. Each time I try, it tell me what args are supposed to be used, regardless of what args I actually feed it through the prompt.

It will probably take me a while until I get to debugging in Vista. Right now I'm focusing on moving the remapping to a driver. A lower filter to the kbdclass driver. This should get rid of remaining remapping issues such as problems with IME input (japanese). It will also allow me to set different remappings for different keyboards so you can more easily use an external keyboard.

[raduma]

Either Uninstall and reinstall or quit the systray icon, delete settings.dat and start the systray icon. This should bring up the configuration dialog. If you press cancel in the configuration dialog the state you describe would occur.

I did that. Still no luck :( I never get the configuration dialog.

[Beliyaal]

I did that. Still no luck :( I never get the configuration dialog.

What is the device id of your keyboard? It sounds like the application isn't detecting that you have a MacBook Pro keyboard.

[raduma]

I'll look up the device when I get home. It does install the Macbook Keyboard driver however.

[itsanobscureid]

hi all - i'm hoping that someone can confirm that this great software will work on the new 13.3" macbook ? :)

[kirreip]

hey beliyaal. I just wanted to thank you so much for input remapper. I have been using it since your first post and I am always looking for newer versions on the forum. I just downloaded your last version and just noticed: print screen doesn't work anymore on my mbp. I don't know if it's only on my computer or if there is something wrong. It worked like a champ before with FN-EJECT but not anymore...
hope you can help me or maybe I will just have to install it again.

[Beliyaal]

I'll look up the device when I get home. It does install the Macbook Keyboard driver however.

This should be fixed in the current version 0.9.13

hey beliyaal. I just wanted to thank you so much for input remapper. I have been using it since your first post and I am always looking for newer versions on the forum. I just downloaded your last version and just noticed: print screen doesn't work anymore on my mbp. I don't know if it's only on my computer or if there is something wrong. It worked like a champ before with FN-EJECT but not anymore...
hope you can help me or maybe I will just have to install it again.

Basicly the same error as above, should be fixed now.

[Ewen]

HI, I might have an idiot question, I am brand new to macs having just bought a MBP to run XP on. THe boot camp works fine and the image remapper is great for the likes of CTRL ALT DEL and the like. However, I am based in the UK and cannot figure out how to get the GBP pound sign as in shift 3 to show....

Help please.........

Thanks in advance.

Ewen

[Beliyaal]

HI, I might have an idiot question, I am brand new to macs having just bought a MBP to run XP on. THe boot camp works fine and the image remapper is great for the likes of CTRL ALT DEL and the like. However, I am based in the UK and cannot figure out how to get the GBP pound sign as in shift 3 to show....

Help please.........

Thanks in advance.

Ewen

From what I can tell you just need to change the keyboard layout in windows to United Kingdom.

[Ewen]

I have tried that and of course the £ sign then shows, however then the @ and "" keys are reversed as well as potentially others.

What I need is some way to be able to enter the keys as they are shown on the keyboard whilst still retain the functionality of your software.

Ewen

p.s thanks for the amazingly fast response.

[bdj21ya]

It seems like you could do this by creating new key bindings for each key combo that isn't working. It actually isn't that hard to do once you get the hang of it. However, right now I don't have the time to write up how to do it. Maybe this evening (though someone else will probably already have solved your problem by then).

[Ewen]

fantastic, I really appreciate you help and FANTASTIC service......

Ewen

[bdj21ya]

Sorry it took me so long to respond; I haven't been in Windows for a few days (I really like to avoid going there if possible).

It sounds like this will be easier for me to explain if you use the UK keyboard setting (since I have no idea how to make the £ sign otherwise).

So, to create a new key binding:

1. Open the input remapper config screen by double clicking on the icon in your menu bar.

2. Create a new group by right clicking on "MacBook Pro". Name it "Ewen's Remappings" or whatever you like, and give it a priority of 25.

3. Create a new key binding in this group by right click on the new group you created.

4. Press the set of keys you would like to use to create the @ symobl

5. Click OK

6. Press the keys neccessary for creating the @ symbol in the current config. (the ones I believe you said should be creating the " symbol)

7. Now create another key binding for the proper keys to create the " symbol when you press what the computer is reading as the @ symbol. I tested this on my US keyboard to switch the @ and " keys. Now I'm going to switch it back, since it's really been messing me up.

Good luck!

[JedWatson]

Hi,

First off thankyou thankyou thankyou for this awesome program you've written! I got a new Macbook (Black, 13") two days ago with blind faith that Boot Camp would set me right... turns out, without your help I would have practically wasted my money! (I bought it for work, and I need to develop SQL Databases on Windows, so OSX full time is out)

Anyway - just a little niggling problem (I'm using 9.13) - I set it up so that FN+Eject would be printScr, which works a charm, but it doesn't stop the CD from being ejected when I press it.

I also swapped the CTRL + FN keys so the CRTL key is where it should be - bottom left hand corner.

I'm down with adding custom mappings (even used the Windows Resource Kit remapper to make F12 the 'insert' key, which i make massive use of)... But I don't know how to make FN+Eject printscreen and then block the Eject action. Is there something I can add, or is it a bug I need to wait for you to fix?

Thanks again for the awesome software!

p.s. Are you still looking for someone to do an icon for you? I might be able to give it a shot, if you are.

[bdj21ya]

It really is a lot easier to use the ctrl key if you remap it to the Apple command key. It is uncomfortable to use your pinky to push such a low key. The command key is right next to my thumb and works perfect with the index finger to push all hotkeys. I think it's faster too. I recommend it to anyone to try it out (I just switched it with the ctrl key using Microsoft's rktools, remapkey.exe) and see if it doesn't improve speed and comfort once you get used to it. This has the added bonus of not confusing your fingers when you switch OS's. As usual, this is just a situation where Apple actually thought out its solution to provide speed and comfort in OS X.

[Beliyaal]

I'm down with adding custom mappings (even used the Windows Resource Kit remapper to make F12 the 'insert' key, which i make massive use of)... But I don't know how to make FN+Eject printscreen and then block the Eject action. Is there something I can add, or is it a bug I need to wait for you to fix?


I think that this is because you have the apple eject utility running. Try killing Brightness.exe with task manager and see if it helps. You can remove from the autorun registry if it works.

[Beliyaal]

It really is a lot easier to use the ctrl key if you remap it to the Apple command key. It is uncomfortable to use your pinky to push such a low key. The command key is right next to my thumb and works perfect with the index finger to push all hotkeys. I think it's faster too. I recommend it to anyone to try it out (I just switched it with the ctrl key using Microsoft's rktools, remapkey.exe) and see if it doesn't improve speed and comfort once you get used to it. This has the added bonus of not confusing your fingers when you switch OS's. As usual, this is just a situation where Apple actually thought out its solution to provide speed and comfort in OS X.

Shift is really the most used modifier, so for me:
Apple = Shift
Shift = Ctrl
Ctrl = Apple(Win)

Or in OSX:
Apple = Shift
Shift = Apple

[JedWatson]

I think that this is because you have the apple eject utility running. Try killing Brightness.exe with task manager and see if it helps. You can remove from the autorun registry if it works.

Close! :-)

The program was (obviously enough) named 'AppleCDEject.exe'. So I killed it, and viola! No more cd-popping every time i take a screen shot.

I've removed it from the registry startup (Registry\All Users\Run) so it'll never bother me again, but perhaps for new users, in a upcoming release of InputRemapper an option could be added to that first 'set up your macbook' screen, to remove it from startup?

I'm not sure why this hasn't cropped up before - as I mentioned, I'm running on a 2 day old macbook so perhaps Mac quietly updated their Boot Camp recently. There are some other issues (particularly to do with sound drivers) that i've seen mentioned but had no experience of.

Thanks for the help!

[vanya]

When I do Fn+Eject, it should do a print screen, but instead it ejects the CD which should just be the Eject by itself, right? I must be doing something wrong. Any ideas why it ejects the CD when I do Fn+Eject instead of PrintScreen? I really need Print Screen. :)
Thanks.

[bdj21ya]

Vanya- you're joking right? Isn't that what the last couple of posts have addressed?

[vanya]

Vanya- you're joking right? Isn't that what the last couple of posts have addressed?

Ah, I didn't read the last couple of posts because I did a search instead and came up with nothing helpful so I just merrily started posting.

So killing AppleCDEject fixes it, eh? Gotta try that...

[Ewen]

I have done as you said and it is working great thanks very much, I have one more question though, How do I map the ALTgr key?

thanks in advance.

Ewen

[bdj21ya]

I'd love to help, but what is the ALTgr key?

[Beliyaal]

I have done as you said and it is working great thanks very much, I have one more question though, How do I map the ALTgr key?

thanks in advance.

Ewen

The right apple key is mapped to AltGr by default in the configuration wizard. If you need to remap manually you will need to connect an external keyboard that can generate AltGr.

[Ewen]

Good to know, I was looking to replicate the euro symbol and was trying altgr and the key for 2 instead of the key for 4 as is is under windows,

thanks again

ewen

[rodney71]

Maybe this has been asked already...seems like a standard need with an external keyboard...is there a way to temporarily disable Remapper when using an external mouse and keyboard and reenable when I'm taking the laptop on the road? Right now I'm having to uninstall and reinstall every time.

great tool.

[deadelvis]

Maybe this has been asked already...seems like a standard need with an external keyboard...is there a way to temporarily disable Remapper when using an external mouse and keyboard and reenable when I'm taking the laptop on the road? Right now I'm having to uninstall and reinstall every time.

great tool.


Yes of course... I do it everyday myself. Latest version of Input Remapper is installed in XP as a service. All you have to do is stop the service when you have an external keyboard connected:

Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services > Input Remapper > Stop (right click or use the top toolbar)

[lotech]

To save time in command line or via start -> Run use these 2 commands to enable/disable inputremapper -

net stop inputremapper (to stop)
net start inputremapper (to restart)

[selonscience]

I know this doesn't really have anything to do with this application, but since we're talking about doing some of the stuff with the trackpad, does anybody know how to turn off the trackpad while you're typing or when you have an external mouse plugged in? While I'm typing this message, my cursor is jumping around the screen because my palm keeps touching the trackpad. I like the option within OS X to disable the trackpad while an external mouse is plugged in since I use an external trackball quite often and then don't have to worry about accidentally moving the mouse around or clicking the button.

Thanks,
Daniel

you can disable it in the device manager. that is what i did, since i play in windows and i do often touch the pad with my hand, that disturbed me.

[Beliyaal]

Version 0.9.15 (http://forum.osx86project.org/index.php?showtopic=20450) has been released. This release moves remapping to a kernel driver to remove any outstanding issues that existed with keyboard hooks.

I have been using some version of this driver for about a month locally and I think that I have managed to get rid of any BSODs. I have had problems with the installation procedure that would result in keyboard and mouse not working, but I'm pretty sure that I have fixed any such issues. If this happens however, just press the power button to shutdown the computer (save any work before installing). You might have to restart up to two times if this happens.

[Uni]

Does the New version work with the delete key.

In Windows on my MacBook Pro I used to delelte files with the delete key to send to trash. No anymore. Why??

[Beliyaal]

Does the New version work with the delete key.

In Windows on my MacBook Pro I used to delelte files with the delete key to send to trash. No anymore. Why??

Could you tell me a little more detail of what isn't worknig. fn-Backspace is used for the Delete key. Is that not working any more? Or maybe everything isn't working? Can you change the backlight with fn+f1?

[chikoo]

works on my 13" black macbook like a charm! thank you so much!!!

[Uni]

Could you tell me a little more detail of what isn't worknig. fn-Backspace is used for the Delete key. Is that not working any more? Or maybe everything isn't working? Can you change the backlight with fn+f1?


Fn+Backspace if I'm in Explorer looking at a file it will bring me back like the back button.

Fn+f1 activates the Windows help and support.

I have the Input Remapper on. It in my System tray. I hit the edject button and it ejects disc not like before I had to hit Shift+Edject.

[Beliyaal]

Fn+Backspace if I'm in Explorer looking at a file it will bring me back like the back button.

Fn+f1 activates the Windows help and support.

I have the Input Remapper on. It in my System tray. I hit the edject button and it ejects disc not like before I had to hit Shift+Edject.

I see a couple of possibilities:

The MacBook keyboard isn't detected. Click the taskbar icon. Is the MacBook Configuration Wizard option available? If not this is the problem.

The driver isn't installed properly. Check this by looking it the Device Manager->Keyboards->MacBook Pro Keyboard->Properties->Driver->Driver Details. InputRemapperFilter.x64.sys should be listed here. If it is try restarting the computer.

You cancelled the configuration Wizard or have lost the configuration some other way. Run the MacBook Configuration Wizard. It will ask you to press the key to the right of your left shift key. If you cannot get past this dialog the driver isn't working properly. If you get past it and press OK in the wizard everything should be working again.

What version of Windows are you running? What service packs are installed?

[TheBug]

First of all, thanks Beliyaal for the great app. Wouldn't know what to do without it. Have been using it on my 15.4" MBP since .14.
I've just upgraded to the .17 version and everything works fine.
However, when I look at the Processes list, I see a process called InputRemapper.exe started by user, and 2 processes of InputRemapper.x86.exe, one started by user and the other by system.
Everything works fine, but just wanted to check if this is normal.
Running on WinXPSP2.
TIA

[deadelvis]

when I look at the Processes list, I see a process called InputRemapper.exe started by user, and 2 processes of InputRemapper.x86.exe, one started by user and the other by system

Exact same thing here... so I guess it is normal.

[aashtonk]

First I want to say thanks for the great program. It makes using my MacBook so much nicer in Windows.

Second I was wondering if there would be a way to add the "Insert" key as one of the options for the "Eject" or "Enter" button. I have a program that uses the insert button a fair amount. Just a simple request. Thanks again

[race-eendje]

Weird but nice ...

Since I installed the latest version of input remapper, my screensaver pops up ... Don't know if it had anything to do with it, but if so ... VERY NICE !

[Beliyaal]

Weird but nice ...

Since I installed the latest version of input remapper, my screensaver pops up ... Don't know if it had anything to do with it, but if so ... VERY NICE !

Actually, when I think about it it it probably is Input Remapper that fixed it. I noticed that the touch pad was spamming the system with 0 pixel moves 60 times a second. I just removed this spamming to get better performance. I guess that it fixed the screen saver.

[Beliyaal]

Exact same thing here... so I guess it is normal.

This is normal.
* One service for doing the remapping
* One tray icon for configuration
* One launcher for detecting 32 or 64 bit windows and launching the correct executable.

I guess that the launcher could quit when the tray icon is started, but it needs to wait for it to finish when doing install and command line operations so thats why it is the way it is.

[Beliyaal]

First I want to say thanks for the great program. It makes using my MacBook so much nicer in Windows.

Second I was wondering if there would be a way to add the "Insert" key as one of the options for the "Eject" or "Enter" button. I have a program that uses the insert button a fair amount. Just a simple request. Thanks again

I will add the option in the next version. For now you can bind the insert key by finding the F13 key in the configuration (Click the task bar icon and press Configure). Then right click (F13) and choose "Edit key sequence 0" and change "Key 0" to f_Insert (search replace mistake, should be called Insert).

[mac_zOOTSTER]

I will add the option in the next version. For now you can bind the insert key by finding the F13 key in the configuration (Click the task bar icon and press Configure). Then right click (F13) and choose "Edit key sequence 0" and change "Key 0" to f_Insert (search replace mistake, should be called Insert).
I would also like to thank you for the app. It is a lifesaver. Regarding the insert key, I remapped my second Enter key to f_insert. It seems to double press insert when I use it though. Could you please let me know if im doing something wrong.

Thanks

[bdj21ya]

So Beliyaal, what do you think about integrating the keyboard backlighting driver into InputRemapper and adding Fn-key support?

[Beliyaal]

So Beliyaal, what do you think about integrating the keyboard backlighting driver into InputRemapper and adding Fn-key support?

Looking at the code it should be fairly simple. What features would you like to see in respect to automatic dimming of the keyboard backlight in response to the light sensor?

Also I could add automatic screen dimming.

[ilkevinli]

I say do all of the above LOL :D

Looking at the code it should be fairly simple. What features would you like to see in respect to automatic dimming of the keyboard backlight in response to the light sensor?

Also I could add automatic screen dimming.

[diamondsw]

New Boot Camp, along with updated drivers, including better keyboard support. I'll look forward to seeing how Input Remapper copes with that, or how much of its tweaks are now the defaults.

[bdj21ya]

Actually, for me, Input Remapper seems to override the new drivers. However, when I go without the Input Remapper, I notice that Apple's solutions don't compare to Input Remapper even now, months later. For example, Apple's brightness control from the keyboard requires you to hit the keys repeatedly, rather than Beliyaal's more natural hold-to-repeat solution. They really ought to hire you Beliyaal.

[kardiss]

First of all, excellent work Beliyaal!

I have one problem though. When I remap leftside function keys to Ctrl, FN, WIN, Alt, instead of remappking FN to Ctrl it remaps FN to Ctrl+Shift. I am not sure if it is the result of using the latest input remapper or the new boot camp 1.1 beta. I will try to use the previous versions. Anyways, thank yoU!

[ashmorgan]

First of all, excellent work Beliyaal!

I have one problem though. When I remap leftside function keys to Ctrl, FN, WIN, Alt, instead of remappking FN to Ctrl it remaps FN to Ctrl+Shift. I am not sure if it is the result of using the latest input remapper or the new boot camp 1.1 beta. I will try to use the previous versions. Anyways, thank yoU!
Yeah...I'm having a similar problem on my MBPro, except Fn is getting mapped to Fn+Ctrl, so that when I hit Fn+Left, I get Ctrl+Home instead of Ctrl+Left. I iinstalled both the new .917 and bootcamp 1.1 at the same time, so not sure which one hosed me, but all was working with prev. version of inputmapper and bootcamp 1.0

[Beliyaal]

The apple keyboard drivers interferes in many ways with Input Remapper. It seems to work when you disable the Apple keyboard with the Apple keyboard icon in the taskbar. The trouble above with remapping fn to other things than fn has to do with this.

To get the old functionality back without needing to disable the apple keyboard utility every start:

Go into control panel->Add Remove Programs and remove Apple Keyboard Support. The uninstaller isn't working like it should and it will actually install the drivers again. Press unistall again to remove the entry in Add Remove Programs.

Now go inte Computer Management->Device Manager. Under Human Interface Devices, rightclick the two Apple Keyboard Support and uninstall them (your keyboard will stop working, so make sure that you have no other programs running). Now restart the computer (the mouse should still be working).

When the computer is restarted either restart it again or restart the Input Remapper serivce.

[bdj21ya]

Hey there Beliyaal. Thanks for the tip. How are things coming with integrating that keyboard backlit control? Had much free time to work on it?

[kardiss]

Thanks for the tip Beliyaal. I will try that right now.
With your coding skills, integrating that keyboard backlit control shouldn't be too much of hassle although it will take some time. I can't wait for the next release!

Keep up the good work!

[bdj21ya]

For those who weren't watching, I think there already was a "next release", but that post may have gotten lost in the server troubles.

[CrazyLexx]

I really like what you're doing with Input Remapper. It's one of the first things I do when I get online - check if there is any news on your tool! :)

How about adding some kind of graphic overlays to give the user a visual feedback on pushing a specific button (like done under OSX when ejecting a disc or changing display brightness)?

Keep up the good work,
Tom

[Beliyaal]

Added partial support for Vista. Numlock does not work correctly yet.

http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=26631 (Input Remapper 0.9.19 Beta)

In Vista services are prohibited from interacting with the user desktop. To get full support for Vista I will have to significantly rewrite some things (and launch another processes so there will be three Input Remapper processes running!).

[Beliyaal]

I really like what you're doing with Input Remapper. It's one of the first things I do when I get online - check if there is any news on your tool! :)

How about adding some kind of graphic overlays to give the user a visual feedback on pushing a specific button (like done under OSX when ejecting a disc or changing display brightness)?

Keep up the good work,
Tom

I have been thinking about this, but now with Vista it just got that much more troublesome to implement.

[CrazyLexx]

I have been thinking about this, but now with Vista it just got that much more troublesome to implement.
Oh, too bad. This would really increase the usability of your otherwise great working tool. How about releasing two separate version for XP and Vista?

Is Apples brighness control tool needed for Input Remapper to work properly - or is there a way to get rid of the programm and it's icon in the taskbar?

The keyboard backlight has to be manually turned on or is there some kind of support for the light sensor?

Keep up the good work,
Tom

[Beliyaal]

How about releasing two separate version for XP and Vista?


I don't want to rewrite the code later so now I will focus on doing it the correct way in Vista, it will only take a little more time.

Is Apples brighness control tool needed for Input Remapper to work properly - or is there a way to get rid of the programm and it's icon in the taskbar?


Just run msconfig and remove it from startup. It's not needed. If you have a MacBook Pro no apple drivers are needed at all, but on MacBook they are needed for Backlight control (I would implement this myself if I had access to a MacBook).


The keyboard backlight has to be manually turned on or is there some kind of support for the light sensor?


Not right now but I plan to add it.

[CrazyLexx]

Oh, just one more thing: Were can I find the @-sign on a MBP keyboard using the latest version of Input Remapper? Under windows, the @ could normally be found by pressing AltGr + Q. Using IR however, pressing that combination doesn't work (unlike f.e. the euro-symbol of AltGr + E). Woud it be possible to map the @-sign to a AltGr + L key combination (just like printed on to the actual key/used under OSX) in a future release?

Tom

[Beliyaal]

Oh, just one more thing: Were can I find the @-sign on a MBP keyboard using the latest version of Input Remapper? Under windows, the @ could normally be found by pressing AltGr + Q. Using IR however, pressing that combination doesn't work (unlike f.e. the euro-symbol of AltGr + E). Woud it be possible to map the @-sign to a AltGr + L key combination (just like printed on to the actual key/used under OSX) in a future release?

Tom

This should work no differently from before. I think that BootCamp 1.1 installs another keyboard layout that breaks this. Go into Control Panel and change back to the default german keyboard.

I have been thinking about adding support for different languages, but I don't actually know what I should remap for the diffrent languages. You can always remap AltGr+L to AltGr+Q yourself even if it's not included in the default configuration.

It might be useful if someone created custom windows keyboard layouts that works with Input Remapper for the different languages instead of remapping the keys. Input Remapper cannot create new "characters" through generating keystrokes (ALT+numpad doesn't work in all programs).

[CrazyLexx]

Go into Control Panel and change back to the default german keyboard.
You mean, changing the driver from the one Apple provided to a generic one?

You can always remap AltGr+L to AltGr+Q yourself even if it's not included in the default configuration.
Where can I find the corresponding entry in IR? Or do I need a different tool for this?

BTW: User settings for the keyboard backlight are not saved and have to be adjusted anew every time I boot up my computer?

[CrazyLexx]

It might be useful if someone created custom windows keyboard layouts that works with Input Remapper for the different languages instead of remapping the keys.
I've made a german keyboard layout for use with a MacBook Pro. It has all the special characters of a regular german IBM keyboard as well as working apostrophes. Only difference: I've mapped the "@" sign to AltGr + L instead of AltGr + Q to match the labeling of the MBP keyboard.

Tom

85

[Kroc]

Hello, This is happening to me with two Macbooks & a Macbook Pro.
I'm using bootcamp, with inputremapper and Apple's keyboard support disabled (this problem happened before bootcamp 1.1 anyway).

My speech mark key is displaying the wrong thing. All the keys seem to work, except I get '¨' when I press shit+' (on a Mac-UK keyboard) instead of speech marks. I can't code or google search! Please help me!

[Beliyaal]

Hello, This is happening to me with two Macbooks & a Macbook Pro.
I'm using bootcamp, with inputremapper and Apple's keyboard support disabled (this problem happened before bootcamp 1.1 anyway).

My speech mark key is displaying the wrong thing. All the keys seem to work, except I get '¨' when I press shit+' (on a Mac-UK keyboard) instead of speech marks. I can't code or google search! Please help me!

Bootcamp probably installed a custom keyborad layout for you. Change the keyborad layout to the included with windows or create one that works like the mac as the above German keyboard layout. In Windows the " is accessed with Shift+2.

[bohrhead]

Go to the "Regional and Language Options" control panel. Go to 'Languages' and click detail. Make sure you have the "United Kingdom (MacBook Mac)" layout.

[Xman]

First thanks for the app and CrazyLexx for the alterd german keybord Layout.

My Win System is running "fine" (for Windows) with Bootcamp 1.1.1 and IR 0.9.18 - so I hesitate to move to 1.1.2, but Trackpad scrolling would be fine

Has anyone tested the 1.1.2 and IR combination?

Does the typical installation procedure work
- deleting the Apple Keyboard Support ... as descibed
- for non US keyboards - deleting the Apple Keyboard layout in the Region + Languages Controlpanel that BootCamp installs

What's the meaning of "improved international support" in th BC description?

thanks

[Beliyaal]

First thanks for the app and CrazyLexx for the alterd german keybord Layout.

My Win System is running "fine" (for Windows) with Bootcamp 1.1.1 and IR 0.9.18 - so I hesitate to move to 1.1.2, but Trackpad scrolling would be fine

Has anyone tested the 1.1.2 and IR combination?

Does the typical installation procedure work
- deleting the Apple Keyboard Support ... as descibed
- for non US keyboards - deleting the Apple Keyboard layout in the Region + Languages Controlpanel that BootCamp installs

What's the meaning of "improved international support" in th BC description?

thanks

From my limited testing it seems to be ok, although I only tried under Vista, and I have full support for the trackpad scrolling and right click.

[diamondsw]

From my limited testing it seems to be ok, although I only tried under Vista, and I have full support for the trackpad scrolling and right click.

I would LOVE to know how you got this to work. I've had nothing but trouble installing the updated drivers in Vista (and of course, the wiki and such is never updated anymore...). At this point the filters *appear* to be installed... but they don't do anything that I can see.

[Beliyaal]

I would LOVE to know how you got this to work. I've had nothing but trouble installing the updated drivers in Vista (and of course, the wiki and such is never updated anymore...). At this point the filters *appear* to be installed... but they don't do anything that I can see.

After futher testing the control is a bit flaky (locked in scroll mode and only one axis working sometimes), and the trackpad will stop working after sleep and wakup, but here is how you get it installed:

Rightclick on the second USB Human Interface Device (make sure that the device ID is USB\VID_05AC&PID_218&MI_01) and choose update driver -> Browse -> Let me pick-> Have disk. Now point to the aapltp folder in the Macintosh Drivers for Windows XP 1.1.2 folder.

I'm not sure if you need to do the same thing for the "HID-compliant mouse", but there you should point to aapltctp instead.

[Beliyaal]

New version released (http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=32300).

[TheBug]

Thanks for the great Release. Works like a charm...

Just wanted to clarify though, the app was released 2006-11-05?? and not 2006-10-05?? ;)

[ProgramASPnet]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EDIT NOTE (11-19-06) Due to my own oversight at the time, I didn't fully test the Enable Remapping option of InputMapper. You can enable/disable this option when you plan on using either the built in or an external keyboard. I'm leaving the other part of my post here just incase you wanted to see what was originally discussed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attn External Keyboard Users!

Just wanted to provide some info for those using InputRemapper (which is essential IMO when running Windows on a MBP) and sometimes connect an external keyboard but hate having to constantly enable/disable numlock to use either the numeric keypad or the normal keyboard.

See this thread for more info
http://forum.onmac.net/showthread.php?p=10527#post10527

Thanks again for making InputRemapper!
-Kirk

[Beliyaal]

New version released (http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=34515).

[deadelvis]

Whow! this app keeps getting better and better! :) Thanks so much!

Any plans for on screen visualization of the fn controls (like volume) ?

cheers

[sugeina]

After futher testing the control is a bit flaky (locked in scroll mode and only one axis working sometimes), and the trackpad will stop working after sleep and wakup, but here is how you get it installed:

Rightclick on the second USB Human Interface Device (make sure that the device ID is USB\VID_05AC&PID_218&MI_01) and choose update driver -> Browse -> Let me pick-> Have disk. Now point to the aapltp folder in the Macintosh Drivers for Windows XP 1.1.2 folder.

I'm not sure if you need to do the same thing for the "HID-compliant mouse", but there you should point to aapltctp instead.

hi there. i'm a recent mac switcher. i've installed vista via bootcamp 1.1.2 also.
i tried your solution, but i get the message, "The best driver software for your device is already installed." and trackpad scrolling/right click still don't work.
i tried it on all USB Human Interface Device and i got the same result. None of the 4 USB Human Interface Devices, btw, has a hardware id of USB\VID_05AC&PID_218$MI_01.

i'd appreciate any suggestion you can give. thanks!
(i'm using macbook core2duo 2.0ghz)

EDIT:
got 2finger+click=right click and 2finger-scrolling to work already. thanks :)

[bohrhead]

I can't download the latest version. I get this error:

Sorry, an error occurred. If you are unsure on how to use a feature, or don't know why you got this error message, try looking through the help files for more information.
The error returned was:

Sorry, but you do not have permission to use this feature. If you are not logged in, you may do so using the form below if available.

It seems to suggest that I have to log in to download it. Is that really necessary? Could you post it somewhere else?

[Beliyaal]

New version (http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=44116) released.

This version only fixes some serious bugs and brings Vista x64 support with signed drivers.

[enj0y]

Hi,
it seems that on my machine the upgrade to Bootcamp 1.2 killed the brightness and volume hotkey (fn) functionality of the inputremapper. Is anybody else experiencing that problem too?
Cheers

[Beliyaal]

Hi,
it seems that on my machine the upgrade to Bootcamp 1.2 killed the brightness and volume hotkey (fn) functionality of the inputremapper. Is anybody else experiencing that problem too?
Cheers

You need to uninstall the apple keyboard drivers again.

[enj0y]

That is not working for me. If i uninstall the 2 keyboard drivers neither mouse, touchpad nor keyboard are working anymore. Upon the next reboot the drivers are installed again. (just to clarify i am talking about bootcamp 1.2 here.)
KbdMgr.exe is not running in the processes.

[Beliyaal]

See updated BootCamp 1.2 removal instructions (http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=46869).

[PopDog]

Hi, I am considering buying a new MBP, but I wanted to ask one question about the key remapper first!

Is it possible to switch the Fn key with the ctrl key??? I play alot of FPS games and the ctrl key really needs to be in the corner, and the Fn key 1 in from the corner, otherwise it is very difficult.
I just wanted to see if this was possible, because if not, I may have to look elsewhere (aka buy a pc with vista (ugh) and dual boot it with xp) kinda sucks.. either way, I need to dual boot

[6200rpm]

Popdog yes you can.

I just installed XP on the new Bootcamp 1.3 Beta. The uninstaller for the apple keyboard works now, but you will still need to manualy delete the KBMGR.EXE from C:\Program Files\Boot Camp.

Or, you can use regedit to delete the KbdMgr.exe launcher from HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr ent Version\Run

PS. i noticed there is a difference when downloading the bootcamp drivers, is better to check xp AND vista when asked what OS you will install on your intel mac. This way you will get separate driver packages for each device.

HTH
Andrei

[PopDog]

GREAT! I have an alienware laptop right now, and I hate gaming on it because that fn key is hardwired into the keyboard and is unable to be changed!! Hopefully I will be buying a mbp later this week. It costs a bit more then I would like to spend, but having osx with HDV support, and other useful apps, and xp to play games on is really what I have been looking for, and it will be alot more use to me!
thanks for the info on the boot camp and driver uninstall. I dont mind doing a few registry edits to get things how i like them : )

[PopDog]

Hey, I just got winxp installed on my macbook, and I just put on input remapper.. but none of the keys along the top work...

[DanIssa]

Best thing is if you want to move away from German keyboard layout or change the existing keyboard mapping is apply English or German keyboard stickers (I got mine from http://www.latkey.com for instance), and then change OS settings for the keyboard. This way you wouldn't need to load any suspicious additional drivers.

[Beliyaal]

New version (http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=58373) released that supports Santa Rosa Mac Book Pros, as well as many other fixes.