Detecting status Enable of "F Lock" on Microsoft Keyboard

[Guest]

Sorry about the repost, not quite sure how these managed news groups work
yet. Spent the companies money on the MSDN subscription, now I just have to
work out how to use it!

I have an Access Database that using Function keys for Commands and
Navigation through tabs... This has been working great, but unfortunately I
am running into more and more support calls about keys not working
correctly. On closer inspection it is only customers that have Microsoft
Keyboards and not having F Lock on.

I personally use a Wireless Desktop Elite Keyboard but as a habit when the
computer boots I hit the F Lock. Unfortunately customers aren't as easily
trained.

Is it possible using say API's to:

a) check the status of the F Lock
b) trigger the F Lock on a Microsoft Keyboard

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, from what i can see when the F
Lock is off it doesn't even trigger the key events of access.

Kind Regards,

Michael Proctor
NTDS

 

[Nick Coe \(UK\)]

Mike,

Sorry to be dense but what is an F lock..? I've a bog
standard MS keyboard with extra web and mail keys, the usual
AT style keypad and Scroll Lock and Num Lock...

Notebooks have a Function key (Fn) but mostly that's used
the same way as Shift, Ctrl and Alt... You sure it's not
something unique to your keyboard? Must admit my keyboard
is a few years old....

--
Nick Coe (UK)
Available - Will work for money
http://www.alphacos.co.uk/ AccHelp + pAnimal
http://www.pjandcoe.co.uk/ Online Store

In Michael Proctor typed:

 

[Allen Browne]

Nick, the F-Lock key is a serious pain that MS has designed into all their
recent keyboards, with other manufacturs following suit.

It means that the function keys and other keys do NOT work as you would
expect:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;894513

The best solution is probably to avoid these keyboards. Realistically that's
not going to happen for all the clients you support, and it is a pain in
Access.

I'm not aware of a way to set the state of this garbage in software, so you
have to physically press the F-Lock key every boot up. Even then, it does
not always work as expected:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;894520
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;894037
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;203711
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;894038
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;188064
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;301944
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;894513
and so on.

 

[Tom Lake]

Nick, the F-Lock key is a serious pain that MS has designed into all their
recent keyboards, with other manufacturs following suit.

It means that the function keys and other keys do NOT work as you would
expect:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;894513

The best solution is probably to avoid these keyboards. Realistically
that's not going to happen for all the clients you support, and it is a
pain in Access.

I'm not aware of a way to set the state of this garbage in software, so
you have to physically press the F-Lock key every boot up. Even then, it
does not always work as expected:

You can't set the state but you CAN (except for USB keyboards) have Windows
ignore the F-Lock key by remapping the keys to their normal Function Key
keycodes.

http://mvps.org/jtsang/flock.html

Tom Lake

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the suugestions,

Unfortunately as you all know when you go back to clients and say that they
have to do something or that they have to have install or configure there
desktops.

As I am going to be re-writting my software in VS 2005 when it is released,
I am assuming/hoping that microsoft has a solution for this, maybe some sorta
of API to IntelliType?

Regards,

Michael Proctor

 

[Guest]

Does microsoft reply to these messages? I have a MSDN Pro subscription and I
think I set this stuff up alright but I'm not sure, anyone know how to check?

Regards,

Michael Proctor
NTDS

 

[Allen Browne]

Michael, you occassionally see MS respond, but these are essentially
community-help groups.

As a developer, I do not believe it is right for me to reprogram my clients'
keyboards, especially in a way that affects all their programs. So I choose
to give the responsibility for this back to the client: you (or your
company) bought this stupid keyboard with a FLock key, so you will have to
replace it or press the Flock'in thing every time you boot your computer.

 

[Guest]

I agree Allen, I don't wish to reprogram there keyboard, alot of suggestions
have come through saying that you can reghack it, this is not an option!

Surely Microsoft has a way to control it programmically, I would doubt
highly they would release something they can't get around themselves.

That is why I am hoping there is some solution for this.

Regards,

Michael Proctor
NTDS

 

[Nick Coe \(UK\)]

Allen,

Starting to sound like another F Locking triumph of style
over content.... Design is the key... )

Seriously, I've been trying to get a nice clicky, chunky
Cherry keyboard without the numpad. Can I find a supplier
in the UK? Can I b~##~&^%.

--
Nick Coe (UK)
Available - Will work for money
http://www.alphacos.co.uk/ AccHelp + pAnimal
http://www.pjandcoe.co.uk/ Online Store

In Allen Browne typed:

 

[Michael Cheng [MSFT]]

Hi Michael,

Welcome to use MSDN Managed Newsgroup!

First of all, please understand the newsgroups are staffed weekdays by
Microsoft Support professionals to answer your applications questions. Our
goal is to provide 24 hour response to all questions. If this response time
does not meet your needs, please contact Customer Service and Support (CSS)
for more immediate assistance. For more information on available CSS
services, please click here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;OfferProPhone#faq607
..

If you are outside the United States, please visit our International
Support page:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=/international.aspx.

Secondly, I have noticed your clients with Microsoft keyboard will have the
issue that the function keys do not respond. If I have misunderstood your
concern, please feel free to point it out.
I am so sorry that your client will now have to press the Flock key and
let the function key started working.

I am contacting MS keyboard development team via internal way and will keep
you updated about the latest update.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation. If you have any questions or
concerns, don't hesitate to let me know. We are always here to be of
assistance!


Sincerely yours,

Michael Cheng
Microsoft Online Partner Support

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