assign a key to rename with Microsoft Intellitype keyboard

[phanoflife]

I have a Wireless Intellitype Elite Keyboard which comes with many of
the Fx keys assigned to diffrent tasks than the standard windows
setup. I like a lot of the new function, but none of them are "rename"
as the old set would be F2. I have the ability to reassign keys, but I
can't figure out where the rename function comes from. Any one know?

 

[Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]]

look for the "FLock" key to the right of the function keys... this
toggles the function keys between f-keys and the custom settings...
unfortunately, at least on mine, there appears to be no way to keep in
in the f-key position following reboots and ksu switches.

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

 

[Vanguard]

I have a Wireless Intellitype Elite Keyboard which comes with many of
the Fx keys assigned to diffrent tasks than the standard windows
setup. I like a lot of the new function, but none of them are "rename"
as the old set would be F2. I have the ability to reassign keys, but I
can't figure out where the rename function comes from. Any one know?

Do as Beverly suggests. You are using the F-keys in their extended mode
rather than their standard scan code mode. Also, some key map utilities
(for the extended F-keys) actually let you select the normal F-key
assignments. For example, you could define the extended F2 key (i.e.,
F2 when Flock is not on) to issue the standard F2 scan code. Check the
list of available keys to which you can assign to the extended F-keys.
That way, regardless of which position the Flocking key is set, you will
get the standard scan code.

The only reason the Flock key showed up was that there wasn't much new
to add to keyboards. Like VCR or DVD players, the manufacturers had to
keep adding more crap functionality to maintain a market for their
product. After all, there are only so many consumers that will buy
their base product so when that market is flooded then they have to add
gimmicks to con their existing customers to "upgrade". Appliance and
consumer electronic markets have been doing that for decades. Then
Microsoft decided it was a good idea, too, so now you have Vista which
isn't an upgraded OS but rather a bunch of fluff utilities added and a
different GUI.

 

[frodo]

to answer the question, you can reassign those keys via the Control Panel
| Keyboard icon. that'll open the intellitype properties dialog, and
there is a Key Settings tab there. You can change the special keys,
but what you can change them to is a bit restricted (you can't change it
to type "F2" for example, which sounds like what you want). Also, it
depends on the version of intellitype you're using - with the Elite KB
you can use the latest, 6.1. Be sure to update both the mouse and kb to
6.1, and install the intelliTYPE first, followed by intelliPOINT, to
ensure that the KB scroll wheel works right.

Access to intellitype should also be in your start menu, under Microsoft
Hardware | Microsoft Keyboard, unless you threw that away. And it has a
optional tray icon too (as does intellipoint).

There is also a key-reassign ability in TweakUI, under Explorer | Command
Keys. It too is somewhat limiting.

A full-up Macro program can do lots more, but some don't understand the
extra key-codes that MS's F-Lock keyboards generate for those "special"
keys.

 

[Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]]

you can reassign those keys via the Control Panel| Keyboard icon <<

Since you seem to be very knowledgeable about this, a related question;

When booting (and now when switching using a usb ksu) the F-Lock
defaults to "OFF" (special keys active) which is a pita as a couple of
the keys turned off by this setting are frequently needed, notably,
<print-screen>

Is there any way to set the "default" state of F-Lock or a keycode or
utility which could set it as desired on every boot?

Thanks in advance,
Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

 

[Jason Tsang]

See if this helps...

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

--
Jason Tsang - Microsoft MVP

Read my blog for the latest in Media Center topics
(and other topics that interest me)
http://jtsang.blogspot.com

More information by me
http://jtsang.mvps.org
http://www.classicsunveiled.com

Find out about the MS MVP Program -
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/default.aspx

Since you seem to be very knowledgeable about this, a related question;

When booting (and now when switching using a usb ksu) the F-Lock defaults
to "OFF" (special keys active) which is a pita as a couple of the keys
turned off by this setting are frequently needed, notably, <print-screen>

Is there any way to set the "default" state of F-Lock or a keycode or
utility which could set it as desired on every boot?

Thanks in advance,
Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

 

[Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]]

See if this helps... <<

Wow... it does! Gonna take some reading but looks like you have
collected a valuable set of keyboard solutions!

And, as answers always generate more questions;

What do you recommend for transporting custom settings from one computer
to another... seem to remember that they were in the registry, but first
reading of those pages seems to indicate they are now in an xml file?

Is there something in the xml or other local file which can be used to
control the mouse sensitivity? I have both a standard mouse and media
center ir keyboard with mouse joystick and the sensitivity needs for
each are radically different... would be nice if that could be done
programmically when switching between keyboards.

Thanks again,
Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

 

[frodo]

See if this helps...

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

2 cents: The above does work, sortof; Jason has done the best with the
limitations involved, as he clearly points out. Read it carefully. I did
use it for a while, but I eventually decided to use an even simpler
"solution". Open notepad and paste this line into it:

MsgBox "Don't forget to turn on F Lock at startup!", 64, "Reminder"

save the file as "reminder.vbs" somewhere, say c:\.

then make a new shortcut, and in the "Target" field type this:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\wscript.exe c:\reminder.vbs

get the filenames and drive:\path right for your system.

then put that shortcut into the start menu's Startup folder.

Now when the system boots you'll get a pop-up reminder to engage the
flock. Human engineering!

And, you've just written your first Basic program - wow! Take a Jolt from
the common-room fridge, you've earned it!

Thanks again Jason...

 

[Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]]

;-)

Thanks,
Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

 

[Jason Tsang]

Scan Code Mapper is done via registry settings.

If you use Intellitype to do the remap, then it'll be through the xml file
(but you must have Intellitype installed first) otherwise there will be no
keyboard application program to utilize the xml file

--
Jason Tsang - Microsoft MVP

Read my blog for the latest in Media Center topics
(and other topics that interest me)
http://jtsang.blogspot.com

More information by me
http://jtsang.mvps.org
http://www.classicsunveiled.com

Find out about the MS MVP Program -
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/default.aspx

Wow... it does! Gonna take some reading but looks like you have collected
a valuable set of keyboard solutions!

And, as answers always generate more questions;

What do you recommend for transporting custom settings from one computer
to another... seem to remember that they were in the registry, but first
reading of those pages seems to indicate they are now in an xml file?

Is there something in the xml or other local file which can be used to
control the mouse sensitivity? I have both a standard mouse and media
center ir keyboard with mouse joystick and the sensitivity needs for each
are radically different... would be nice if that could be done
programmically when switching between keyboards.

Thanks again,
Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]