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DreymaR's Big Bag Of Keyboard Tricks - EPKL


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In this folder are some files that aren't needed to run EPKL but may still be useful.

  • The Key code table is a list of keys and their various names. See the Remap file for what EPKL uses.
    • To see what keys are pressed and what output results, you can use the EPKL "AHK Key History..." menu.
    • This AutoHotkey Key History menu item is shown only if advancedMode is set to yes in the EPKL_Settings.
    • Even more info is seen on the Keyboard Event Viewer page. It's a very informative tool.
  • There's a Registry Editor folder that may be used to change Windows low-level settings. Do this only with great care!
    • It contains some .reg files that should run with the MS RegEdit system program to modify the Windows Registry.
    • RegEdit files that remap keys, do so at the lowest level possible which will work everywhere such as in games.
    • Remappings can happen at the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM level (for all users) or HKEY_CURRENT_USER only. Local mapping may not work though?
    • Only one such remap script will take effect at a time, so if you want to do two things at once you have to edit your .reg file accordingly.
    • The SetWinApp script may be used to set what apps the labels "App1" and "App2" refer to, e.g., for the Extend1 layer.
  • Instead of using RegEdit scripts, you can use the SharpKeys program which does most of the same more safely.
    • I warmly recommend SharpKeys. It is available at the Microsoft Store too, so it's quite official.
    • It's hard to remap modifiers like the Alt keys well using EPKL. SharpKeys complements EPKL excellently in this respect.
    • I use a combo of EPKL+SharpKeys to implement my BigBag Modifier Modness thumb keys. I'm very happy with that.
  • There's a MSKLC folder, that's about the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator program. With it you can make installable layouts.
    • For a good guide to getting and using MSKLC, see Henri's MSKLC Guide.
    • You'll need to install MSKLC from Microsoft's site. With it you can look at existing Win layouts and make new ones.
    • If you do dabble in layout editing with MSKLC, you may have to edit your .klc file directly to get VK codes right.
    • In Henri's guide you'll also learn to do advanced stuff like swapping system keys (e.g., CapsLock-to-Backspace).
    • The original PKL was able to import .klc files to Layout.ini files; in the future EPKL may also do that.
  • Other remap tools exist, such as the Microsoft PowerToys Keyboard Manager. It looks like a quite powerful utility.
    • However, it uses a low-level keyboard hook like EPKL does, and so the two should not be used together. Too bad.
    • Also, like EPKL it doesn't perform so well with games according to Microsoft's page.
  • The KMonad program is interesting: It's cross-platform, for Windows/Mac/Linux.
    • Note that this is a purely key mapping program, much like having a programmable keyboard.
    • This means that while it's really good at key press emulation, it can't natively send characters and strings.
    • As with programmable keyboards using for instance the QMK firmware, there are workarounds but they're clunky.
    • However, key mapping is often really good for key combos, home row mods and such stuff which can be hard to do in EPKL.
  • Also worth mentioning to the keyboard modder, is the KbdEdit program which is commercial but quite powerful.
    • KbdEdit has a nice online manual too. There's a VK code table there and much more.