Remapping the Shift key function

[don_otreply]

Hello, brand new user here and relatively new to mechanical keyboards. Anyways, I am working on a custom design and have been trying to figure out how to remap/ change the shift function for specific keys. Here's an example of what I want:

Instead of "Shift+/" being "?" I'd rather have a "!" key where "Shift+!" is "?". The idea is to congregate groups of keys based on a common function (i.e. punctuation).

Today I was writing the firmware, using Hasu's work as a guide, and while writing the keymaps for each layer I noticed that there wasn't a separate layer for the "Shift" key which leads me to believe that the "shift" modification may be handled on the computer's side instead of by the keyboard's microcontroller.

Is what I'm hoping to do possible? I'd appreciate any guidance you can offer - thanks!

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Yes it's handled by the computer.

Working on the assumption that the target computer has / + ? on the same key (e.g. UK, US), you could program the controller to send the make+break codes for [1 !] when shift is held, and [/ ?] otherwise.

By the way, are we supposed to reply to you or not?

[don_otreply]

As I figured - this may change my layout haha.

I'm interested in the mark+break code workaround - is there someplace I could learn more about that? Would I essentially treat the shift key as another function key? I'm not so sure about that...

To your last question Daniel, it's just a silly username I chose, but maybe I'll need a new one

Regardless, thanks for the response!

[Muirium]

You could make a new (software) keyboard layout for your OS. For instance, French keyboards push numbers up to the Shift "layer", leaving the top row free for accented letters and the like:



But even if you plug in an English (US or UK) keyboard to a French system, the French layout still works. Software plays just as much a rôle in this as hardware. There are apps for every platform which let you define your own layouts as you please, including what goes where when Shifted.

[don_otreply]

>Software plays just as much a rôle in this as hardware. There are apps for every platform which let you define your own layouts as you please, including what goes where when Shifted.

Interesting - this sounds likes a good solution. What would be a good application to use for Windows, do you know?

[stratokaster]

I believe Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator (MSKLC) is the official solution for making keyboard layouts for Windows. I used it successfully to create my own layout with some common typographical symbols (such as « » ® © “ ” ’ ‘ —) readily available.

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/goglobal/bb964665.aspx