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you've taken the step up to the Dvorak keyboard, now it is time to go all
the way and switch to open source software...Linux, BsD etc. the
difference is about the same as Qwerty vs Dvorak.
Bob
On Fri, 9 Feb 2007, Rob Smith wrote:
> Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2007 19:46:18 +0000
> From: Rob Smith <[email protected]>
> Reply-To: [email protected]
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [altkeyboards] Re: New to the list
>
> Hi Keith,
>
> > 4- Windows shortcuts. CTRL C X and V were created out of convenience - to
> > QWERTY typists. When doing large data manipulation, I used to be able to
> hit
> > them one-handed with ease. It is now quite a fiasco.
>
> This is a common complaint that is easy to work around without using any 3rd
> party software.
>
> Quick bit of background: every key on your keyboard creates a scan code.
> Based on your currently loaded keyboard layout, Windows converts this scan
> code into a virtual key. Windows also converts this scan code, in
> combination with the current shift state, into a code point (i.e. a
> character).
>
> The important thing to realise is that the virtual key value is used for
> things like short-cuts and controls in computer games, whilst the code point
> value is used for text entry. These values can also be set totally
> independently...
>
> Now, for me at least, I don't think of short-cut positions or computer game
> controls in terms of letters - I think of them in a more geographical qwerty
> sense (as that is how they are generally designed). So what I prefer to use,
> is a keyboard driver where the scan codes correspond to virtual keys as with
> qwerty, but where the scan codes correspond to code points as with dvorak.
>
> Fortunately it's really easy to make your own keyboard layout that does
> this, with the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator (MSKLC) that you can freely
> download from http://www.microsoft.com/globaldev/tools/msklc.mspx (now with
> 64bit OS support for anybody that cares).
>
> Start it up, load in a qwerty layout, manually change the code point
> (character) of each key to what you would expect in dvorak, click on build,
> install the new keyboard layout by double-clicking on it, and then switch to
> your new keyboard layout. Done and done.
>
> (Note - the MSKLC interface, for some unknown reason, has no way of altering
> virtual key values - but if you save your keyboard layout, you can manually
> edit the .klc, and then load it again in MSKLC to achieve the same thing.
> You don't need to do this to do what I described in the previous paragraph,
> but it's useful know if you want to experiment.)
>
> Possible problems:
> - You're using a hard wired dvorak keyboard. In this case you will need to
> manually edit the .klc file.
> - You're using linux or mac. You should be able to apply the same
> principle, but I've no idea which files you need to edit or software that
> you need to use.
> - You only want to change the copy, cut, paste and undo keys. Again, you'll
> need to manually edit the .klc file.
> - You don't want to use this keyboard driver for everything. Just install
> two different drivers, and set up a shortcut to toggle between them.
>
> I hope that this helps somebody - I've been using my keyboard like this for
> a couple of years now, and it works great. Very occasionally I'll come
> across some badly written software that accidentally uses the character
> value instead of virtual key for dealing with shortcuts, or that
> accidentally uses the virtual key (!) instead of the character value for
> dealing with text entry. I can honestly say that it's not been a problem
> though.
>
> I would put up my keyboard layouts for others to download, but my own
> keyboard layout is somewhat non-standard - it's based on a UK qwerty layout,
> with character values (code points) remapped to dvorak, and with the home
> positions for my little fingers moved to the bottom row (the UK qwerty '\'
> and '/' keys - it wouldn't work on a US keyboard, or a non-staggered
> keyboard).
>
> Maybe if somebody finds this technique useful, then they could make
> available their modified keyboard layouts. Or if my instructions are
> confusing, then I could put together a couple of suitable keyboard layouts
> if anybody wants to try them.
>
> Good luck!
>
> Rob
>
> On 07/02/07, Keith Ratliff <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks, everyone for your replies and support.
> >
> > I am still using, and continue to use, the Dvorak layout.
> >
> > Here have been my frustrations
> > 1- I have a HUGE problem with vowels. Either I skip entering them
> > alltogether or I enter the wrong vowel. As time progresses, this issue is
> > starting to work itself out.
> >
> > 2- I switch up M and W CONSTANTLY!! This is perhaps my largest source of
> > continual frustration. I know that eventually, I will simply get over it,
> > but for know, when I do that, it's almost embarrasing! "Oh yeah, I'w mith
> > it!"
> >
> > 3- I find myself doing the before-and-after thing. IE, if a word ends with
> > a
> > letter sequence the next word starts with, I run them together sometimes.
> > Like "Figueroa Road" becomes "figueroad"
> >
> > 4- Windows shortcuts. CTRL C X and V were created out of convenience - to
> > QWERTY typists. When doing large data manipulation, I used to be able to
> > hit
> > them one-handed with ease. It is now quite a fiasco.
> >
> > 5- My Qwerty keeps asserting itself. I start typing half a sentence just
> > fine but somewhere through it, it all turns to garbage as instinct took
> > over
> > and QWERTY'd out the other half. This mostly happens when I start feeling
> > as
> > though I can relax a bit.
> >
> > 6- I am a looker. Uh oh, get a rope! But right now, my suffers TOO much
> > when
> > I don't look at the keyboard. I used to be a looker for QWERTY and about
> > seven years ago forced myself to stop. Once I get used to Dvorak, I'll
> > stop
> > looking too. But for now, I find it necessary just to be productive.
> >
> > All that said, I aw still loving it. I mean, I can pop out some words and
> > completely surprise myself with how easy they are to type on this
> > configuration! Shall we talk about dentists or stone or aeons - anyone? =)
> >
> > And I most certainly do not hurt anymore from typing. I used to get what I
> > would call wrist-lock after a full day of typing - where my forearms would
> > get so tight that I couldn't type faster than MAYBE 15 WPM just because I
> > became incapable of pressing the keys any faster. Since I have switched,
> > this hasn'n even come close to hinting it might occur. And man is it nice
> > not to hurt. =)
> >
> > I have also kept up with the Web sites and ather stuff you all have sent -
> > thanks for sending them!
> >
> > I do have some feedback on all of it.
> >
> > ABCD - might be a good resource for typing lessons but their online format
> > is killing me. I stopped. Additionally, they really need the services of a
> > Website design person.
> >
> > TypingByTouch.com -
> > I have a lot of feedback on this site and much will seem even nitpicky. I
> > can provide it if you want, but in short, I appreciate what you are trying
> > to do with it but it doesn't present well. Additionally, it has some faux
> > pas that lend it less credibility than it deserves - mostly in language
> > and
> > its lack of non-IE brower support.
> >
> > That said, I do think it has potential and you should keep working at it!
> >
> > I guess I am saying that I see it as "first draft" material. It needs to
> > be
> > shorn up now.
> >
> > Typematrix -
> >
> > Appealing. But I have a hard time convincing myself to replace my current
> > keyboard at home, which is designed for gamers (which I am) or convincing
> > my
> > work to get me one at this point of just learning a new input style. (Go
> > back to QWERTY would be the argument)
> >
> > But give me a year or two and such an argument would have weight... I just
> > might go for it then...
> >
> > One BIG thing they would have to do IMO though, would be to add a ten-key
> > pad and to remove the enter/backspace from the middle. Even though it is
> > frowned on, I do sometimes cross over and press the opposing letter with
> > the
> > wrong hand, especially when using shortcut keys.
> >
> > Windows support of Dvorak.
> > While windows does support Dvorak, if you have multiple users and want to
> > leave QWERTY input installed, some programs ignore the fact you are on
> > Dvorak and go QWERTY on you anyway! Java is a HUGE offender.
> >
> > And switching back (like by using the language bar) works - for that
> > session. Then it goes right back when you bring the offending screen back
> > up.
> >
> > Eventually, I just removed the other input profile and it now works great.
> >
> > As for QWERTY being banned, I disagree. People who already use it should
> > be
> > allowed. What should happen instead is the standards for accreditation of
> > schools should require all labs to offer both input styles, with hardwired
> > keyboards that could accept Qwerty and hardwire that to Dvorak as an
> > option
> > and to require any typing instruction to be taught only in Dvorak.
> >
> > In fact, Once I become better at Dvorak and my children as well, I will at
> > least try to get it as an option in my local school. (That they would at
> > least inform parents of the benefits of Dvorak and teach Dvorak to those
> > who
> > would be willing to learn it.) I don't have high hopes it will go over
> > well,
> > but I will at least try.
> >
> > Whew! I've typed quite a bit.
> >
> > I'll keep checking in.
> >
> > Keith, in Tucson
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
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