switching ctrl and fn keys

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rbsrao79 · #1 Post by **rbsrao79** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 8:57 pm

Hi,
I just got a new t60. I'm used to the ctrl key at the left most edge and usually use my palm to depress that key. Is there a thinkpad provided tool ( in ms windows os) to swap the fn key with the ctrl key ? If not is there a recommended external s/w to do this ?

Rajeev

ramian · #2 Post by **ramian** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 11:47 pm

The Keyboard Customizer Utility can't do this, but you can try Keyboard Layout Manager.
http://www.klm32.com/KbdEdit.html

cheers!

snife · #3 Post by **snife** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 3:48 pm

I'm not sure that will work - i tried to manually change the key using the scancodes in the registry previously but the Fn key didn't seem to function like any of the other keys - switching ctrl and alt was easy but I could not find a way to switch the fn key with anything.

ramian · #4 Post by **ramian** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 7:17 pm

Sorry. Since I've never found the need to change the assignments of any of my keys, I've never actually tried out that program and thus didn't know that it wouldn't work with the Fn key. I actually always prefered the Fn and Ctrl keys where they are ever since I've owned notebooks.

Hope you find something that works.

rbsrao79 · #5 Post by **rbsrao79** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 7:42 pm

Couldn't really find anything that can change mapping of fn key. Looks like I'll have to get used to it.

Thanks

Rajeev

snife · #6 Post by **snife** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 10:27 pm

ramian wrote:Sorry. Since I've never found the need to change the assignments of any of my keys, I've never actually tried out that program and thus didn't know that it wouldn't work with the Fn key. I actually always prefered the Fn and Ctrl keys where they are ever since I've owned notebooks.

Hope you find something that works.

I'm in agreement - so many years using thinkpad notebooks that the buttons seem in the right position to me - I looked into it for someone else.

rbsrao79 · #7 Post by **rbsrao79** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 11:53 pm

Once you are used to it, it will always be the right position. I guess, I was trying to avoid the torque required to make the change from my hp (dv1000) to thinkpad.

I don't know if its just me or if its for all "ctrl is left most corner key" users, but the tendancy is to use the edge of the palm to depress the ctrl key rather then using a finger, allowing me to keep my four fingers hovering over s-d-f-g area. I figure it might be difficult for people with large hands to do what I do.

I don't know which is better from an ergonomics standpoint, but I'll ask our ergo department next time I see them.

Rajeev

SKYravefever · #8 Post by **SKYravefever** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 11:57 pm

I'm w/you, Rajeev. I prefer the ctrl key on the farthest left, but I guess having it as the 2nd left keeps you away from stretching the hand in a south-west direction.

HockeyZ39 · #9 Post by **HockeyZ39** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 1:56 pm

So no one knows a way to do this? My T60p is my first IBM and it is super annoying!

frankpm · #10 Post by **frankpm** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 1:53 pm

I second this. Has anyone come up with/across a hack for this? I've been an emacs user for over 10 years now, and let's just say running emacs and having that blasted Fn key were Ctrl should be is kind of like trying to play the piano with your pinky and ring fingers duct-taped together!

Thanks. Usually I don't let small-seeming things like this bother me. In this particular case, it's so bothersome I'm actually considering mcguyver'ing something to "hang over" Fn that instead presses Ctrl when I hit it =)

Frank

HockeyZ39 wrote:So no one knows a way to do this? My T60p is my first IBM and it is super annoying!

bigtiger · #11 Post by **bigtiger** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 2:12 pm

I think that has sth to do with the built-in firmware. Remember you can use the keyboard without XP. I am afraid it is not customizable.

Well, at first, I am annoyed by the position of the FN key. Now, I am pretty much used to it, after about 9 months of usage of ThinkPad keyboard.

I come from the Dell world.

DavidNY · #12 Post by **DavidNY** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 3:20 pm

I don't know about the Fn key, but I use

http://www.5starsupport.com/download/remapkey.exe

to turn the Windows key into an Alt key on my T60 and it works like a champ!

foodle · #13 Post by **foodle** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 4:14 pm

I use a little utility called KeyTweak to remap my keys. It even can remap the page forward/back keys near the arrow keys.

snife · #14 Post by **snife** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:22 am

foodle wrote:I use a little utility called KeyTweak to remap my keys. It even can remap the page forward/back keys near the arrow keys.

Does it work for Fn?

HockeyZ39 · #15 Post by **HockeyZ39** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:46 am

I tried the above program and had not luck. =/

It has an option to hit the key you want to change and then hit the key you want to change it to, and that still did not do the trick.

kwramm · #16 Post by **kwramm** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 1:16 pm

http://www.randyrants.com/sharpkeys/

this may work. i know that it at least recognises the fn key

HockeyZ39 · #17 Post by **HockeyZ39** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 2:50 pm

You were right about it seeing the FN key, but when you try to re-map it the same thing happens as with the other program... Nothing... =)

EDIT: Are there any programs that can change key bindings on the fly? I want to set up a profile for gaming but I don't want to have to restart every time I want to do something else.

HockeyZ39 · #18 Post by **HockeyZ39** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 2:06 am

anyone? =)

Jibu · #19 Post by **Jibu** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 11:29 pm

I just got a new thinkpad yesterday also and this is the only problem I am having with it. Should I just try to get used it? I spent about 10 years being used to the ctrl key being on the far bottom left, so this is a bit of an annoyance... but the ONLY annoyance at this point

switching ctrl and fn keys

switching ctrl and fn keys

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