'Fn' key on external keyboards

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arjunrc · #1 Post by **arjunrc** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 10:38 am

Hi all,
Is it possible to 'emulate' the Fn key of the thinkpad T43 on an external keyboard. I use an external monitor and a keyboard in office. They keyboard is a standard 101 key keyb - I wanted to know how I could map one of its keys to the thinkpad Fn key/

thx
arjun

davidspalding · #2 Post by **davidspalding** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 1:41 pm

Keyboard Customization utility under ThinkVantage allows for external keyboard mappings to FN + ___ features. Might hit the Lenovo site and look for downloadables supported on your 'Pad, or use Software Installer to get the latest version.

#3 Post by **GomJabbar** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 1:45 pm

The Keyboard Customizer Utility provides simular functions. You can map certain keys (R/L: Ctrl, Shft, Alt) with other keys to provide the built in IBM Fn + key functions of the ThinkPad on an external keyboard.

Keyboard Customizer Utility for Windows 2000/XP - ThinkPad General

davidspalding · #4 Post by **davidspalding** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 5:36 pm

Holy update, Batman. New version dated 12/21/2005.

Minor fixes though:

Symptoms corrected by Version 1.3.22.0
(Fix) Domain Logon problem fix
(Fix) German update installation problem fix

Maybe I should've said, "Achtung, Batman!"

arjunrc · #5 Post by **arjunrc** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 10:44 am

Hi folks,
the tool is not working.

I installed the program as well as the other tools it needed (making sure I uninstalled the prev. version). I launched the keyboard manager and enabled the external keyboard mapping. However, none of the combos work (nothing happens - its almost as if some driver to trap those hot keys is not there)

regds
arjun

#6 Post by **GomJabbar** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 12:13 pm

The following is from the Keyboard Customizer Utility readme file.

Notice:
-------
- This package requires the following additional package.
- ThinkPad Hotkey Features for Windows 98/Me/NT 4.0/2000/XP
Version 1.03.0373 (or later). Update install is recommended.
If your system does not support ThinkPad Hotkey Features for
Windows 98/Me/NT 4.0/2000/XP, use ThinkPad On Screen Display
Utility for Windows Version 2.30i (or later).

- PM Driver for Win98/Me/2000/XP(ACPI)
Version 1.25 (or later)

The following is from Keyboard Customizer Utility help.

* Note: External keyboards with both USB and PS2 connectors are supported.

* Note: If you attach either an IBM(R) USB Keyboard with UltraNav(TM) or an IBM USB Travel Keyboard with UltraNav to your ThinkPad computer, the For Use with External Keyboard tab is not available. Special functions unique to the ThinkPad computer, such as Access IBM, volume control, and wireless radio control, have already been assigned to keys on these two external keyboards.

Select the For Use with External Keyboard tab.

To activate the alternate settings on your external keyboard, select the checkbox for Enable key assignments. If you are using a USB keyboard, those settings are automatically enabled when you attach the keyboard, and automatically disabled when you detach it. If you are using a PS/2 keyboard, click the Options button and clear the checkbox for Automatically disable external keyboard assignments when a USB keyboard is removed.

* Note: Use of the Automatic option to enable and disable customized key assignments is fully supported on USB keyboards only. You cannot use the Automatic option for enabling or disabling customized keyboard assignments on PS2 keyboards. If you are using a PS2 keyboard, do not select this option.

davidspalding · #7 Post by **davidspalding** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 1:35 pm

A "gotcha" I encountered was that just clicking CLOSE didn't apply your settings. You have to click APPLY, then CLOSE. Or ... APPLY, then test it out.

arjunrc · #8 Post by **arjunrc** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 2:10 pm

Hi folks,
thanks for your responses. I finally found the problem - I have a PS2 keyboard. I just had to unplug it once and plug it back again and things started working !

regds
arjun

#9 Post by **GomJabbar** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 2:20 pm

Congrats!

davidspalding · #10 Post by **davidspalding** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 6:21 pm

I seem to recall that you didn't want to hot-swap PS/2 items while the system is running. USB, good; PS/2 bad. YMMV.

arjunrc · #11 Post by **arjunrc** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 8:30 am

Gaaah. My joy is short-lived.

It looks like those same darn mappings are presevered when I am using my thinkpad laptop too.

I checked my keyboard mapper utility:

"For use with thinkpad keyboard" -> Enable key assign.. - UNCHECKED
"For use with external keyboard"->Enable key assignments - CHECKED
Options->Automatically disable keyboard...... - UNCHECKED

I shut off my computer in the office, undocked my computer, brought it home, started it without the docking station, and voila - the keymap persists

*mumble* *mumble*

regds
arjun

#12 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 2:19 pm

I have a feeling that the Keyboard Customizer Utility will only work like you want with a USB keyboard.

You might want to play around with setting up different Hardware Profiles in Windows. I haven't done this, so I can't help much. Go to Start > Control Panel > System > Hardware > Hardware Profiles, to set it up.

arjunrc · #13 Post by **arjunrc** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 6:05 pm

Indeed - I guess I may as well buy one of those PS2-USB adapters for my keyboard. thanks !

regds
arjun

'Fn' key on external keyboards

'Fn' key on external keyboards

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