Using the Windows Key in a Macro

Product Line: ControlPad 682 and 683 programmable PS/2 and USB keypads. Difficulty Level: Moderate to Advanced

Who does it affect?

ControlPad 682 and 683 users who wish to use the Windows Key as a (similar to Shift, Ctrl or Alt).

What is the issue?

The ControlPad firmware and MacroMaster software was originally designed to use the Windows key for opening the . More recently has introduced the Windows key as a traditional modifier. A list of common Win key modifiers can be found here: http://www.seoconsultants.com/windows/key/

The Workaround

The keypad will support the modifier function as long as the macro mode selected is Literal. In Literal mode you must enter in the Macro exactly as the keypad should play it including all up and down codes. This will probably require you to investigate key codes to some degree. It will help if you have read the entire User Manual.

Before describing the workaround, it is worth noting that the Custom Keypad Definition file (.CKD) can be viewed and edited in Notepad. Sometimes this is the easiest way to do it. This document will explain the workaround using MacroMaster and also using Notepad.

Example 1: Win + D using MacroMaster

This example demonstrates creating a macro to hide and show the desktop using Win+D.

1. Click on to start a fresh macro and then change the mode from “Default (Auto-Sense)” to “Literal (Advanced)” as show in the image above.

17741 Mitchell North, Irvine, CA 92614 USA Tel: 949-833-3355 Fax: 949-833-0322 Sales: 800-822-4333 www.genovation.com [email protected] 2. Using the mouse, click on the following MacroMaster Virtual Keys: Left Windows Key, D, D, Left Windows Key. You should see the following:

3. Click on the second d. The cell should turn blue. Now click on and choose Insert Break Code (F0). You should now see the following:

4. Save this file using under a new name like WinKeyTest1.ckd. It might be educational to view the underlying key codes at this time. Right-Click anywhere on the grid and choose “View Key Codes as Hex”. The macro now looks like:

5. Click to download the file to the keypad. When the download is finished, press the ControlPad key that you programmed and verify that it works as intended.

Example 2: Win + E using Notepad

This example demonstrates creating a macro to launch the Windows using Win+E. We will start off by creating the macro using MacroMaster, then we will edit it in Notepad.

1. Click on to start a fresh macro and then change the mode from “Default (Auto-Sense)” to “Literal (Advanced)” as show in the first image on page 1.

2. Using the mouse, click on the following MacroMaster Virtual Keys: Left Windows Key, E, E, Left Windows Key. You should see the following:

3. Save this file using under a new name like WinKeyTest2.ckd.

17741 Mitchell North, Irvine, CA 92614 USA Tel: 949-833-3355 Fax: 949-833-0322 Sales: 800-822-4333 www.genovation.com [email protected] 4. Run Windows Notepad, change the “Files of Type” box to say “All Files” and then open the file you just saved. It should be located in (or similar):

C >> Program Files >> Genovation >> MacroMaster683 >> Macro Files

5. Ignore the first section titled [GLOBAL_PARAMETERS] and look at the first key section called [KEY0].

[KEY0] KeyType=0 Level_1_Name= L1_MacroMode=3 L1_AutoRepeat=0 Level_1_Codes= e01f2424e0f01f Level_2_Name= L2_MacroMode=0 L2_AutoRepeat=0 Level_2_Codes=

6. The “L1_MacroMode=3” indicates Literal Mode and the keycodes are located on the line “Level_1_Codes=”. What we need to do is insert a break code between the two E keys. Which one is the E key? Have a look at Appendix A in the owner’s manual. The Appendix lists all of the key codes.

7. After reviewing the table you can see that the E key is scan code 24 so what we need to do is insert a BREAK code (F0) between the two 24 codes. You must use lower case, use no spaces and don’t insert an o by accident. The line now becomes:

Level_1_Codes= e01f24f024e0f01f

8. Save this file and reload it into MacroMaster. You should then see:

17741 Mitchell North, Irvine, CA 92614 USA Tel: 949-833-3355 Fax: 949-833-0322 Sales: 800-822-4333 www.genovation.com [email protected] 9. It might be educational to view the underlying key codes at this time. Right-Click anywhere on the grid and choose “View Key Codes as Hex”. The macro now looks like:

10. Click to download the file to the keypad. When the download is finished, press the ControlPad key that you programmed and verify that it works as intended.

17741 Mitchell North, Irvine, CA 92614 USA Tel: 949-833-3355 Fax: 949-833-0322 Sales: 800-822-4333 www.genovation.com [email protected]