How to create a custom keyboard layout?

Question

What is the best way to make a keyboard layout for Windows?

In particular, the layout that appears in the list of "Text services and input languages" and does not buy expensive software.

I know about the creator of the Microsoft keyboard layout, but I think it is completely limited, since you cannot do simple things, for example, reassign a CapsLock key or number keys.

Answer 1

To reassign CapsLock or number keys, use remapkey.exe found in Windows Resource Resource Tools .

Keyboard layouts displayed in Text Services and Input Languages ​​cannot redo CapsLock or do anything that is not supported by Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator; the operating system just does not support it. Anything Microsoft can do with a keyboard layout you can do with Microsoft Layout Creator.

Answer 2

You can build it yourself! The keyboard layout is basically a .DLL with a function that returns a destination table. The drivers are provided with examples, and my Dvorak programmer comes with a source (which is not derived from DDK).

Answer 3

You have checked the new version of Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator, I think you can do a lot with this new version, for example, using the switch keys.

Answer 4

I'm a fan of Auto Hotkey , a free, non-fuzzy Windows tool for assigning macros to keys. If all you need is a few special characters, such as the correct quotation marks or emblems, this is great:

 #NoEnv; SendMode Input; !1:: { Send „ } return !2:: { Send " } return 

Answer 5

I understand that this thread is quite old and dead, but the answer provided is inaccurate.

You can do exactly what you want to do with KbdEdit . It is not free, but it is not expensive, and there are several versions with various functions.

I would also like to note that, despite the claims about the highest rating of answers, the operating system undoubtedly really supports many difficulties and settings that MSKLC cannot understand, process or support. There are - and always have been - MANY keyboard functions and behavior that are possible on Windows but not on MSKLC.

In some cases, you can create as much as possible using MSKLC, and then modify the source file in a text editor, and then build the DLL using the command line tools that come with MSKLC. But I understand that at a certain moment - with certain functions - these tools cannot even be used to create working keyboards. At this stage, you can refer to the driver development kit, but this is beyond my competence.

Fortunately, there is KbdEdit! It is extremely powerful, easy to use, and can replace any key on any keyboard with any other key except the Pause key, which is a limitation of Microsoft, but even this can be circumvented with AutoHotKey.

Hooray!