Feature Request - For Wireless Apple Keyboard
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DoubleCommand presently supports the mapping of the "enter" key to a "forward delete". I use this for my MBP built-in keyboard. I just received one of the new aluminum wireless keyboards to use with my MBP, and in place of the "enter" key, there is a right "alt/option" key. It would be very nice to be able to map this same key location to a "forward delete".
Similiarly, I'd like to see the ability to change the right Alt/Option key to a Control key.
When I bought my MacBook Pro I was mortified to discover that there wasn't a Control key on the right, but a completely useless, totally redundant Enter key. It's impossible for me to use key bindings involving the left-hand side of the keyboard (such as Control-A to move to the beginning of a line) without a Control key on the right. And forget about using emacs. DoubleCommand kept me from having to return the MBP.
I just bought a new Apple Wireless Keyboard, like jrittvo, to use with my Powermac, and it has the same problem. But instead of a redundant Enter key there's a second Alt/Option key. If I can't change it into a Control key this baby has to go back to the Apple Store!
jrittvo:
I had the exact same problem. On my MBP I was using enter to forward delete, but my new wireless has that damned second option key. Because of this, I downloaded the source code and added the right option to forward delete. I also added caps lock to forward delete. It seemed a logical thing to do as there is a capslock to delete.
Cody:
I read your request there and took a few minutes to add right alt to control as well.
I would be happy to put the install package for my changed version of doublecommand online for you to download if you'd like. I'm still waiting to hear back from Michael about getting my changes incorporated into the svn repository.
I would be very grateful to have a copy of the compiled install package you've created with these changes. A link would be wonderful, or perhaps you can email it to me at joelonmac at perfect-flight dot com. Thanks!
jrittvo,
I received a response from Michael and I've sent my changes on to him for review. Hopefully they will make it into a release, but until then, here is a link to my package for you to download. Please note, this has not been reviewed or tested by Michael as of yet, so it may have some problems I didn't catch. On the other hand, I use this functionality I added, all day, every day. :)
http://opensource.slightlysane.com/doublecommand/DoubleCommand-1.6.6b1-Sastira.dmg
Enjoy!
-Sastira
Thanks so much for making this available. And sorry it took so long for me to see your post with the link!
jrittvo,
You're very welcome! Please let me know how it works for you!
Also, I've noticed that using the right alt as delete seems to have some problems when using it inside windows via VMWare. I haven't tried it on parallels and I'm still trying to figure out why it has problems. It may work just fine for you, however. I don't know. :)
-Sastira
Sastira, thanks for taking the time to make those changes! That's awesome! I downloaded the source and skimmed it to see if I could make a quick change to support the extra alt key myself, but I realized it was going to take me longer to unravel the code than it was worth to use the wireless keyboard =)
Unfortunately, when I try to install your patched version from the DMG you provided, the installer just hangs. Activity Monitor shows that kextunload is just spinning with 100% of the CPU, and eventually the whole system destabilizes and I have to hard reboot. I'm on Leopard 10.5.1.
Hopefully Michael will review your changes and roll them into the official release -- soon, I hope!
Thanks again =)
Cody,
You're very welcome! I'm having a blast working on this project!
In fact I've got a pretty good proof of concept implementation of an oft requested feature working right now. I'm waiting to hear back from Michael about some issues I'm having though.
As for your problem, I'm not quite certain what it could be that is causing this.
Do you have DC installed right now? If yes, I would recommend following the uninstall instructions to remove it prior to attempting to install mine.
After you've followed the instructions, make sure to reboot so the kext is no longer loaded into memory. After that, try installing again.
If that doesn't work then something else is going on. Let me know! :)
-Sastira
Sastira,
Aha, the DoubleCommand preference pane was missing from System Preferences, but the folder was still in StartupItems. I removed it and restarted and the install went without a hitch.
And now I can turn the right option key into control! It works! This is great -- now I can finally use this wireless keyboard!
Thanks!!!
Cody,
I'm glad it worked out for you!
Enjoy the wireless keyboard! Also, please let me know if you have any problems with that remap you are using.
-Sastira