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55 lines
2.5 KiB
Markdown
55 lines
2.5 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: UK Extended keyboard with even more extensions
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layout: default
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created: 2020-01-06 11:57:02 +0100
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updated: 2020-01-06 11:57:02 +0100
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toc: false
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tags:
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- know-how
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- software
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- windows
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- keyboard
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- driver
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- layout
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- microsoft
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- umlaut
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- umlauts
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---
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Recently, I switched from a German QWERTZ to a UK Extended QWERTY keyboard layout - for easier
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access to characters for programming.
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The UK Extended keyboard is great in that it still provides means to type umlaut characters which
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I still need when writing German mails. For normal umlauts, you can type <kbd>AltGr</kbd> + <kbd>2</kbd>
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followed by any vowel to get e.g. `ä`, `ö` or `ü`. To the get the "sz" ligature, in Linux, you can
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type <kbd>AltGr</kbd> + <kbd>s</kbd> which produces a `ß`.
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However, after changing the keyboard layout on my Windows 10 work PC, I've noticed that the official
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UK Extended layout doesn't usually provide the `ß`. And while Linux people were smart and added it,
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in Windows <kbd>AltGr</kbd> + <kbd>s</kbd> does nothing.
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But luckily, Microsoft provides a small tool to create custom keyboard layouts: The
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[Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=22339).
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And it still works with Windows 10.
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During installation, make sure to install it into a path **without any spaces**, because otherwise
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you won't be able to compile the layouts. I've installed it into `C:\kbdcreator`.
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After installation, you can run it from the Start menu. Choose *File* --> *Load Existing Keyboard...*
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and look for "United Kingdom Extended" to not have to start from scratch.
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With the keyboard loaded, check the box "Alt+Ctrl (AltGr)" on the left and then click the "s" (VK_S)
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button. An input box should appear - copy&paste a "ß" (U+00df) and click "OK".
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Now also check the "Shift" checkbox on the left and click "s" again. This time, copy&paste the upper
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case version "ẞ" (U+1e9e) and confirm with "OK".
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You can now edit the Metadata by opening *Project* --> *Properties*. Remember, what you've configured
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as the "Description" and "Language". That's where you'll find the keyboard again later.
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Once you're satisfied, you can compile the keyboard by selecting *Project* --> *Build DLL and Setup Package*.
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This will build installers for 32bit and 64bit Windows. After that is done, you're asked if you want
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to open the output folder. Do this and double-click the `setup.exe` to install your newly created
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keyboard.
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With this installed, you can now open the Windows Control Panel and add this keyboard to your system.
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