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COURAGE:-) MDAIII - Key remapping project

Hi all ...
we need some (maybe a lot) help from programmers to try to remap the hard keyboard keys from mda3.
As many guys know, we are a lot that we buy the mda3 with german hard keyboard layout... and now that we all have an english os, we must remap the key and symbols.
Any idea will be appreciated, we have all files from german os an english os.
Nobody want to broke the keyboard to glue the buttons in other place...
Nobody now how and where can order another english keyboard and replace it phisically.
Remain two thinks:
1. find the file with the layout and remap the symbols via hex edit
2. recompile a new layout (and here may be usefull for future progs)
All idea wiil be apreciated, all guru's invited
Please help us ... we can not take advantage of the new hard keyboard in this mode.
Thanks all before and...
COURAGE FOR ALL NEW POSTS THAT MUST BE UPDATED(POSTED) !!!
DenisJ

Actually, keys and numbers are fine. It's punctuation that is almost impossible to use unless you have a good memory
From what I remember of the old thread that got wasted, a few things were looked at but it seems harder than it should. You would think one or two files transferred from the PDA2K to the MDA III, like a keyboard dll and a mapping data file, would do the trick but, as usual with engineers, they made it harder than it should.

I can suggest another way for this remapping: just writing a kind of program lookind for keypressings and substitute them with another keystrokes.
I've already done it for Russian keyboard (project home page is http://ae.inc.ru/bahrus.html , but it is Russian only). Current state is "beta".
I can do some key remappings this way. But I need to know which of the keys should be replaced with which one. Or replacement table may be simply saved in config.

I'll do a tabel with the replaced hex value ...
You need only the xex value for this or need more ?
Thanks a lot
Denis

Let's try (before find all remapping simbol) to remap only the two letters z and y.
Symbolic constant Value (Hex) keyboard equivalent
VK_Y 59 Y key
VK_Z 5A Z key
like ... if '59' then '5A' and viceversa...
If we can remap this two letters, we can remap all we want.
Thanks a lot
Denis

german to english
since the site posts went down i have received my mda3 in german of course and would love to know how to flash it with an english rom, all other threads however speak of xda3nbftool which i can't find anywhere, also many of the links for required files don't work. any help please?? thank you

Re: german to english
paulmurphy777 said:
since the site posts went down i have received my mda3 in german of course and would love to know how to flash it with an english rom, all other threads however speak of xda3nbftool which i can't find anywhere, also many of the links for required files don't work. any help please?? thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go here:
ftp://xda:[email protected]/
and look for Bluangel folder.
Regards

Ok, I decided to implement more general solution for this problem and develop customizable hardware key-remapping software. This application wil allow to remap not only BlueAngel built-in keyboard but almost any hardware keybord connected to wince (some of my friends use Luch or Flexis external keyboards with PDA).
Hope first beta version will appear next week.

thank you!, sure i'll be back with more questions though!

Fantastic!
I'm excited about this

AE said:
Ok, I decided to implement more general solution for this problem and develop customizable hardware key-remapping software. This application wil allow to remap not only BlueAngel built-in keyboard but almost any hardware keybord connected to wince (some of my friends use Luch or Flexis external keyboards with PDA).
Hope first beta version will appear next week.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, that's great news. (exactly what I wanted to hear!) Keep up the good work. (you rock)

AEKMap is available at http://ae.inc.ru/aekmap.html
To make "remapping" you need:
- install the program;
- run Start - Programs - AEKMap Settings and choose "AZERTY MDAIII with English ROM" in first combo box
- set three other optional layouts to "unassigned" and/or unassign "switch" key.
If you want to create specific layout, you may start with editing one of the existing. Use \Program Files\AEKMap\AEKMapScan.exe to define keyboard pseudo-scan codes.
To find unicode character codes use Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Character Map on your desktop
This program may be closed with popup menu on system tray (lower-right corner of today screen).
And I'm definitly sure that some bugs are in this utility now. Let me know if you find them
Also send me with your layouts to be published on site (will appear in a days)
P.S.: AEKMapper may be used to remap almost any external or built-in hardware keyboard recognized by system.

AWESOME!
Thanks for doing this. If i understand correctly, what's needed now to get the German MDA III keyboard mapped correctly, following the imate english rom installation, is to:
use AEKmapscan.exe to identify all the keys that need remapping
then look up the correct unicode characters for the desired keymapping
enter them into a .AEK file and put into the Program Files/AEKMap directory on the MDA III.
If i get some free time today, that's what I'll do. If anybody beats me to it, please post!
thanks again, AE!

So here is a mostly working layout file for the MDAIII German. The only thing that seems to be not working is the semicolon/colon key just to the right of the space bar. that key seems to have no shifted mode, according to aekmapscan.exe
also: if aekmapscan.exe is running, this appears to stop the keyboard from working at all in applications. it needs to be stopped entirely.
Thanks again for this great tool!

It is always nice to know your job is needful to someone
As for the problem with semicolon: changing CapsLock/Shift processing flags should help:
HookShift 1
HookCapsLock 1
Probably I'll find a better solution for this later, but now I can't...
Official project home page will be available at http://ae.inc.ru/aekmap.html

thanks for the tool, works great. Can you add an option to not have the mapping name on the bottom, i.e. DenisJ Layout? It covers up the wireless icon that I use to turn Wifi on & off.
thanks again for the app

you already can turn it off. that's the "hint" option in the settings.

A parts from thanks the great job from AE, i wan't to try to ask a question:
In the registry there's a part...
HKCU/Keyboard Layout that have a profile value..
Could it be usefull..
My German Mda3 have... preload/1 set to e0010409.
Can anyone post the english Pda2K value...
Rups..

Bug report
AEKMap works quite well, thanks to the developer!
But...
I noticed that, when AEKMap is on, you can´t adjust sound/volume levels from the external button on the left side of the screen. Is that a bug or a feature? :roll:
Second thing is that if you switch the AEKMap off, you can switch it on only by softreset. Is that ment to be?
Can anyone confirm those features, or is it just in my MDAIII?
-Jigi

Sorry guys but i just arive from my fisrt (this year) snowboard weekend
AE many many thanks from me and (as can you see) from all other guys with the same german mda3...
I just tryed some days ago to begin something like this using EVC++ 4.0 ... but it's too much to study for an as400 programmer
This will be surrely in my startup programs for a log live time of my mda3...
Surelly we will ask you some options in future ...
Another lot of thanks
DenisJ

Keyboard evolution

Guys it's just me or it is a fact that the progress of windows mobile is really slow?
I mean there are several versions of windows mobile, 6.0 got our before 5.0 was even running well enough (not to mention several bugs in 5.0 that were barely fixed) and I wonder: wouldn't it be better to stick to an OS version for a longer period of time and make it run really good?
I won't go into a debate mac vs pc or anything of this kind, but isn't the standard windows mobile interface a bit boring? I like the iPhone for the innovative interface and design only, or another model I've seen m8 from meizu.
Something should change, not just a fancy gradient in the titlebar and the menubar!!!!!
I have a problem with the keyboards too. The MS sip is the same since 2002 pocket pcs!!! And that is really a lot of time of using the same cra.ppy system, and forgive me for overreacting but I think entering texts is a main concern, we all use these devices mainly as communicators or for various information storage that needs to be edited, moved from a location to another an all these actions require user input...
I know there are lots of experienced users on this forum, so this is a call to all of them , I need their suggestions in what would be the best choice for a text-input software for Pocket PCs?
I was using the SPB keyboard for about 2 years now I really like it, it's just that it covers all my text (yeah, I know it's fulscreen ), and I would like to try some similar variants: concern #1 : it must have big keys or it's useless to me.
Thanks for your time, everyone!

I'm using ZTA4 SIP, it's mainly for Chinese input but also can be used for English typing.
Cheers,
Vibranze

thanks, any link for that?

xda-addict said:
Guys it's just me or it is a fact that the progress of windows mobile is really slow?
I mean there are several versions of windows mobile, 6.0 got our before 5.0 was even running well enough (not to mention several bugs in 5.0 that were barely fixed) and I wonder: wouldn't it be better to stick to an OS version for a longer period of time and make it run really good?
I won't go into a debate mac vs pc or anything of this kind, but isn't the standard windows mobile interface a bit boring? I like the iPhone for the innovative interface and design only, or another model I've seen m8 from meizu.
Something should change, not just a fancy gradient in the titlebar and the menubar!!!!!
I have a problem with the keyboards too. The MS sip is the same since 2002 pocket pcs!!! And that is really a lot of time of using the same cra.ppy system, and forgive me for overreacting but I think entering texts is a main concern, we all use these devices mainly as communicators or for various information storage that needs to be edited, moved from a location to another an all these actions require user input...
I know there are lots of experienced users on this forum, so this is a call to all of them , I need their suggestions in what would be the best choice for a text-input software for Pocket PCs?
I was using the SPB keyboard for about 2 years now I really like it, it's just that it covers all my text (yeah, I know it's fulscreen ), and I would like to try some similar variants: concern #1 : it must have big keys or it's useless to me.
Thanks for your time, everyone!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try the skinnable Resco keyboard, several options available. See screenshot and download link below.

xda-addict said:
thanks, any link for that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I attached here, try it yourself
Instead of choosing the unknown chinese character, you can choose Abc so you will be able to type in English.
Cheers,
Vibranze

hotdog53 said:
Try the skinnable Resco keyboard, several options available. See screenshot and download link below.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Something happened to screen shot. Here's another one.

hotdog53 said:
Something happened to screen shot. Here's another one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the post!
Unfortunatelly Resco has too small keys, almost like the default SIP, I can't use it
vibranze I'm gonna try it asap!

vibranze said:
I attached here, try it yourself
Instead of choosing the unknown chinese character, you can choose Abc so you will be able to type in English.
Cheers,
Vibranze
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Vibranze thanks for the efforts but the ZTA4 SIP DOESN'T WORK ON MY DEVICE.
I have attached a screenshot, it loads, but it is unusable. Still it seems to have pretty small keys, but I'm not sure as it doesn't load properly, what could I do?

wow Guys, check this out:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=322441
now this is a keyboard!

xda-addict said:
Vibranze thanks for the efforts but the ZTA4 SIP DOESN'T WORK ON MY DEVICE.
I have attached a screenshot, it loads, but it is unusable. Still it seems to have pretty small keys, but I'm not sure as it doesn't load properly, what could I do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
Attached is the screenshot taken from my device. Altough it's a bit small but if you use stylus it's far far better than the normal keyboard, and some more it's also support keypad typing
Cheers,
Vibranze

Input > auto suggest = useless?

With my TyTN = Hermes and WM6.0 the autosuggestion of words seems much better than the Raphaels (at least in the hardware keybord stance).
Can someone explain why that is or if I have haven´t understood the utility or something else right?
With TyTN it basically suggests 4 alternatives in a diagonal way, it can be one word or SEVERAL words in a row, depending on what I´we written before. And you choose from them with the upp and down arrow keys. Simple and quick.
With Raphael it suggests several ONLY singular words horisontally, and if it´s not in the dictionary it automatically chooses another word than the one you´we just written (!?). Slow and awkward.
Also - who is behind this solution? Windows Mobile 6.1 or is it HTC Raphaels unique solution?
Thanks in advance
/Danne

Anybody have an opinion or information on this matter?
At least the system is a part of WM6.1 or if it´s Raphaels unique solution? Because I´m thinking about buying a Kaiser with WM6.1 instead and wonder if it has the same solution.

Sorry, no additional info, but I'm in the same boat so to speak.
I find it completely useless, specially since I don't always use English in my SMS messages, and I found that it becomes a nightmare if it doesn't find a match and then forces my word to something it thinks it should be.
What I cannot understand is that under Settings-Personal-Input-Word Completion - I have DISABLED it, but it still friking tries to complete my words, even in keyboard mode???
Do you know of another place to disable this dastardly excuse of a feature?

HAH!
Found it! If you want to disable it completely, the do the following:
1) make sure you disable it under settings - all settings - personal - Word Completion.
2) When you open a new message, bring up the virtual keyboard and look for the button that reads "ABC T9" - it has a toggle on the button, make sure it is on "ABC" and NOT T9 -voila!
Now I can SMS again!

I´m glad I was not the only one being irritated about this. But at least it´s possible to turn it off, so thanks for posting the solution Piie
I actually returned my TP because of this and severeal other reasons but I´m thinking about buying it again or some other WM6.1 phone. So do you know if your solution to turn if of works with Word Mobile documents as well?
And still, if somebody knows if it´s part of Raphael or WM6.1, please let me know.

Agreed 100% on the uselessness of word completion feature on the TP. On mine, the T9 feature actually slows the sms application so much as to make it completely unusable. This is probably my biggest complaint with this device.

Yip, following the steps as posted also removes the predictive text completely for Word ( and all other apps I have used so far)...

Thanks piie

I believe its part of the TP keyboard (SIP) not WM6.1 , when i had my kaiser with wm6.1 this "IRRITATING" issue was not there, but when i installed the diamond keyboard on my kaiser, this thing came out...... now its part of the TP because of its keyboard.......... so its HTC

I was getting annoyed with the behavior described in posts 1 and 2, disableds the whole thing too (I had an Excalibur before and it seemed to work far better on this particular aspect).
However, I decided to give the TP's T9 another shot and started changing it's configurations and finally got rid of the annoiance related: when on a text field, bring up the T9 options by pressing "Fn" + "Space", select "T9" settings and on the screen that appears uncheck the "Spell Correction" and "Auto-substitution" boxes.
Now I'm using the word prediction (T9) again just like I used in my old device, tipying much faster! (specially because I commonly write in portuguese and my keyboard is the UK one...).
Hope this helps you guys.
Cheers.

Sweet!
So you can still have predictive text, but remove the actual "irritant" of it overriding your word if it doesn't match it's dictionery - seems like that is the answer to your problem Danne?
For me - I really don't care for ANY kind of prediction - most often than not, even in English, the suggestions are maybe 30% usefull if that...

Great!
Yes, this is solution and now I know it´s part of Raphael/Diamond and not WM6.1!
Still, the Hermes WM6-solution with prediction of several words based on what you previously have written seems better. But I am happy with this!
I guess that´s the last words for me in this discussion.
Thanks guys!

just wondering how to disable word completion without installing htc ezinput, because at input settings by disabling it, doesn't work at all.

here's everything you need to know on how to get back to the old style autocorrect and change your dictionaries: http://www.fuzemobility.com/?p=1527

That however breaks your hardware keyboard
sym key will stop working and you can't get pound and euro sign using FN key....
see my thread here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=470647

Using hardware keyboard to switch languages

Hi all,
I've had my TP for about a month now and it's great and thanks for all the great info and tweaks on the board.
I have Chinese (CE Star) installed as a selectable writing language so I was wondering is it possible to use/remap the hardware keyboard to switch between writing languages like on a desktop PC (ALT+Shift) since it is much more convienient using keys to switch than taking my hands off the keyboard and pulling up the SIP.
I tried using PQzII but I couldn't get it to work, so no luck there.
Any suggestions?

Any ideas?

If you can get a program that will switch with a command line, at least on the AT&T Fuze, there are a number of shortcuts the keyboard driver looks for on keypress, and if you have that shortcut there it will execute that rather than the pre-programmed function. People are using this to remap the short PTT button and long PTT button.
I have not looked at a Touch Pro keypad driver dll, so I don't know what shortcuts it's looking for.. but that's one idea

Oh great thanks for the suggestion, but aside from a registry editor, I'm not familiar with other programs which alter how the TP works.
Is command line similar to "Run-->cmd" on windows?
Also, I got my phone in Hong Kong; English OS with the Chinese software installed; it's an unlocked phone so dunno if that will make a difference with your suggestion.
Are there other programs similar to PQzII; like many others have said, the keyboard would be SO much more useful if it can be mapped. Thanks again.

Yes, the command line for a shortcut behaves the same as Run -> Cmd on windows, you provide arguments in the same manner: programname.exe -argument
So if you could find a program that would switch writing languages with an argument like -Chinese and -English, you could create a shortcut .lnk with that command in it.
Then, name it to whatever the keypad.dll is looking for, and it would execute that command instead of the default one.
If you'd like me to look into this further, I can disassemble the keypad.dll and determine which buttons can be remapped in this manner (on the fuze it's Music, SMS, IM, CV, Contacts, Calendar, Messages, Web, Long/Short Power, Long/Short PTT)

Great, thanks for the offer, but no need to do that. Seems like it'd take a good deal of time unless you feel so inclined to haha; perhaps I'll try PQzII again or maybe not.
But anyways thanks again!
I guess a question to everyone else that switches between typing languages...how do you change languages? Do you have a shortcut or do you also, like me, change languages through the SIP menu?

My Mobiler alternative?

For some reason, I can't use my keyboard to input any data through My Mobiler, nor can I use the copy/paste feature. My keyboard only works on the home screen for dialling numbers!?
So basically, is there another way to connect to my Vox (6.1) using my PC?
Is there a VNC server for the phone?
Shame My Mobiler doesn't work. It's great to use, but keyboard input is my main concern.
A program called True connect works perfectly but it's ugly and costs £15!!
Thanks

I'm having the same issue as well on a HTC S620... Seems to not work on keyboard input

crushedlizard said:
For some reason, I can't use my keyboard to input any data through My Mobiler, nor can I use the copy/paste feature. My keyboard only works on the home screen for dialling numbers!?
So basically, is there another way to connect to my Vox (6.1) using my PC?
Is there a VNC server for the phone?
Shame My Mobiler doesn't work. It's great to use, but keyboard input is my main concern.
A program called True connect works perfectly but it's ugly and costs £15!!
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there are several other apps like that, umm.. soti pocket controller, sparus software everywan, I think the everywan is free.

Guys, always make sure you thoroghly read the articles I post. I've dedicated a full roundup to this question some 1-2 weeks ago; see http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=496296

A suggestion
Menneisyys said:
Guys, always make sure you thoroghly read the articles I post. I've dedicated a full roundup to this question some 1-2 weeks ago; see http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=496296
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you add Celio Redfly Desktop Mobile Viewer Beta to your comparison list, please? I don't know if it is worthwhile but as you are a pro in this field and pride yourself in doing this sort of testing, if only for the sake of thoroughness ... it would satiate my curiosity.
Thanks,
Wovens

wovens said:
Could you add Celio Redfly Desktop Mobile Viewer Beta to your comparison list, please? I don't know if it is worthwhile but as you are a pro in this field and pride yourself in doing this sort of testing, if only for the sake of thoroughness ... it would satiate my curiosity.
Thanks,
Wovens
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, I will. I'll let you know when it's ready. (Some days at least.)

wovens said:
Could you add Celio Redfly Desktop Mobile Viewer Beta to your comparison list, please? I don't know if it is worthwhile but as you are a pro in this field and pride yourself in doing this sort of testing, if only for the sake of thoroughness ... it would satiate my curiosity.
Thanks,
Wovens
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Started testing it. So far, looks VERY cool.

I'm having a problem with the mute, I manually muted my phone (on the touch pad) and later I un-muted it with the mouse by clicking on the my mobiler display and now my phone is stuck with the speaker off, if I answer a call I can't hear anything (but they can hear me). Any suggestions on how to fix this? I really need help.