Model F F77 Ultra Compact -- keymap query

[niftyprose]

Hello guys, my first post here in ages (I married an early G80-1800 with blues and settled down for a few years).

My Xmas present was a Model F Keyboards F77 Ultra Compact -- one of the last Carolina Blue examples, which I'm using to type this. It's easily the best keyboard I ever used, better even than the original Model F which I used in the late 80s. Joe was extremely patient when I questioned the delivery details and I don't want to bother him with a detailed setup query. I'm guessing someone here will have dealt with the same issue.

I opted for the "partial HHKB" setup, which splits the right shift key into a SHIFT key and a FN key. At present, the FN key is mapped to shift and the SHIFT key doesn't do anything, according to the keyboard test website I used.

I'm guessing that I will need to re-flash the board controller with a layout file -- no problem if so, but I don't want to go down that route unless I have to. Two other possible explanations:
i. SHIFT key isn't registering (I doubt it, as I got four or five keys working that didn't register at first and gave SHIFT the same treatment).
ii. the default numlock setting is, ah, *idiosyncratic* -- you hold down the blank key between ALT GR and CTRL and then press CTRL. Seems unlikely, but maybe there's a similar weird sequence to activate the SHIFT?

Anyway, keen to learn from others' experience... NP.

[Ellipse]

I am a bit confused on what you are saying. You may want to flash Vial on your keyboard, so you can check the mapping and adjust it by going to the web site Vial.rocks and following the manual on the project web site (see the manual for instructions).

You would use the file "f77 ansi HHKB 2U Backspace block2 0-9.bat" and then make a few adjustments for ISO (shorter left shift, etc.), since there is no premade NathanA bat file for your rarer layout choice.

The manual notes that any key set to Fn will not be detected by keyboard tester web sites, so I definitely recommend reading the manual from beginning to end before anyone sets up their keyboard.

[niftyprose]

Thanks, Ellipse. My problem was that I had no way of telling if the non-registering SHIFT key was the expected result of "different" keyboard hardware or the unexpected result of a non-working key mechanism. (Such uncertainty may grate on the sensibilities of more experienced users, but it's a perfectly natural response to unfamiliar tech.) It sounds like you think it was the former, so I will follow the process you suggest. NP.

[terrpn]

Hi there, I am another fellow F77...........couldn't be happier. Download Microsoft Powertoys and afterwards scroll and look for input and you will see where you can remap any key to whatever you want:>) https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/xp89d ... n-US&gl=US

[niftyprose]

Thanks, terrpn. I would do exactly as you say but I'm on Linux. Will update here in due course in case anyone else is in the same boat.