[haiku-bugs] Re: [Haiku] #6442: AltGr should have a separate keycode
- From: "pulkomandy" <trac@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:06:22 -0000
#6442: AltGr should have a separate keycode
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Reporter: rq | Owner: pulkomandy
Type: enhancement | Status: assigned
Priority: normal | Milestone: R1
Component: Drivers/Keyboard | Version:
Resolution: | Keywords:
Blocked By: | Has a Patch: 0
Platform: All | Blocking:
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Comment (by pulkomandy):
You are mixing things up.
Ok, so : AltGr should always be the 'option' key, that is, level-3 shift.
Alt is, in the default settings, a Command key. Coming from linux/windows,
you may want to swap that with control. There is a button just for that in
the Keymap preflet.
Let's admit you do that. You get :
* AltGr as the Option key : same as in Windows, acts as a level-3 shift
* Alt key as control key : unused except in terminal
* Both control key as Command key : trigger application shortcuts as in
windows.
* Win key : doing different things, not particularly useful.
Now, if you happen to :
* Lack both win key (such keyboard exists) : you can still use Haiku
* Lack an AltGr or othewise have a single Alt key (may happen, but didn't
saw much of these) : you can still use Haiku
* Have a single control key (Amiga and I believe Sun keyboards) : you can
still use Haiku.
Yes, it is a trick. Yes, it is not the good way to solve it. Yes, it is a
waste of both win keys.
the proper fix is :
* First, recognize there are different keys doing different things :
currently we have Control (ctrl), Command (Alt), Option (AltGr), and we
don't have any modifier that maps to Win.
* Before introducing this new modifier (or compose or whatever), there is
no need swapping the other keys around. Whatever you do, it will always
feel illogical to someone.
* Once the win key are assigned a meaning and use, they will stop
duplicating the function of other keys, which is not what they should do.
You are both telling us to :
* Forget about all keyboard legacy and ways of use from any operating
system (having Alt and AltGr being different keys)
* Forget about the way BeOS did it
* Also use something that is different from other OS (Alt and AltGr doing
the same thing)
and then you complain about users getting lost ? Or maybe you don't, but
others will. It's confusing.
I'm not opposed to changes, there IS something wrong, but don't try to
replace a workaround with another and fix the real problem : we lack a
modifier constant or some other use for the Win key.
Swapping Alt and LWin will make you happy, but prevent someone else to
trigger any keyboard shortcut : problem not solved. I don't care, as I
have an LWin key (but no RWin) on this laptop.
Look in the keymap preflet :
* IBM Laptop : only one LWin key, no RWin
* Kinesis : no win-key at all (and this is not a 15 year old keyboard).
At least 3 of Haiku devs use this one. With mmu_man Model M, this makes 4
angry devs.
* Typematrix : lacks RWin.
Your "solution" just doesn't fit for some of these. It's not that it
wouldn't work on a regular keyboard, it's that it will not work on
something else. You can't rely on these win keys being there, and that's
why they are put to functions we can live without :
* duplicating other keys, or
* Level3 shift for keyboards that don't need it.
As these keys are useless, yes, you are allowed to complain and tell they
should be used more. They need their own modifier keycode ; and they
should be useable on their own. But they will not have a nessential
function, as some people just can't use them. A compose key or an user-
magic-shortcut configurable key can fit. A vital function like Command
can't.
--
Ticket URL: <http://dev.haiku-os.org/ticket/6442#comment:11>
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