X1BH beta
X1 Button Hook
Jan 3, 2010
By Jonathan King
GUI/Updater by DOCIOHN​
Special thanks to DOCIOHN who not only created the settings GUI and updater, he is providing the server space to make updating possible.
Description
X1BH is a successor of X1BC and the (kinda) released X1BC2. The program gives you the capability to assign different functions to the panel, ok, soft, and volume keys. Another feature is the capability to disable screen rotate when the keyboard slides. You can assign a button to toggle this feature. X1BC also supported adding fn functions to the keys on the keyboard that had none as well as making 'tab' or 'win' a ctrl key. This feature is not yet added to X1BH but will be in future versions. A new feature not seen in any previous program is a fix for the X1 keyboard repeat problem. While this is a hardware problem, X1BH can prevent key repeats that appear too rapid. Credit for the idea for this feature goes to J-Pro. Unlike the previous programs, X1BH runs as a service therefore not counting toward the 32 process limit. This was something suggested by Dandie.
Download
See the second post for the current version.
Background
You may have noticed that my enthusiasm for the X1BC and X1BC2 projects dropped for a while. The reason for this is that I was frustrated with the methods for trapping the keys. X1BC used SetWindowsHook to set a low level keyboard hook. The problem with this method is that many programs like to use this function as a means for trapping keys and only one program is allowed to have a low level keyboard hook at a time. Having X1BC running in the background all the time prevented some applications from working and just annoyed others. Most importantly, I found that it was not possible to send volume up/down keys. Next came X1BC2. Instead of a hook I used hotkeys. There were some things better but some things worse. The biggest problem was that 3rd party programs liked to use hotkeys too. And when they did, they robbed X1BC2 of its hotkeys. There was no way I know of to detect my hotkeys were taken. The only way to restore would be to restart the program.
Enter X1BH. It started by me thinking what would it take to rewrite the button driver. I disovered keypad.dll. It runs a service responsible for detecting keyboard interrupts and broadcasting the key event using keybd_event(). It seemed that keypad.dll had much responsibility though. I could not feasibly rewrite it. So I had a better idea. Leave keypad.dll to do all the grunt work and just hook the keybd_event() routine. By modifying the import address table at runtime I redirect keybd_event() calls to my own routine that gets to decide what really gets sent out. The result is total and exclusive access to keys before everything else. The possibilities are wide. While I do not modify keypad.dll in any way, I will probably release a CAB installer that includes it just because my hooking routine will only work with a certain version of the dll.
Download Current Version
More details will be added later. To use, install the CAB and soft reset. Use the settings program to change options.
Current issues/work needed:
- Capturing the panel button will not prevent the panel manager from opening. To stop this you must delete the panel manager reg key
- Ctrl key still to be added
Could use this one too.
Sounds great - I'd love to have any easy way to do all these things + CTRL is extremely useful imho and being able to decide which key to make CTRL would be awesome
Thanks,
Peter
Lovely, JKingDev.
I just hope put ctrl/tab alloc functions on the first priority to-do of X1BH release
I agree - I was considering installing another app that would add CTRL functionality, but that one was hard coded to the TAB key, but I use that for other functions, such as filling in forms - being able to set the Windows key for CTRL though would be perfect since I already have that duped as my XPanel key. So being able to decide which you want to make Ctrl, either TAB or Windows Key or something else would be great
Peter
Ctrl key is next on the todo list. It will support tab or win key. Maybe even sym or "au". The original functionality of the key can be preserved though. It can be something like if you hold the key while pressing a letter it is ctrl. If you just press it, it acts normal.
Quite nice work, JKingDev! Thanks for doing that!
P.S.: Thanks for the credit
Who will get to try this? I'd be glad to do it
LazyFunker said:
Who will get to try this? I'd be glad to do it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, just send me a PM with your email address. Though one tester has already indicated that they have not have any problems, so perhaps a public release is very soon.
JKingDev said:
Ctrl key is next on the todo list. It will support tab or win key. Maybe even sym or "au". The original functionality of the key can be preserved though. It can be something like if you hold the key while pressing a letter it is ctrl. If you just press it, it acts normal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds great - I use the Tab and Win keys daily, the Sym key weekly - and the au key never. So I'd be quite happy making that a permanent CTRL key, even if I lost all the au functionality. I'd be happy if I had to hit a key with the au to make it do it's original function, rather than having to hit a key with the au to make it CTRL .
If you have even some of these options that would make this program awesome imho .
Thank you,
Peter
pdamouse said:
Sounds great - I use the Tab and Win keys daily, the Sym key weekly - and the au key never. So I'd be quite happy making that a permanent CTRL key, even if I lost all the au functionality. I'd be happy if I had to hit a key with the au to make it do it's original function, rather than having to hit a key with the au to make it CTRL .
If you have even some of these options that would make this program awesome imho .
Thank you,
Peter
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm. How about au key is ctrl. Fn+au is regular au. There are so many possibilities. Should I really make all these options or maybe just the best 3 so that it doesnt become confusing.
JKingDev said:
Hmm. How about au key is ctrl. Fn+au is regular au. There are so many possibilities. Should I really make all these options or maybe just the best 3 so that it doesnt become confusing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That option, Fn+au for au would be perfect imho - It's up to you though how many options you put in, maybe you could have an advanced mode and a simple mode - with the 3 basic options in simple and then the option for users to set more advanced functions elsewhere.
My problem with the other software was that it was hard coded and had no other option - no matter what other options you selected in that program, TAB was always CTRL and that just didn't work for me. Having 3 options already puts you ahead of the game - allowing people to customize is great, but if you are making multiple releases I'd say stick with the options you've mentioned for now and add others as they are requested.
To me I can't think of any better combo than au = Fn+au & Ctrl = au
Peter
I am very pleased that the investigation of Keyboard System DLL has brought such results ... Can not wait for the official version, which will be need to compliment any Xperia X1
Wooooo! I've been waiting so long for this Jking! Finally! PM'ing right away.
Hey, I copy keypad.dll to Windows and I lost control of all buttons
I've just figured out the reason. I don't have keypad.dll in windows folder. I use Untamed 1.1 Rom (MrRush)
Sorry for the lack of updates in the past few days. PMs are being answered. I am on the Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team at Virginia Tech. We are participating in the EcoCAR Challenge (add us on facebook/follow on twitter!) and this past week I have been in Daytona Florida participating in the Winter Workshop event. It has been hard work and I had to take a break from X1BH but I think we did well.
Some new developments, there will be a UI setting app. Thats one reason I am holding back the release. Another XDA member is writing the program. They have chosen to remain anonymous. It will even have an updater built in. That same user is graciously granting some server space. I am very grateful for their effort and contribution. Version 1 will come soon.
It is great to hear that you are contributing to the earth! Looking forward to the release of X1BH~
great job!!!
great job man!!! greetengs to you and to Dandie! i must say i enjoyed reading posts and threads written one year ago. it is amazing how much passion you guys put in solving these problems. small problems for geeks but big problems for humanity can't wait to try cab. once again, big thanks!!!
P.S. If only Tesla was alive today we all wouldn't need petrol cars. sorry for offtopic.
x1bh
looks very compromsing and a very nice idea to hook keypad.dll directly ..
x1bc is still a great program to customize xperia keys but x1bh looks even better ... i would appreciate, if there was an easy way to create oem like using no hardcoded paths or paths read out from registry ..
i use x1bc and cook it into my roms .. btw, x1bc is great as it does not work only for x1
Related
I really miss my old s100 button mapping. Like in phone mode the right button brought up the call history. (most missed) Any way to get this function to work on the wizard ?????
Best regards Lars
gaustabl - can you try this app out for me.
Install it, go to your programs menu > vijay555 > vjcallhistory and give it a pop.
Please report ASAP if it needs work! Either here or on my website!
http://www.vijay555.com/index.php?Releases:VJCallHistory
WM5 devices only! Only tested on the Universal and emulator though.
If it works, make a donation or click on an ad on my webpage eh?
V
It works, but i still would like to map it to one of the left/right buttons.
Thanks for your reply
Best regards Lars
try following this post, it can be done
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=33212
If you specifically want it mapped to dpad left/right, I think ButtonMax is the only software around right now that lets you map on a per app basis and using the dpad.
Mapping to the soft menu is easy enough.
V
Have tried some programs now, Mortbuttons and buttonmax. Have a problem with getting rid of mortbuttons. It uninnstalls, but next time I start my phone i get a message that it cannot start mortbuttons, and hangs for a while.
Buttonmax seems to do what i want, but i cant find how to start the call history. I cant get it to record a macro either......
Best regards
Lars
Hi,
how to add a button like the 'Up' button in explorer? I think that they are called soft-key buttons. so how to add them? and are they supported in WM2003?
I also see Resco explorer implements them.
Thanks,
Mohammad
Ok, maybe I havent clarified things so I post a picture of what I want. hope you will help me
You can't.
The soft keys are a feature of WM5. They are actually regular menus. If you create an app with just two menus it will display like that on WM5 device and in the normal fashion on WM2003.
The only thing you can try is covering the menu bar and simulating the soft keys and the SIP button. Read about SHFullScreen on MSDN.
levenum said:
You can't.
The soft keys are a feature of WM5. They are actually regular menus. If you create an app with just two menus it will display like that on WM5 device and in the normal fashion on WM2003.
The only thing you can try is covering the menu bar and simulating the soft keys and the SIP button. Read about SHFullScreen on MSDN.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not quite true, you can have the same behaviour in WM2003SE, the only difference is that you have to do everything by your own.
In both OS, the so called menubar is in fact a toolbar. So in WM2003SE, if you want to have the same effects as in WM2005, you have to subclass the toolbar and use custom drawing. You also need to handle the SIP window, if you want to place it in the center. Of course, this is not straight forward...
Cheers,
.Fred
ok. now I know its possible. but can anybody provide some relevant links?? Thanks
mohgdeisat said:
ok. now I know its possible. but can anybody provide some relevant links?? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry I don't think you will find a lot on this matter on the net, I already made a dig, but not much found.
Anyway,
1) try http://www.pocketpcdn.com, especially the forums and look for toolbar, commandbar and shmenubar
this article will give you some hints: http://www.pocketpcdn.com/articles/right_toolbar.html
2) read msdn about toolbar subclassing and NM_CUSTOMDRAW handling
3) read msdn about shmenubar api
3) use Spy++ or related application to hook the menubar in wince and see what you get
4) make some tests and you will have something like that (full image in zip):
Cheers,
.Fred
Hi,
I have searched too much but found almost nothing about this issue. Please anybody has any article, link or sample project?? I need it very much.
Mohammad
mohgdeisat: what do you really need to know?
Start by making a project, and cosmetically program a custom menu bar/button bar to emulate the WM5 menu bar. It's not impossible, it's actually quite easy, but it is tedious.
Once you can do that, come back and show us.
Next step will be to patch it into your target app.
Realistically this is quite a tough task, at least if you want to generically patch soft keys into the whole OS, because softkeys (and menu bars) and prepared on a per app basis - the menu bar on the Today screen in Wm2003 is different to WM5 for example. You would have to parse in the WM2003 menu into your emulated WM5 softkeys, per app, and even then it would still not match WM5, because the WM5 menus have been reordered from wm2003 apps to match the Microsoft design guidelines for softkeys.
But start by emulating the softkeys in a standalone app, before thinking about the next task.
V
Yes VJ, I really need to make my first step to learn this stuff, and I will do it soon with god's willing.
I have First exams this week so I might start it next week and I will post what I get here to have your feedback.
Thanks all and good luck
Hey guys,
I developed a small application which adds functionality to the X1 keys and keyboard. The reason why I made this program is, that I can't find a decent button mapping tool out there that does what I want - that is:
Extend the normal keys with long press and assign programs/functions to it
Extend the keyboard with a Control key (Tab key is reassigned to control key)
Assign missing FN+Key combination with additional special character or applications
Assign the ok button with really closing an application, depending on your task manager
To achieve this, I was writing this small app which itself checks for specific key events and starts mort script files in case such an event happens. I chose Mortscript because it easily allows everyone to define about almost everything that is possible and the application doesn't need a fancy UI to configure the key events.
You can find a readme within the archive which describes the program in more detail and you can also find some example script files for MortScript as a starting point.
For installation, you have to copy the X1ButtonMapperScripts folder of the archive to your root (\) directory of the device. You also need to install MortScript which you can find at Mort's homepage (mort.sto-helit.de). MortScript is a small and powerful application which is often used and mature. After that, you have to start X1ButtonMapper.exe and then the specific key presses will cause the calling of the script files. When you did not encounter any problems (software is still in testing phase), you can copy a link to the X1ButtonMapper.exe into your \Windows\Autostart folder for automatic loading at reset.
My current configuration, just for example, is as follows:
Ok short press closes an application, Ok long press (~500 ms) causes an app to minimize
Long press of left softkey opens start menu
Long press of right softkey opens MortButtons
Long press of volume up opens comm manager
Long press of volume down opens SPB task manager (Alt+Tab)
FN+a/s/d/f writes special characters I miss on the keyboard (%_\€)
FN+y/x opens Wifi network selection and resco explorer (FN+C/V are unused)
I would appreciate to get any feedback about this software, if it works, what you like, don't like and desperately miss.
Please be aware that this software is free and you are allowed to redistribute it, but please don't change it and always distribute the whole zip archive and not the extracted files!
Please be also aware that this software is in a testing phase and may hang up your device and may even cause data loss (not happened to me yet but theoratically possible). So please backup your data and be aware that I can't be held responsible in case this happens!
Update: V. 1.2 now allows to keep the original OK button function without change and to use Fn+Tab for sending the original Tab key!
i havent used your program but when i was looking for one such as yours, i came across ae button plus. im not familiar with scripts and programing and so i find ae button plus a good program. its not free but for $8, i think its worth it.
otherwise, keep up the good work. we need people like you to get the most of of our phones.
Would it not make more sense to remap the au key rather then tab key to ctrl? I use my tab key for form entry.
AE Buttons plus cannot do what this program does, that's why I did the hassle to develop it. Also PQz2 doesn't do what I need. For example you can't assign FN+x combinations with AE buttons plus and you can't remap the ok button (at least it didn't work for me).
Regarding the tab key, I tried to make FN+Tab to send the tab key, but that didn't really work. Maybe in some next release it will work, but I still think that the Tab key is dispensible.
Regarding the scripts, it's really easy and you can find ready scripts for almost any task. Also I did include some examples as a starting point. The scripts offer a lot more flexibility than any of the button mapping tools existing, so, take the challenge, it's worth it!
Pyrojester said:
Would it not make more sense to remap the au key rather then tab key to ctrl? I use my tab key for form entry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did I miss something or does this remap ctrl to tab? That would be a HUGE thing in my opinion... And no, the au button is used here a lot...
Yes, remapping Tab to Ctrl is one of the fixed mappings it does. One of the most powerful things and something I really missed with AEButtons.
With Ctrl on the keyboard you get copy and paste, wordwise navigation with the cursor, Undo/Redo and wordwise delete/backspace. Check the readme in the Zip File for more details.
I also added Fn+DPad for PageUp/Down and Home/End - also something I really missed before.
Dandie said:
Yes, remapping Tab to Ctrl is one of the fixed mappings it does. One of the most powerful things and something I really missed with AEButtons.
With Ctrl on the keyboard you get copy and paste, wordwise navigation with the cursor, Undo/Redo and wordwise delete/backspace. Check the readme in the Zip File for more details.
I also added Fn+DPad for PageUp/Down and Home/End - also something I really missed before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Will instal later today...!!!!
Dandie said:
[*]Extend the keyboard with a Control key (Tab key is reassigned to control key)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and I am officially blind...
Can this program work alongside aebutton plus? That would be great as they both have big advantages. I know this version of the CE core of WM only supports one key hook and I am pretty sure aebp uses a key hook. Are you using a key hook here? Is anyone using both? Great work!
Actually I uninstalled AEButtonsPlus before I was starting the development of this application. There is indeed a limitation about keyboard hooks in WinCE and my program uses them - don't know about AEButtonPlus.
There is a software available which claims to remove this limitation of windows mobile - it is called HookMgr and you can download it for free - check Google. I did not test it nor would I recommend to install several applications using keyboard hooks - they will most likely interfere with each other.
What is it that AEButtonsPlus has that you miss with my application?
Dandie said:
Actually I uninstalled AEButtonsPlus before I was starting the development of this application. There is indeed a limitation about keyboard hooks in WinCE and my program uses them - don't know about AEButtonPlus.
There is a software available which claims to remove this limitation of windows mobile - it is called HookMgr and you can download it for free - check Google. I did not test it nor would I recommend to install several applications using keyboard hooks - they will most likely interfere with each other.
What is it that AEButtonsPlus has that you miss with my application?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did not know about that HookMgr software. Interesting.
I have not yet had the chance to try AEButtonPlus, but I believe it allows programming the short press and also double press of all the keys (was not aware of the ok key limitation). Is there a reason why you only provide long press options? Double press is not really necessary, but I would like to change the short press options. IIRC (I should probably stop making comments before my X1 even arrives but can't help it. so exciting) out of the box, only the short press of the soft keys is configurable. It would still be nice if you grabbed these so that I could configure all my buttons in the same place. Also, it doesn't seem that you provide a way to program the short or long press of the panel key. Would this be possible? Lastly, it might be good to make changing tab to ctrl optional and or offer another key to change. The addition of a ctrl key is great, but tab is also useful. The original renderings of the X1 back in January showed a ctrl key on the keyboard. Dont know who's idea it was to delete it.
I would love to help out. I could write a settings application for you that would store the options in the registry. Rather than running the scripts, it could look in the registry for what to execute. By default the registry values would just be the scripts, but users could change it to run an exe directly. I could also make a cab for it. The settings app would be in .NET. Let me know if this sounds good.
BTW, I think the ok and win keys would make good ctrl keys btw, as they are redundant to the keys on the front; ok button being my choice.
JKingDev said:
Is there a reason why you only provide long press options? Double press is not really necessary, but I would like to change the short press options.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I only provide the long press option because detecting double or even triple clicks would delay every button click and therefore reaction time, that's why I didn't realize it. I kept the short press of the keys (except OK) because they all make sense to me. You need the Softkeys, so their short press needs to be kept and the loudness up/down is essential in my opinion.
I also decided not to allow to remap the camera button because its handling is a bit difficult (two press levels) and I think the camera button is necessary when you really consider using the camera.
I also left the hang up and pick up buttons untouched because they already have short and long press actions (devicelock and handsfree) and I did not want to touch functions which are installed pretty deep into the system. I also like the function the way it is.
JKingDev said:
Also, it doesn't seem that you provide a way to program the short or long press of the panel key. Would this be possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure I did - actually I wanted to map it with opening the start menu but it can't be suppressed, not even by a keyboard hook! By the way, this is also the case with the symbol key - can't be remapped!
JKingDev said:
Lastly, it might be good to make changing tab to ctrl optional and or offer another key to change. The addition of a ctrl key is great, but tab is also useful. The original renderings of the X1 back in January showed a ctrl key on the keyboard. Dont know who's idea it was to delete it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, the ctrl button was one of the main reasons why I wrote this application. Also that the X1 keyboard leaves many Fn+Letter combinations unused which is just stupid. As I said, I wanted FN+Tab to send the tab key but that didn't work for some reason. Also I think that Tab is disturbing when writing because when touching it for accident you get holes in your text :/
JKingDev said:
I would love to help out. I could write a settings application for you that would store the options in the registry. Rather than running the scripts, it could look in the registry for what to execute. By default the registry values would just be the scripts, but users could change it to run an exe directly. I could also make a cab for it. The settings app would be in .NET. Let me know if this sounds good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually I don't see any problem with the scripts. They offer a lot more flexibility that a UI can ever give and for newbies the experienced could offer a set of reasonable scripts, so I don't see any issue with this. MortScript is easy to use and way more powerful than any button mapper UI on the market - why do people always want GUIs?
JKingDev said:
BTW, I think the ok and win keys would make good ctrl keys btw, as they are redundant to the keys on the front; ok button being my choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all, you can't separate between the ok key of the keyboard and the ok key on the front on the level of the keyboard hook, so it would be impossible to remap the one without the other. The win key is not redundant and therefore I decided to keep it because I find it very useful.
Dandie said:
First of all, you can't separate between the ok key of the keyboard and the ok key on the front on the level of the keyboard hook, so it would be impossible to remap the one without the other. The win key is not redundant and therefore I decided to keep it because I find it very useful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah. That stinks about the ok key.
Dandie said:
I only provide the long press option because detecting double or even triple clicks would delay every button click and therefore reaction time, that's why I didn't realize it. I kept the short press of the keys (except OK) because they all make sense to me. You need the Softkeys, so their short press needs to be kept and the loudness up/down is essential in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True. I wasn't really interested in double and triple. Just really the short. About the softkeys, normally I would not remap soft keys, but the X1 has a shortage of customizable buttons so I would like to change them.
Dandie said:
I also decided not to allow to remap the camera button because its handling is a bit difficult (two press levels) and I think the camera button is necessary when you really consider using the camera.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. On my tilt, I had short press opens camera album and long press opens the camera. Something similar would be interesting. Not a big thing though.
Dandie said:
Sure I did - actually I wanted to map it with opening the start menu but it can't be suppressed, not even by a keyboard hook! By the way, this is also the case with the symbol key - can't be remapped!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That stinks! Why do they insist on forcing panels on us? I do believe there is a registry key that can change what the panel button does though. You should look into that if you dont use the panels or just dont want a dedicated key. I am trying to find that info.
Dandie said:
Actually I don't see any problem with the scripts. They offer a lot more flexibility that a UI can ever give and for newbies the experienced could offer a set of reasonable scripts, so I don't see any issue with this. MortScript is easy to use and way more powerful than any button mapper UI on the market - why do people always want GUIs?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol. I guess its not necessarily a GUI but just options that would be good. You are right, the scripts are very flexible so no point in changing that. The only options I would really like is a choice about the ctrl key (possibly make the win key an option) and an option of whether or not to capture the short press soft keys.
Thanks for takin the time to explain all of your decisions. This is really great software! Hope I dont seem like I am asking a lot. Just some suggestions. Thanks!
JKingDev said:
About the softkeys, normally I would not remap soft keys, but the X1 has a shortage of customizable buttons so I would like to change them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can remap the Softkeys already in the button configuration of Win Mobile, but I personally wouldn't do it. Better to remap them for the today screen via registry and using the long press events from my software for additonal functionality. This way it doesn't interfere with the sytem at all.
JKingDev said:
That stinks! Why do they insist on forcing panels on us? I do believe there is a registry key that can change what the panel button does though. You should look into that if you dont use the panels or just dont want a dedicated key. I am trying to find that info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I think that's just the way it is integrated into the system. Maybe by some kind of driver or something. The "sym" key behaves the same way. We have to live with that fact.
JKingDev said:
The only options I would really like is a choice about the ctrl key (possibly make the win key an option) and an option of whether or not to capture the short press soft keys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The softkey can originally already be remapped and for the tab key the best solution would be FN+Tab = Tab. I will have a look into this again.
JKingDev said:
Thanks for takin the time to explain all of your decisions. This is really great software! Hope I dont seem like I am asking a lot. Just some suggestions. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, that's fine. I would actually like some feedback from people who tried the software. Anyone?
Here it is for those who want to know:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=448067
(Remap panel key)
I finally installed this today and it reminded me the about the good things the Touch Pro has that I previously owned. It truly amazes me that HTC does not put the ctrl key to their HW keyboards, it makes no sense to me.
I started to think that maybe it would be better to use the win key for this, win key kinda is there on top of the screen?
EDIT: and now I bothered to read posts above... fn+tab=tab could also be a good option.. After all tab is not used that often...
Great work on this, one of the best things made to X1 by XDA member so far...
At least someone having the guts to try my software - thank you for the positive feedback!
Regarding the Win-key, I wouldn't remap it because:
1. I'm using it often
2. The win key is often sent in combination with other keys and it will cause some side effects to remap it - that's why I gave up on this idea
When there's more feedback and some problems discovered that are necessary to change, I will have another look into this FN+Tab issue.
By the way, having Tab remapped to Ctrl also has a good benefit - accidental clicks on tab don't happen anymore.
Hmmmm MortScript messed up my OK button.
=======================================================================
New version 1.2 available here
=======================================================================
=======================================================================
Reviewed on gadgetmix.com: See the article
=======================================================================
If you have tried to play a game needing left and right key on an HTC Touch Diamond, you noticed that they are 2mm wide and if you click next to it, you get back to home page or to dialing menu etc...
So I've written a prog allowing you to lock these 4 keys actions and replace it by classical key event (VK_LEFT, VK_RIGHT, ...).
In that way you can play tetris, and use "Pick-Up" and "Hang-Up" keys for going left and right.
Link ->: DredSensor
To use it, you need:
1) An HTC Touch Diamond (it's the only one i have so i can't test it on other models)
2) Install the .cab
3) Reboot your HTC
4) Run a game (or app or ...)
5) Get your stylus out and back-in, in less than 1 second
6) Click "Yes"
----- A config window opens:
7) Check that Type = "HardKeySimul"
8) Click "Ok"
Now you can use (and eventually assign) your 'Home', 'Back', 'Pick-Up' and 'Hang-Up' keys in that game/app.
Actually, the 'Pick-Up' and 'Hang-Up' keys are always defined as Left and Right events.
Have fun.
Ps:
For people interested, the other "Type" in the config window are:
- "Launcher": allow you to quicklaunch 4 app (that you define in the config wnd) when you double tap (not click, just tap) on one of those 4 keyz
- "Scroll": allow you to scroll the current window by tapping those 4 keyz panel
- "KeySimul": allow you to send left/right/up/down events by tapping those 4 keyz panel
Sounds Great, will give a try....
If you can make this buttons to be assinged to other apps the whole time you'll be a hero
palmbluetooth said:
Sounds Great, will give a try....
If you can make this buttons to be assinged to other apps the whole time you'll be a hero
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In fact if you launch /Program Files/DredSensor/DredSensorCfg.exe, you can edit the "Default" config that applies every time no other config matches...
So if you set the Default config in "Launcher" mode, you can quicklaunch app from everywhere...
Actually, the Launcher mode works with "double tap" rather than click. But i can update it quite easyly to make it work on click if you want.
Dredger, can't wait to try this. This is my biggest gripe when playing games, and I didn't even think to post on here to see if someone could come up with something. I'll test today and let you know how it works!
Very Nice App, really works well.
The only thing is that I don't know how to add 'start', 'ok', answer and hang up to the buttons, do you have any suggestions?
Thanks, I'm loving it.
not able to download. all it gives me is a lot of squares and nothing else.
clever idea, finally i can play racing game on my diamond, thanks!
A very nice and welcome idea. Unfortunately, it doesn't work with my Raphael. Tried it with Kevtris: succesfully installed, soft-reset, started the game, and configured DredSensor for the game, but when I push e.g. the phone up key, it still brings up the phone application. I didn't change any of the settings in the DredSensor config screen (I did check that "HardKeySimul" was selected).
Hope you can make it work for Raphael too, it is so annoying trying to play games with the d-pad, when you accidentally press the home/phone/etc. keys all the time.
Work perfect on Diamond but... it doesn't work on Touch HD... (error.. Unable to load HTC API DLL)
aBE-One said:
A very nice and welcome idea. Unfortunately, it doesn't work with my Raphael. Tried it with Kevtris: succesfully installed, soft-reset, started the game, and configured DredSensor for the game, but when I push e.g. the phone up key, it still brings up the phone application. I didn't change any of the settings in the DredSensor config screen (I did check that "HardKeySimul" was selected).
Hope you can make it work for Raphael too, it is so annoying trying to play games with the d-pad, when you accidentally press the home/phone/etc. keys all the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pinele said:
Work perfect on Diamond but... it doesn't work on Touch HD... (error.. Unable to load HTC API DLL)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, i only have an HTC Diamond so unless you offer me a Raphael or HD, it's quite hard for me to check anything.
For the touch HD, maybe you should download HTCAPI.DLL somewhere, put it in /Windows and try again.
For the Raphael, on the related article on gadgetmix.com (see 1st post for the link), it seems it works on HTC Touch Pro so it should work on yours.
palmbluetooth said:
Very Nice App, really works well.
The only thing is that I don't know how to add 'start', 'ok', answer and hang up to the buttons, do you have any suggestions?
Thanks, I'm loving it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, i think i don't understand exactly what you would like to do...
Start, Ok etc are default functions on that buttons so you have nothing to do to get them doing that...
Thank You
Hey! This looks like a really good program idea. Its not all that simple to figure out. I'm also not too sure there is an alternative way to customize the program.
Once I had it figured out, it works really well. Kudos for the update. My Diamond is getting much more reading use now. I just found that the d-pad was pretty much useless until now.
Also kudos on the stylus idea. Pretty nifty way to activate the menu.
Two thumbs up. I'm looking forward to any updates in the future.
Dredger97 said:
For the Raphael, on the related article on gadgetmix.com (see 1st post for the link), it seems it works on HTC Touch Pro so it should work on yours.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, maybe they're using another ROM or something. Are you sure they tested it with a Raphael? Maybe they just tested it with a Diamond and presumed it would work on a Raphael (I'm not familiar with the site, so I don't know what devices they're using).
Anyhow, after some more testing, it is actually partly working. That is, sometimes the phone/hang up buttons work as left/right, sometimes they don't. With the phone button it's about 50 % working, 50 % not (in Kevtris). For some reason the hang up button is working more frequently, something like 80 % working, 20 % not.
Also tried it with another game - Marble Worlds 2 demo - again only a part of the key presses are registered correctly.
I understand it's hard for you to test anything when you don't have a Raphael, but if I can do anything to help (apart from donating my Raphael to you ), just ask.
aBE-One said:
Well, maybe they're using another ROM or something. Are you sure they tested it with a Raphael? Maybe they just tested it with a Diamond and presumed it would work on a Raphael (I'm not familiar with the site, so I don't know what devices they're using).
Anyhow, after some more testing, it is actually partly working. That is, sometimes the phone/hang up buttons work as left/right, sometimes they don't. With the phone button it's about 50 % working, 50 % not (in Kevtris). For some reason the hang up button is working more frequently, something like 80 % working, 20 % not.
Also tried it with another game - Marble Worlds 2 demo - again only a part of the key presses are registered correctly.
I understand it's hard for you to test anything when you don't have a Raphael, but if I can do anything to help (apart from donating my Raphael to you ), just ask.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You probably run another program that uses the same sensor API and that conflict with DredSensor.
Don't you have G-Scroll or something similar installed?
Is it possible to assign the home and back hardware button to make left and right soft keys?
aBE-One said:
A very nice and welcome idea. Unfortunately, it doesn't work with my Raphael. Tried it with Kevtris: succesfully installed, soft-reset, started the game, and configured DredSensor for the game, but when I push e.g. the phone up key, it still brings up the phone application. I didn't change any of the settings in the DredSensor config screen (I did check that "HardKeySimul" was selected).
Hope you can make it work for Raphael too, it is so annoying trying to play games with the d-pad, when you accidentally press the home/phone/etc. keys all the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On my Raphael program works perfectly. My ROM is PROven ROM 1.09 PLK.
Claus72 said:
Is it possible to assign the home and back hardware button to make left and right soft keys?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not in that first version but as it seems people find it usefull, i'll probably update it to let you choose which key or app-launch you affect to each button.
Dredger97 said:
Not in that first version but as it seems people find it usefull, i'll probably update it to let you choose which key or app-launch you affect to each button.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you do that, can you consider left and right softkeys? That'd be a significant advantage, as I find the lack of the two keys annoying in some apps (esp java ones).
On a side note, does the software poll for input? While I doubt it would affect the battery that much, I'll probably limit my usage to be on the safe side.
Great app!
g2tl said:
When you do that, can you consider left and right softkeys? That'd be a significant advantage, as I find the lack of the two keys annoying in some apps (esp java ones).
On a side note, does the software poll for input? While I doubt it would affect the battery that much, I'll probably limit my usage to be on the safe side.
Great app!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So if I understand, you'd like the possibility to simul left or right softkey by clicking on 'Home' and 'Back' for example?
On the side note, it doesn't poll for input, but it polls every second to check which app is on the foreground. The input job is event based.
Dredger97 said:
So if I understand, you'd like the possibility to simul left or right softkey by clicking on 'Home' and 'Back' for example?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
correct
On the side note, it doesn't poll for input, but it polls every second to check which app is on the foreground. The input job is event based.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which I'm assuming is not happening when the screen is off (through power button)?
Thought I would contribute to all the apps for the HTC Diamond. This is a Lottery Number Generator program. It works by shaking the phone. Nice graphical UI.
Full QVGA, VGA, WVGA and WQVGA support
HOW TO USE
Shake the phone to generate numbers.
If you want to select some manual numbers or scroll to something, click the button under the wheel.
Click the lock button to lock all numbers in place (prevent accidental shakes)
To Exit the program press Middle button on the NAV pad or the X in the right corner.
Settings:
Choose Number of wheels to show (1 - 6 NOT including the red one)
Set the Max Number for each wheel
Red Wheel can be enabled or disabled
Red Wheel can be set to be unique from the other numbers, or any number
Adjust the shake sensitivity - 5 Being the most Sensitive and 15 Being the least
All comments are welcome, this is my first official working piece of software.
Enjoy
UPDATE: VERSION 2 IS OUT
The updated version has a customization screen, so you can adjust just about every setting. Try it out and let me know how it goes. Good Luck !
REMOVED Most of the Update History, if you want it, it's in the History.txt
UPDATE: VERSION 2.8
Some updates for WQVGA
Added some sounds
Added a manual spin button
TODO:
Add favorites for multiple lottery
Keep the comments coming, always glad to hear feedback
If you really like my app(s) or win big, feel free to share
hermanm said:
Thought I would contribute to all the apps for the HTC Diamond. This is a Lottery Number Generator program. It works by shaking the phone. Nice graphical UI.
HOW TO USE
Shake the phone to generate numbers.
If you want to select some manual numbers or scroll to something, click the button under the wheel.
Click the lock button to lock all numbers in place (prevent accidental shakes)
Middle button on the NAV pad exits the program.
All comments are welcome, this is my first official working piece of software.
Enjoy
P.S. As I have time I will add more lottery games
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know why but it works only if I move the directory in Internal Memory.
Anyway funny app!
Ah, in italy the numbers of lottery are 90!
Thank you.
thank you much for the reply, i will look into the problem. i tried to install to device and to internal storage, and it seemed to run both ways. how did you install it?
Thanks for sharing. Worked fine for me installed to the storage card. hope you don't mind if I share a little bit http://www.fuzemobility.com/your-lucky-numbers-just-a-shake-away/
glad it worked for you . big thanks for putting a word out there
Sweet I'll split the first winnings with you....lol
lol, thanks...
Hi:
Seems like a great, and fun idea, I installed it to internal memory, it installed fine. But after install, I shake, and shake and nothing. I did make sure it is not locked, but still the wheels don't change.
Also, would you consider adding a 7th digit for Powerball?
Thanks!
Wow, a great application Maybe you could also create the Dice rolling application such as the one advertised with LG Cookie.
Although I can get it to work its EXTREMELY hard and random I must shake it like a madman and it hurts I'm afraid I might throw it and break the tv or something lol... I second the 7th number thanks awesome app
i will add the option to change the sensitivity of the shake, i tested it on the diamond, not sure if there are any significant differences. i will add the 7th wheel as soon as i have time, it will be optional under settings.
hermanm said:
thank you much for the reply, i will look into the problem. i tried to install to device and to internal storage, and it seemed to run both ways. how did you install it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I chose Internal Memory, but the program was automatically installed in the phone memory.
...Then same problem of "cincy1020" (post #8)
After moving the directory of the app to Int Mem all works fine.
hi thanx for this cool app/game i gonna use it for bingo can it also say the numbers like a bingo caller
that might be an idea, something to add further down the road. thanks for trying it out
Nice app hermanm
Loved the fluidity and animations!!!
Nice job, thanks very much. How about the option to set the number range, in the UK balls are 1 to 49. Looking forward to winning.
UPDATE RELEASED !!!!
thanks to all who have commented on the program, hope to hear more about the new version.
great app - but couple of issues.
Am running on a touch hd and even with sensitivity at 15 (max) it takes a lot to shake and get numbers generated.
Secondly there have been multiple instances when I have generated the same numbers in more than one reel - this isnt acceptable when playing the uk lottery for example. Can something be done so that no same number is generated more than once...
hi hermanm. Cool app, i'm trying it on my HD. Just a couple of notes
- i know it's designed for Diamond, but works well also on HD (480x800): would be possible to have it full screen?
- on HD we have no nav pad, so there's no way to quit. Would be possible to have an "exit" button or an "exit area" somewhere on the screen?
- i think sensitivity setting is not so intuitive: low sensitivity rate (at least on my HD) means higher g-sensitivity, and vice-versa. With sensitivity @15 i shake without results, with sensitivity @6 the wheel runs
cheers
oops, sorry, actually that's the way i had it as far as sensitivity goes, lower number = more sensitive. i guess i should change that the other way around. as far as full screen for hd i will see what i can do, also will add an exit button. thanks for the feedback.