BeckettFan

This no doubt qualifies as a real niche-area issue, but I use WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS in PocketDOS, and I have yet to figure out a way to get my Stowaway Bluetooth keyboard ("universal" not "Executive," and Dell-branded) to give me keypresses for the F1 through F12 function keys.

I don't like having to bring up the PocketDOS keyboard to access the F1 - F12 keys.

Two questions, really: is there a way to remap the Stowaway BT keyboard to give me F1 through F12 (as on a computer keyboard)?

Alternatively, is there a PDA keyboard out there that's compatible with the X50v that offers F1 through F12 (or even the old array of F1 through F10) keys?

Thanks,

BeckettFan

cravaus

Here is my solution:
One way to do this is using VJKeyPress.exe (google it) and assigning shortcuts to each function key, store them in \Windows\Start Menu\Programs, then you can then assign the shortcut to each of the function keys on the TO BT Keyboard.

The short cut string would look like this for F3: "\Program Files\vijay555\VJKeyPress\VJKeyPress.exe" 114

Each of the function keys are the following:
112 VK_F1
113 VK_F2
114 VK_F3 (green key)
115 VK_F4
116 VK_F5
117 VK_F6
118 VK_F7
119 VK_F8
120 VK_F9
121 VK_F10
122 VK_F11
123 VK_F12
124 VK_F13
125 VK_F14
126 VK_F15
127 VK_F16
128 VK_F17
129 VK_F18
130 VK_F19
131 VK_F20
132 VK_F21
133 VK_F22
134 VK_F23
135 VK_F24

Another solution would be to use the win key with this string and I have described how to do this in another post found here: http://www.aximsite.com/boards/903426-post11.html

Enjoy maxing out your BT Keyboard!

BeckettFan

Thank you very much, Cravaus! I'll give that a try and post my results. I appreciate it!

BeckettFan

BeckettFan

Well, I hit a wall. I was able to create a shortcut to VHKeyPress.exe and copy that shortcut to \Windows\Start Menu\Programs, but when it came time to edit the shortcut to add the numerical values (112, etc.), I could figure out no way to do that on the PDA.

I downloaded the Smart.lnk shortcut editor, but installation halted with a popup telling me the X50v is unsupported.

I tried copying VJKeyPress.exe to my desktop PC, putting it in the same path as it exists on the PDA, then creating a desktop shortcut to it with the number 118 at the end (to get an F7 keypress). I then copied this desktop shortcut to the \Windows\Start Menu\Programs folder on the PDA, but it did nothing when I used the Alt/Fn/7 key combination in WordPerfect 5.1 in PocketDOS.

Evidently, my problem seems to be the creation of a custom shortcut with the numbers at the end (as per the step in your instructions, Cravaus). Is there a way to edit a shortcut on the desktop, then transfer it back to the PDA so that it will work on the PDA? I understand there's no way to edit a shortcut link on the PDA itself without additional software.

Thank you for any further help you can provide!

BeckettFan

EdrickV

If the X50v can run it, get GSFinder, that'll let you edit the run command for the shortcut by going into the shortcut properties. (Much like you would on a desktop only there's not as many options.)

cravaus

If you open up your shortcut in a text editor you can add the line at the end. You can do this on your desk top or if you have a text editor on you PPC then you can use that. I use TotalCommander, similar to GS finder, but I like TotalCommander better. When you make the short cut you can open up the little text editor by hitting the paper and pen icon on the bottom menu bar in TotalCommander and you can add the numers.

BeckettFan

Originally Posted by EdrickV

If the X50v can run it, get GSFinder, that'll let you edit the run command for the shortcut by going into the shortcut properties. (Much like you would on a desktop only there's not as many options.)

Thank you, EdrickV! I have downloaded GSFinder and I will enjoy experimenting with it.

BeckettFan

BeckettFan

Originally Posted by cravaus

If you open up your shortcut in a text editor you can add the line at the end. You can do this on your desk top or if you have a text editor on you PPC then you can use that. I use TotalCommander, similar to GS finder, but I like TotalCommander better. When you make the short cut you can open up the little text editor by hitting the paper and pen icon on the bottom menu bar in TotalCommander and you can add the numers.

Thank you again, Cravaus! TotalCommander is a good program. I was able to edit the shortcut links, although it was necessary to trim a prefix off of each (the shortcut looks like this in its native state: 51#"\Program Files\vijay555\VJKeyPress\VJKeyPress.exe").

It didn't work in WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS running under PocketDOS version 1.10.1. I made two test *.lnk files: one for the F7 key ("Quit" in WordPerfect) and one for the F10 key ("Save File" in WordPerfect).

For what it's worth, I tried it both ways--WITH the "51#" prefix and without it.

Strangely, the function keys that are available in PocketDOS (after several taps of the stylus) work fine. They're just a pain to use, not only because of the difficulty in bringing them up but because the screen gets squashed vertically when the keyboard is displayed.

I will continue to tinker and research but if anything further occurs to you on this, it would be very much appreciated! I'm wondering if there's a way to send the ASCII code for function keys with a key combination on the external keyboard, somehow.

Thank you for your help with this!

BeckettFan

EdrickV

Hmm, looks like the Stowaway keyboard itself has a special method built-in to do function keys:
iGo Stowaway Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard - Support Forum - eXpansys Inc

BeckettFan

Well, this is the third attempt I've made in 24 hours to submit a "thank you" post in this thread--this time I'm using "Quick Reply." I hope the previous two submissions don't also hit the thread!

EdrickV, thank you very much! That DID IT!!!!

I'm thankful that I thought to check this thread again after being off the site for a bit. I really, really appreciate it. And I want to thank you again, Cravaus, because using the VJKeyPress.exe program to enable F1 through F10 was the final step after I employed the key combination to which I was pointed by EdrickV.

This is how to make WordPerfect 5.1 (or 5.0, or 4.2, or 5.2 for DOS) truly functional in PocketDOS, because the program ABSOLUTELY depends on the functionality of the F1 - F10 keys (F11 and F12 aren't as critical).

Thank you!

BeckettFan