Mapping EG (Firefly) buttons to keyboard keys?

[stisev]

Hi Bit/all,

One thing I've always wanted to do is use EG to map certain key commands to my Firefly remote. For example, I want to be able to hit "Function" + "F8 (LCD/CRT) to cycle through the different CRT/LCD modes.

Is there any way EG could show what keyboard keys are being pressed, then assign those keys to a snapstream firefly button (so if I press the channel up button, it would initiate an action for "FUNCTION + F8" every time I pressed it (just like I would do on a keyboard).

Not only would this be UNBELIEVABLY useful, it would expand EG to a whole new horizon.

Bit - is this possible now; if not, could you implement it in EG? Pwetty please?

[Bitmonster]

Actually I haven't understood the question. What is "Function"?

[jinxdone]

I think he means the 'Fn' keys of laptops for example, used to access the laptop features like toggling vga output on/off.

[Bitmonster]

If the keyboard plugin shows no reaction on these keys, EventGhost will not be able to use them. I guess they have hardcoded these buttons to some internal wires to control the chipset. And only the manufacturer knows how to use them.

[stisev]

First of all, WOW, I had no idea there was a keyboard plugin! Is this new?!
Second, yes, the Fn (function) key doesn't show up in the keyboard plugin.

So close, yet so far.

[CollinR]

You don't need to bother with the keyboard inputs unless you just want to. It's easier to cut to the chase and determine the end goal. If you want it to change display modes based on the channel up button on the firefly just use the system plugin to change to the desired mode when channel up is pressed.

Optionally you can create an alternative hotkey that will do the same from the keyboard but doesn't require the function button.

ie Alt+Ctrl+D = change display mode

Sooo many ways to skin a cat EG has almost everything covered.

[stisev]

Hi Colin,
I don't really understand. The only way I know how to INITIATE the command (to toggle between these mods) is to press FN + F8 keys.

Are you say there's a way of doing this via EG?

[CollinR]

What does Fn+F8 do exactly? I am invisioning going from 800x600 to 1024*768, the system plugin can handle that directly.

System>Display>Set Display Preset can do even more.

[stisev]

What does Fn+F8 do exactly? I am invisioning going from 800x600 to 1024*768, the system plugin can handle that directly.

System>Display>Set Display Preset can do even more.

No, it cycles through the "video" modes. The F8 button has a label of "CRT/LCD" on it.

So, pressing Fn + F8 would first press 1) enable the secondary video input 2) disable it 3) disable the MAIN display and run the VGA OUT.

AFAIK, there's no way to do this otherwise.

[CollinR]

Load the system plugin
Create a new action.
Go through System>Display>Set Display Preset and have it query for your current display settings.

You should get an action like this

Code: Select all

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<EventGhost Version="908">
    <Action>
        System.SetDisplayPreset(('\\\\.\\DISPLAY1', 0, 0, 1280L, 1024L, 60L, 32L, True, True, 0L))
    </Action>
</EventGhost>

Now press Fn+F8
Create a new action.
Go through System>Display>Set Display Preset and have it query for your current display settings.

You should get a very similar action created.

Now you can link those actions to Events from the FireFly (I use the "Help" button) or from keyboard hotkeys or whatever.

EDIT:
As Bitmonster mentioned this could be going directly to the onboard video controller. If so you are hosed.

[stisev]

IT WORKED!!!


Hooray! Thanks Colin! With a little hacking of the XML file, it worked!

Here's what I used. God damn... words can't express how much I love EventGhost right. Bit -- next time you're in the Bay Area, I'm buying you the most expensive hooker on Broadway.


Cheers!

[CollinR]

SWEET!

[stisev]

Hi Colin,
Hope your still monitoring this thread.

I was wondering if there was anyway for EG to export keyboard commands through some kind of plugin.

For example:

I press the button "1" on my Firefly.

[1] > EG triggers ALT + 2 > waits 5 seconds > triggers key O > waits 5 secs > triggers key TAB, etc etc.

Does that make any sense?

[CollinR]

You will need to add the FireFly event 1 as the trigger but these are the actions.

Code: Select all

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<EventGhost Version="908">
    <Macro Name="stiev">
        <Action>
            Window.SendKeys(u'{Alt+2}', False)
        </Action>
        <Action>
            EventGhost.Wait(5.0)
        </Action>
        <Action>
            Window.SendKeys(u'o', False)
        </Action>
        <Action>
            EventGhost.Wait(5.0)
        </Action>
        <Action>
            Window.SendKeys(u'{Tabulator}', False)
        </Action>
    </Macro>
</EventGhost>

This can be one better, those 2 5 second waits will cause EG to wait for all outputs. I may redo it with the timer plugin, it's more complicated but would actually work better.

[easy]

IT WORKED!!!


Hooray! Thanks Colin! With a little hacking of the XML file, it worked!

Here's what I used. God damn... words can't express how much I love EventGhost right. Bit -- next time you're in the Bay Area, I'm buying you the most expensive hooker on Broadway.


Cheers!

So, what exactly have You used? I am interested as I have brought home one verry old notebook and intend to use it for separate HC pc.
As for the moment I wasn't successfull using display preset. I'we edited xml by hand to make "attached" and "primary" for NB's LCD to false and true for VGA out.