alt and cmd key swapping problem

[bongoherbert]

i have a macintouch on my laptop and an LT in my lab/office.

the modifier key arrangement is different on the two, the shift key is in the lower rank on the macintouch (the FN key takes its place) and the cmd and alt keys are swapped.

in another thread, i asked about best-practices for keeping configurations the same across devices. it was pointed out that the key mapping -should- be device specific. however, i swapped my alt and cmd keys on my LT (to be like the macntouch) and now, unfortunately, they are swapped on the macntouch as well?!?!?

also, i cant quite figure yet how to swap the fn and shift keys, but i'll admit i haven't put heavy investment into it.

finally, i'm having trouble getting thumb-pinky events to happen consistently on the macntouch. quite reliable on the LT. i'm afraid that, if i switch the hand size that it will globally effect both kbds.

any hints here?

[MrLightTouch]

Ah. Actually, it's the key positions, not event mappings, that are stored in a product-specific fashion. Ideally you would then just drag the keys around till they swapped positions--but we don't let you drag them that far in the GUI. What you can do is drag them just a tad in the GUI (so they turn blue), save the customization file, edit the raw XML and swap the X or Y coordinates for each key.

I have to ask, though, why are you still using these modifier keys so much? We deliberately put Shift down on the bottom row so it would be easy to use in combination with the other modifier keys--and in combination (e.g. Shift+Ctrl+Alt) is the only time you should need them! Get in the habit of using the modifier chords around home row as much as possible--they're much quicker and easier once you learn them.

Which thumb-pinky chords were you having trouble with? The Enter chord? Should work fine with thumb landing on spacebar and pinky landing on semicolon.

[bongoherbert]

Originally posted by MrLightTouch
...
I have to ask, though, why are you still using these modifier keys so much? We deliberately put Shift down on the bottom row so it would be easy to use in combination with the other modifier keys--and in combination (e.g. Shift+Ctrl+Alt) is the only time you should need them!


i realize that. its just that there are still some situations where i want to use the modifier keys even though there are 'better' ways. 25+ years of typing are hard to undo.
this is especially true when using emacs, again, despite the presence of 'helpers' there is just too much programmed into my spine to make the transition instantly.


...
Which thumb-pinky chords were you having trouble with? The Enter chord? Should work fine with thumb landing on spacebar and pinky landing on semicolon.

yes, however, the sort-of default hand position on the laptop is different from the default position on the LP. Just enough off to make the 'return' gesture slightly out of allignment with the one I have become used to with the LP.