Programmable Keyboard Issues

[cltmmm]

I recently purchased a Cherry Point of Sale keyboard to help with BS2. Here is the link...

 

http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/keyboards/POS/SPOS_Rows_Columns/index.htm

 

Now when I go to use it, you would think it would be straight forward, but somehow things don't seem to be working well. There are two ways to have it store keys. One is in the keyboard itself (you have limited memory per key) or in software, where you hit the key and the driver says "Ah, you pressed a key, let me look up what is stored in the memory on the computer" (this leads to pretty much an infinite amount of macro storage per key, but is slower, not to mention it puts an annoying overlay on the screen everytime you press a key).

 

Anyway, the problem comes when I simply try to store a keyboard macro. Say I want a PVI-800 key "1"... I pick a key and store "Right-Alt 1" for it. I upload that profile and then I try to test it. When I open up the Foxy Keyboard Test program, and hit the button, I get this result:

 

1. Right-Alt Down

2. Right-Alt Up

3. Right-Alt Down

4. 1 Down

5. Right-Alt Up

6. 1 Up

 

As you can tell, this just leads to all sorts of mess in BS2. Half the time the PVI-800 "1" key is pressed, half the time the ABRIS 1 key is pressed. If I use the software storage of key macros, it is even worse. Not only is it full of trash Alt key presses and releases, it will have phantom key presses such as the key "26"... not 0x26 scan code, but some fantasy key that when you press it, it types a "26".

 

The sad thing is this keyboard seems to work fine for macros in Word and the like, but BS2 is less forgiving (and expecting the keyboard to work right! It is not BS2's fault).

 

Has anyone had any experience with these keyboards? Is mine just broken? I have the latest drivers and software from their website. There is really not much to programming these things, not to mention I have been messing with stuff like this since 1991!

 

Thanks...

[Feed]

I actually have this exact keyboard. I haven't had any issues with it, but I use exclusively the on-board programming, and I don't think I've used any multiple-keypress macros on it. I also haven't used it for anything in quite a while, but I'll see if I can dig it up and give this a test.

[cltmmm]

Feed,

 

Any luck checking this out? I am still having probs.

 

Thanks!

[JaseGill]

Usually with these things you have to capture the exact sequence of the key presses for a Modified Key Press. If you ever did anything with the old Thrustmaster setups you will have seen this with Foxy.

 

What you need say for CTRL ALT F1 is:

Key Pressfor CTRL

Key Press for ALT

Key Press for F1

Key Release for F1

Key Release for ALT

Key Release for CTRL.

 

It needs to be done in that exact order or most applications it seem wont accept it. Whether that's possible with what you have I'm not sure as I've never used one. Maybe someone here has though.

Good Luck.

J.

[cltmmm]

Thanks for the help. I am already trying to force this and even had Cherry enable "speed mode" on the keyboard that got rid of some of the extra keypresses I listed above.

 

The keyboard has two modes that are most likely to be used for DCS. One is Keyboard Macro, which it can store the sequence directly into the keyboard memory, or Software Mode, where it stores the keypresses on the computer and these presses are triggered when the key is pressed through the driver software.

 

When I use the Keyboard Macro mode, there are not many options. You can only chose the keys that are getting pressed. It choose how it does the rest. For example, I tell it to do "Right Alt down... 1 down..." that is all I can do, I cannot tell it when these are released. It adds a "right alt up" after I hit save. The output of this is (Through the Foxy Keyboard KeyTest program):

 

- Right Alt Down

- 1 Down

- Right Alt Up

- 1 Up

 

When I use the Software Mode, I can "force" the order. So I specifically tell it to do "Right Alt Down... 4 (from the keys above the letters on the keyboard) Down... 4 Up... Right Alt Up". The output for this is:

 

- Down 235

- Up 235

- / Down

- / Up

 

What the heck "235" is I have no clue. In addition, it is somehow taking the number "4" and making a "/" out of it. For my "Right Alt - 5" it outputs the same crazy string, but instead of a "5" it sends an "F2".

 

I also tested in BS2 the screwed up keypress from the Keyboard Macro mode since they are somewhat almost there. I would press and hold "Right Alt" then press "1" then release "Right Alt" then release "1". Still BS2 handled that correctly. I think there is something wrong with this keyboard. I have the latest software for it, so it is the only explanation.

 

Thanks for the help.

[cltmmm]

For the record, v5.9 of the software was released. After setting the "global delay" to 30ms from 3ms, all of my problems have cleared up.

[TimeKilla]

Cool keyboard are they not for use in Shops/retail/gov terminal keyboards etc never seen one used at home.

[cltmmm]

Just search for "Cherry POS Keyboard" on eBay and there are a ton of them out there. Got mine for $50USD for a Best Offer deal. Make sure you get the clear key cover "lenses" so you can put paper cutouts under them. You can buy them separate.