Quick Answer:

The Special Programming Features allow you to expand the capabilities of your PS/2 X-keys device by allowing you to program multiple layers, toggle the backlighting, or modify how a macro executes.

Further Details:

Overview:

In addition to saving keystrokes, you may be interested in additional X-keys features like programming different layers, making repeating keys, and erasing keys. The numbers in parenthesis following most of the feature names refer to their numbers on the reference list below. The first features (1-6) refer to single key programming, and the rest (7-12) affect the entire keyboard.

Special Programming Features Table:

Once you become familiar with the special programming features, the following list of keystrokes may be a useful reference. For a full description of each feature, please read the sections following the programming features table below.

 

Command Symbol Legend

† - Indicates when to press and hold a key down.
◊ - Indicates when to tap a key.
‡ - Indicates when to release the key you are holding down.

NOTE: Numbers between chevrons (<>) are on the alphanumeric section of the keyboard, not the number pad.

 

Single Key Programming Features
Feature	Associated Keystrokes
1) Layer-toggle	†<Esc> ◊<2> ‡<Esc>
2) Layer-shift	†<Esc> ◊<1> ‡<Esc>
3) Repeating Key	†<Esc> ◊<left-shift> ‡<Esc>
4) Separate Press and Release	†<Esc> ◊<left-control> ‡<Esc>
5) Pause	†<Esc> ◊<5> ‡<Esc>
6) Erasing a Key	◊<Esc> ◊<Esc> ◊<Esc>
Entire Keyboard Programming Features
Feature	Associated Keystrokes
7) Slow Transmission Speed	†<Esc> ◊<3> ‡<Esc>
8) Normal Transmission Speed	†<Esc> ◊<4> ‡<Esc>
9) Caps Lock/Unlock Memory	†<Esc> ◊<8> ‡<Esc>
10) Caps Lock/Shift Unlock Memory	†<Esc> ◊<9> ‡<Esc>
11) No Caps Lock Memory	†<Esc> ◊<7> ‡<Esc>
12) Resetting the Keyboard	◊<Esc> ◊<delete> ◊<Esc> ◊<Esc> ◊<Esc>

Jump to Special Programming Feature

Single Key Programming Features:

- Programming a Layer-toggle Key (1) - Programming a Second Layer - Programming a Layer-shift Key (2) -
- Repeating Keys (3) - Separate Press and Release Commands (4) - Pause (5) - Erasing a Key (6) -

 

Entire Keyboard Special Programming Features:

- Slow Transmission Speed - Normal Transmission Speed (8) - Resetting the Keyboard -

 

Caps Lock Special Programming Features:

- Caps Lock/Unlock Memory (9) - Caps Lock/Shift Unlock Memory (10) - No Caps Lock Memory (11) -

 

Other Features:

- Horizontal and Vertical Double-keys - Programming Errors -

 

Single Key Special Programming Features:

Programming a Layer-toggle Key (1):

To switch to another layer one key must be programmed as a dedicated layer-toggle key. This may be any key (including a double key) but it must be programmed before you can begin programming the second layer.

To program a layer-toggle key please follow these instructions:

1. If your X-keys device is not already in program mode you will need to slide the programming switch into the programming position (red dot showing).


2. Tap the key on the X-keys device that you want to program.


3. Press and hold the <Esc> key on the standard keyboard.


4. While holding down the <Esc> key, tap the <2> key on the alphanumeric section of the standard keyboard (above the Q).


5. Release the <Esc> key.


6. The red or green layer indicator light on your X-keys device will blink to confirm that the command was accepted.


7. If you have finished programming the first layer, slide the programming switch back down into the run position (black dot showing).

To Program a Second Layer:

To begin programming a second layer for your X-keys device, please follow these instructions:

1. After programming a layer-toggle key, change to the second layer by tapping the layer-toggle key. The X-keys device must be in run mode (not programming mode) when changing to the second layer. The indicator LEDs on the X-keys device will change to indicate that you are operating on a new layer.
   
   Note: If you are working on the green layer and you press the layer-toggle key the red indicator LED will turn on. The opposite will happen if you are working on the red layer and you press the layer-toggle key, and the green indicator LED will turn on.
   
2. Slide the programming switch up to the programming position (red dot showing).
   
3. Continue to program this layer just as you programmed the previous layer.
   
   Note: Do not reprogram the layer-toggle key, or you will not be able to switch back to your first layer.

Programming a Layer-shift Key (2):

To switch temporarily to another layer, program a key as a layer-shift key. A layer-shift key works like the Shift key on the standard keyboard, which you hold down to type capital letters. In the case of your X-keys device you hold down the layer-shift key to use the other layer of programmed keys. The layer-shift key may be any key, including a double key.

If you wish to use the second layer with only a layer-shift key (rather than a layer-toggle key) you will need to change the layer-toggle key to a layer-shift key after you program the second layer.

To program a layer-shift key please follow these instructions:

1. If the X-keys device is not already in programming mode, slide the programming switch into the programming position (red dot showing).


2. Tap the key on the X-keys device that you want to program.


3. Press and hold the <Esc> key on the standard keyboard.


4. While holding down the <Esc> key, tap the <1> key on the alphanumeric section of the standard keyboard (above the Q).


5. Release the <Esc> key.


6. The red or green layer indicator on the X-keys device will blink to confirm that the command was accepted.


7. If programming the rest of the layer is complete, return the programming switch to the run position (black dot showing).

Repeating Keys (3):

Keys on the X-keys are not automatically repeating keys, but it's easy to program them to repeat like the alphanumeric keys on the standard keyboard. To make a key a repeating (typematic) key, hold down <Esc>, tap the <Left-Shift> key, and release <Esc> before entering the actual text or sequence for that key.

Separate Press and Release Commands (4):

The X-keys can generate one command when a key is pressed and another command when the key is released. For example, a key could type <A> when pressed and <B> when released. A key can also repeat the same function, such as <Ctrl+B> both when pressed and when released - this is useful, for example, as an on and off bold key in programs such as Microsoft Word.

To program this feature, please follow these instructions:

1. While your X-keys device is in programming mode, tap the key you wish to program.


2. Type the keys on the standard keyboard that you want the X-keys device to send when you press that button on your X-keys device.


3. Press and hold the <Esc> key on the standard keyboard.


4. While holding down <Esc>, tap the <Left-Ctrl> key.


5. Release the <Esc> key.


6. Type the keys on the standard keyboard that you want the X-keys device to send when you release that button on your X-keys device.


7. Tap the key you are programming on your X-keys to finish programming it.

Pause (5):

The X-keys enters keystrokes much faster than most people can type and it may sometimes be useful to pause after or between keystrokes so the software you are working in can properly register the command.

To enter a half second pause, press and hold the <Esc> key, tap the <5> key on the alphanumeric keyboard (above the R) and release the <Esc> key. If you want a longer pause, repeat the command as desired (twice for one second, three times for one and a half seconds, etc.).

Note: Delays can also be added between keystrokes.

Erasing a Key (6):

Reprogramming a key on your X-keys device automatically erases the previously saved keystrokes. To erase a key and leave it blank, tap the <Esc> key three times during programming.

Entire Keyboard Special Programming Features:

The rest of the features (7-12) affect the entire keyboard and include changing the transmission speed, changing the Caps Lock memory and erasing the keyboard.

Slow Transmission Speed (7):

Some applications or systems have a slower response time and the default X-keys speed may be too fast for them. To slow the rate at which the X-keys sends key commands are sent, please follow these instructions:

1. While in program mode, tap any key on your X-keys device. Note: If you previously saved keystrokes to this key it will need to be reprogrammed after entering the Slow Transmission Speed command.


2. Press and hold the <Esc> key on the standard keyboard.


3. While holding down the <Esc> key, tap the <3> key on the alphanumeric section of the standard keyboard (above the W).


4. Release the <Esc> key.


5. The red or green layer indicator light will blink to confirm that the command was accepted.


6. If you are finished programming your X-keys device, return the programming switch to the run position (black dot showing).

Normal Transmission Speed (8):

Normal Transmission Speed is the default for the X-keys. If you previously programmed Slow Transmission Speed and you want to return to the default transmission speed, please follow these instructions:

1. While in program mode, tap any key on your X-keys device.
   Note: If you previously saved keystrokes to this key it will need to be reprogrammed after entering the Slow Transmission Speed command.


2. Press and hold the <Esc> key on the standard keyboard.


3. While holding down the <Esc> key, tap the <4> key on the alphanumeric section of the standard keyboard (above the E).


4. Release the <Esc> key.


5. The red or green layer indicator light will blink to confirm that the command was accepted.


6. If you are finished programming your X-keys device, return the programming switch to the run position (black dot showing).

Resetting the Keyboard (12):

Rather than manually erasing the programming from each key, you may find it much easier to simply erase the programming from the entire device.

Note: This will remove all programming from all keys on all layers and return the X-keys device to a completely unprogrammed state. This cannot be undone.

To erase the memory of the entire keyboard, please follow these instructions:

1. While in program mode, tap any key on your X-keys device.


2. Type the following key sequence on your standard keyboard: <Esc><Backspace><Esc><Esc><Esc>.

Caps Lock Special Programming Features:

The next three features (9-11) affect how the X-keys device recognizes Caps Lock and Unlock. The first two are specific to certain languages (i.e. English, French, etc.). These features enable the X-keys to remember whether Caps Lock was on or off when saving keystrokes, which frees you from having to pay attention to the current mode of the standard keyboard when using your X-keys device. Caps Lock/Unlock Memory and Caps Lock/Shift Unlock memory are useful if you want to save keystrokes that are case sensitive (like names and addresses).

Note: It is best to program a Caps Lock feature before programming the rest of your X-keys.

Note: The Caps Lock Special Programming Features are also Entire Keyboard Special Programming Features.

Caps Lock/Unlock Memory (9):

Caps Lock/Unlock Memory works in languages (such as United States English, Latin American Spanish, etc.) that use the Caps Lock key to both turn on and turn off the Caps Lock function on the standard keyboard.

To program Caps Lock/Unlock Memory, please follow these instructions:

1. While in program mode, tap any key on your X-keys device.
   Note: If you previously saved keystrokes to this key it will need to be reprogrammed after entering the Caps Lock/Unlock Memory command.
   Note: If you want to save keystrokes on this key, program it after entering the Caps Lock/Unlock Memory command.


2. Press and hold the <Esc> key on the standard keyboard.


3. While holding down the <Esc> key, tap the <8> key on the alphanumeric section of the standard keyboard (above the U).


4. Release the <Esc> key.


5. The red or green layer indicator light will blink to confirm that the command was accepted.


6. The X-keys is now ready to program.

Caps Lock/Shift Unlock Memory (10):

Caps Lock/Shift Unlock Memory is for languages (German, French, etc.) that use the Caps Lock key to turn Caps Lock on and the Shift key to turn Caps Lock off.

To program Caps Lock/Shift Unlock Memory, please follow these instructions:

1. While in program mode, tap any key on your X-keys device.
   Note: If you previously saved keystrokes to this key it will need to be reprogrammed after entering the Caps Lock/Unlock Memory command.
   Note: If you want to save keystrokes on this key, program it after entering the Caps Lock/Unlock Memory command.


2. Press and hold the <Esc> key on the standard keyboard.


3. While holding down the <Esc> key, tap the <9> key on the alphanumeric section of the standard keyboard (above the I).


4. Release the <Esc> key.


5. The red or green layer indicator light will blink to confirm that the command was accepted.


6. The X-keys is now ready to program.

No Caps Lock Memory (11):

No Caps Lock Memory is the default for your X-keys device.

If you programmed your X-keys device with wither of the two previous features (9 or 10) and you want to return your X-keys device to its default state, please follow these instructions:

1. While in program mode, tap any key on your X-keys device.
   Note: If you previously saved keystrokes to this key it will need to be reprogrammed after entering the Caps Lock/Unlock Memory command.
   Note: If you want to save keystrokes on this key, program it after entering the Caps Lock/Unlock Memory command.


2. Press and hold the <Esc> key on the standard keyboard.


3. While holding down the <Esc> key, tap the <7> key on the alphanumeric section of the standard keyboard (above the Y).


4. Release the <Esc> key.


5. The red or green layer indicator light will blink to confirm that the command was accepted.


6. The X-keys is now ready to program.

Other Features:

Horizontal and Vertical Double-keys:

Horizontal and/or vertical double-keys can replace two single keys. Remove the single key with the key-puller that came with your X-keys device.

Programming Errors:

1. If your X-keys device encounters programming errors, the red and green layer indicator LEDs will blink simultaneously on and off. Flip the programming switch into the run position (black dot showing) and then flip it back into the programming position (red dot showing) to restore the X-keys to normal programming mode.
2. Errors can occur if:
1. There is an unreliable cable connection. Please check all cords to ensure there is a proper connection.


2. The computer is not operating in a mode to accept the entered keys (for example, pressing <Ctrl>, <Alt>, and <Delete> may cause the computer to reboot and your X-keys will not boot-up in programming mode.


3. You tried to save too many keystrokes into your X-keys device. This is unlikely, but if you think that too many commands were entered (more than 800 keystrokes for the entire device) then you should try to reprogram with a shorter key sequence.