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Re: 43S Alternative key layout

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 6:45 am
by inautilus
Please let me know if there is any sort of problem with the attached templates ...
And, of course, the scale and exact positioning of the 'dots' will have to be fine tuned later as the build proceeds.

Bright RED: True Colour stored as RGB: 203,18,1

Be aware though that there is considerable variation in how colours actually display on monitors ... with this inherent variability colours will appear or 'read' differently ... even though the RGB 'recipe' is the same. Because of this it is disappointingly common to not get what you expected. Your best bet is to use real world colour decks or Pantone books for positive confirmation. :)
(I learned this the hard way)

Jaco Blanc Template (2).png
Jaco Blanc Template (2).png (31.32 KiB) Viewed 4023 times
Jaco Blanc Template (3).png
Jaco Blanc Template (3).png (29.92 KiB) Viewed 4023 times

Re: 43S Alternative key layout

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 8:50 am
by Jaymos
inautilus wrote:
Fri Aug 02, 2019 6:45 am
Please let me know if there is any sort of problem with the attached templates ...
And, of course, the scale and exact positioning of the 'dots' will have to be fine tuned later as the build proceeds.

Bright RED: True Colour stored as RGB: 203,18,1

Be aware though that there is considerable variation in how colours actually display on monitors ... with this inherent variability colours will appear or 'read' differently ... even though the RGB 'recipe' is the same. Because of this it is disappointingly common to not get what you expected. Your best bet is to use real world colour decks or Pantone books for positive confirmation. :)
(I learned this the hard way)
Thanks!

The original file is 526x980 pixels.

The revised file somehow changed its size to 818x1600, which means when compiled, the calculator border is now a lot larger and the shift button is off screen.

Re: 43S Alternative key layout

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 12:41 pm
by inautilus
Yes, that certainly won't work. This whole endeavour is about precision, excellence, etc etc.

I have been able to drag the image back into spec ... but I'm not satisfied. Something got lost in translation (a loss in resolution/crispness) and I haven't been able to get to the bottom of it yet. The problem may be that I'm using engineering tools (AutoCAD) for a graphic design problem. Will work on it some more and get back to you this evening. There's a moral to the story here ... Don't bring a knife to a gun fight. ;)

Meanwhile (groan ...) this is what I have.

Jaco Blank Template (3B).jpg
Jaco Blank Template (3B).jpg (17.45 KiB) Viewed 4002 times

Re: 43S Alternative key layout

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 2:28 pm
by Dani R.
Jaymos wrote:
Thu Aug 01, 2019 11:25 pm
I am becoming happier with the result below.
So do I.

You see almost no remark.
Jaymos wrote:
Thu Aug 01, 2019 11:25 pm
3. I removed [X<>Y] from STK menu.
I haven't plunged into the depths of the menus yet. I grew up with the 41C without menus. So it's clear to me that any function can be called via XEQ ALPHA or CATALOG. But. In contrast to the 42S, the 43S/C, as I am used to from the 41C, can be assigned a different functionality to practically any key. I think there will be people who take advantage of this. Then it can happen that even [x<>y] is assigned differently. I don't argue that you have to find every function in a menu. But if it doesn't bother too much, I think, you can allow such redundancy.

The menus themselves will probably then be commented on by me when I perform alpha tests with the simulator and/or the flashed DM42.

I am really really happy with the intermediate result.

Re: 43S Alternative key layout

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 3:35 pm
by Dani R.
As always, I don't want to step on anyone's toes. As a temporary interim solution; Swiss Army Knife.

Re: 43S Alternative key layout

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 4:15 pm
by inautilus
Thank you Dani! No worries, I've got plenty of toes ... Ha, Ha :D
The main thing is to keep the ball moving down the field !
Jaymos, you've got the ball ... can't let anyone get in your way ... you're on a roll.

Re: 43S Alternative key layout

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 4:57 pm
by inautilus
Possible way to go with Menu Keys ... that is visually direct, easy to identify, clean, and more importantly ... uncluttered. In fact, this 'context' method could also be employed to group keys within the same family of operations/functions.

HP 28S Calculator - Menu Keys.jpg
HP 28S Calculator - Menu Keys.jpg (199.01 KiB) Viewed 3980 times
HP 28S - Menu  Key Teatment.jpg
HP 28S - Menu Key Teatment.jpg (104.67 KiB) Viewed 3980 times

Re: 43S Alternative key layout

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 5:07 pm
by Jaymos
inautilus wrote:
Fri Aug 02, 2019 4:57 pm
Possible way to go with Menu Keys ... that is visually direct, easy to identify, clean, and more importantly ... uncluttered. In fact, this 'context' method could also be employed to group keys within the same family of operations/functions.


HP 28S Calculator - Menu Keys.jpgHP 28S - Menu Key Teatment.jpg
My main gripe with my 28C is that it is ONLY menu driven. That is a problem for me. Hence my need to have a compromise unit that works the way the 32SII, 42S and in fact a bit of the 28C. A bit of everything is the magic. And the con side: cluttered compared to 28C and 42S. Semi-functional in a direct operation way compared to 32SII. A lot better organised than WP34S or C. So, a good compromise.

Re: 43S Alternative key layout

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 6:21 pm
by inautilus
Perhaps I didn't 'sell' the idea enough ... my bad. So, I'll take another run at the ball ...

The 43 already is in that sweet spot, functionally speaking. Or as said: "a bit of everything is the magic." What I had intended to communicate was that since some of the 43's keys do function to represent menus .... then it might be worth a closer look to see exactly how they are identified/labelled. One could argue that the underlining method may not be optimal visually speaking ... the keyboard might now be tending to be exceedingly cluttered. If this is the case ... then there is another way to cleanly identify/label. Drop any type of underlining and go with a lighter shade 'context box" for the key label to live within. (See the 'MODE', 'LOGS' command labeling in the first photo, and see the 'CUSTOM' command key in the second photo) I contend that this method of denotation is visually direct, easy to identify, clean, and more importantly ... uncluttered.

Re: 43S Alternative key layout

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2019 6:44 pm
by Jaymos
inautilus wrote:
Fri Aug 02, 2019 6:45 am
Please let me know if there is any sort of problem with the attached templates ...
And, of course, the scale and exact positioning of the 'dots' will have to be fine tuned later as the build proceeds.

Bright RED: True Colour stored as RGB: 203,18,1

Be aware though that there is considerable variation in how colours actually display on monitors ... with this inherent variability colours will appear or 'read' differently ... even though the RGB 'recipe' is the same. Because of this it is disappointingly common to not get what you expected. Your best bet is to use real world colour decks or Pantone books for positive confirmation. :)
(I learned this the hard way)
The colour change to red is working. Will send image in a few hours.