Jaymos wrote: ↑Sat Jul 13, 2019 11:07 pm
H2X wrote: ↑Sat Jul 13, 2019 6:51 pm
Would a tri-state shift button appeal to the forum? That is, press once to activate the first shifted mode (f), once more to activate the second (g), and once more again to return to unshifted.
I find this an interesting idea that I can investigate to possibly have my personal version be DM42 keyboard compatible (with single shift key) (and possibly with no actual key stickers and only a large overlay).
The shift key cycling discussion above made me think of a new (unofficial) key layout for the WP43S using a single (cycled) shift key, with the sole purpose of making the calculator run on DM42 hardware without ugly primary key stickers.
The shift key cycling concept discussed above, was tested on the WP43S emulator using the single yellow shift key layout of the DM42 instead of the yellow/blue f/g keys. I remapped the WP43S emulator keyboard to match the DM42 primary keys, and the emulator does work.
I must say it feels different to use the emulator with double tap on the shift key for "g", but I feel it is something that I can get used to. Life is full of compromises, and the compromise here is: a weird double shift, for the advantage of having the all the functionality of the WP43S on the DM42 hardware without stickers, especially having the operators on the right hand side as well. Good enough reason for me to try at least.
Once it could be loaded onto the DM42 hardware (some day), a keyboard overlay would still have to be made for the shifted labels, but that is a lot less intrusive than key stickers and could arguably be a loose printed / cut cardboard thing or even a custom made vinyl sticker.
The layout is not ideal as yet and could be improved still. Some of the menus and functions had to find new places when I moved the primary keys around and the layout is not as logical as it should be. I think at this point though, it is good enough to share for comment.
Changes made:
1. Keys 1-6 on the second row were changed to the DM42 layout starting with Sigma+, 1/x, etc.
2. Keys 4-6 on row 3 were changed from CC [f] [g] to SIN COS TAN.
3. The 4 operator keys (/*-+) were shifted to the right hand side.
4. The up/dn arrows were raised by one row to free up the yellow shift key.
5. A toggle was included in the emulator function key processing, i.e. it cycles from f > g > clear with every successive presses of the shift key. The selected shift mode is already shown top left on the screen as you press the shift. See pic, “f” shown.
6. I moved some of the shifted functions around to achieve this.
7. I used up the three spare key locations (shifted 7 & 8).
8. I do not have a dedicated CC key any more, as the DM42 has this COMPLEX function on a shifted key, not primary. (You win some, you loose some).
Further changes made on the DM42 key version: I have changed numerous keys to suit myself, like lg>LOG, ln>LN, +/->CHS, E>EE, L>DRG, U-> > CONV, P/R>PRGM, CC>CPX, sin>SIN, etc. I also changed two menu layouts to my liking, i.e. the
CPX and
EXP to suit myself. The
CPX menu is on the pic below.
Below the new re-arranged layout for use on DM42 (LEFT), with the current official WP43S layout RIGHT.
New DM42 compatible layout (LEFT), official WP43S layout RIGHT