If you are like me a geek of prefering to use keyboard to operate your Windows system, then here is the right place for you.
The goal of MetaKB is described by the below gif:
MetaKeyboard is based on AutoHostKey.
Quick start
- clone this repository:
git clone https://github.com/metaseed/metaKeyboard.git- go to folder metaKeyboard and run metaKeyboard.exe
Description
MetaKB redefined the CapsLock key as a function key:
- If you press it, it act like the ESC key;
- If you hold it and press another key, it acts like another
FUNCTIONkey (like: ctrl, alt) for you.
you can press CapsLock+` to toggle between normal CapsLock function and the new function key function.
below we use 'CL' to stands for the redefined
CapsLockkey
Keyboard Map
arrow keys are defined same as Vim
Direction Keys Mapping Table
| Key | Map | Note |
|---|---|---|
| CL+h | Left |
|
| CL+j | Down |
|
| CL+k | Up |
|
| CL+l | Right |
|
| CL+i | Home |
|
| CL+o | End |
|
| CL+u | PageUp |
|
| CL+n | PageDown |
The
LAlt(left Alt)key combined with the keys in this table gives you a shortcut: i.e. if you want to pressAlt+Upyou could just pressLAlt+k, no need to pressAlt+CL+ktogether.
Note: the
RAltstill act as normalAltkey.
Other Remapped Keys
| Key | Map | Note |
|---|---|---|
CL+1..= |
F1..F12 |
F1 -> CL+1 ... F10 -> CL+0, F11 -> CL+ -, F12 -> CL+= |
CL+Backspace |
Delete |
|
CL+; |
Context Menu |
show context menu, like mouse right click |
CL+b |
pause/Break |
|
CL+p |
PrintScreen |
|
CL+[ |
mouse left button click |
|
CL+] |
mouse right button click |
Function and Software
Frequently Used Function
| Key | Map | Note |
|---|---|---|
Win+f |
go to FileExplorer's files pane | move focus to files pane of FileExplorer to manage files |
Win+n |
go to FileExplorers navigation pane | move focus to navigation pane of FileExplorer to manage files |
CL+\ |
copy file full path | when in FileExplorer |
Ctrl+Alt+c |
copy and search with search engine | press ctrl+c and search with Google |
Ctrl+Alt+n |
create new file in the folder | |
Win+v |
open virtual machine manager | configurable, default is Hyper-V |
MetaKB related
| Key | Function |
|---|---|
Ctrl+Win+Alt+l |
reload the metaKB software, environment variables and path would be updated |
Ctrl+Win+Alt+c |
close the metaKB software |
Frequently Used Software
| Key | Map | Note |
|---|---|---|
CL+c |
open the folder with code editor | configuralbe, default is VSCode |
CL+d |
show/hide your word dictionary software | in your favorite dictionary software config the hotkey shift+alt+d to toggle the software, and make sure to config your dictionary software auto start when windows starting. |
CL+e |
edit file with configured editor | configurable, default is gvim |
CL+f |
search in folder | configurable, default is everything in the software folder |
CL+t |
open terminal | configurable, default is Cmder in the software folder |
CL+w |
open web explorer and navigate to your searchEngine | configurable, default is Google |
CL+shift+w |
open web explorer and navigate to your searchEngineSecondary | configurable, default is Bing |
CL+m s |
start screen capture tool | after starting, use the shortcut key config in the software to trigger screen capture. |
CL+m Alt+s |
start screen gif recorder | configurable, default is ScreenToGif in the software folder |
CL+m t |
open task manager | configurable, default is ProcessExplorer in the software folder |
CL+m r |
screen ruler | configurable, default is aruler in the software folder |
CL+m v |
open all *.sln files in the folder with visualStudio | configurable |
configurable means could be configured in config.ini file
Tricks
- in file explorer, find the frequently used button on the Ribbon, and right click, select
Add to quick access toolbar, base on the order, you can pressAlt+1..to trigger this command. for example, I usually add the checkboxNavigation paneto thequick access barso I can pressAlt+1to show/hide it.
Development
Debug
to run the index.ahk file your need to install AutoHotkey, and run the follow command in the repository folder:
mklink config.ini .\metaKeyboard\config.ini /H
mklink software .\metaKeyboard\software /J
Other Useful Programs and configuration
- VSCode with plugins: Settings Sync, vim, metaGo....; configuration file is: GITHUB GIST: https://gist.github.com/metasong/b227db6a892b4c3ec1bb4900bc54977b. after install vscode and install the Settings Sync plugin, and sync settings with the gist file.
- VisualStudio: the shortcut keys are reconfigured, configuratin is VSCode.vsk in the ./software/VisualStudioShortcut foler. Copy the VSCode.vsk into the folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\Common7\IDE or create a symble link point to to the VSCode.vsk pointing to it. and select the VSCode keyboard mapping scheme in your VS options: Environment/Keyboard config page. VS Extensions used: AceJump, Hide Main Menu Hot Commands for Visual Studio, Hot Keys - Keyboard Shortcuts, MixEdit, Resharper Ultimate,Visual Commander, VsVim
- ClipJump
- Git for Windows, except git tools, it provides a lot useful tools
Appendix: Windows Useful Shortcuts
Common
| Key | Note |
|---|---|
Alt+Tab |
to switch between open apps, and using LAlt+h,j,k or l to select active app. |
Ctrl+Z/Y |
Undo/Redo. |
Alt+F4(Alt+CL+4) |
Close active app. |
Alt+Space |
show system menu, n(miNimize),r(Restore),x(maXimize),c(Close) window |
Win+L |
Lock Windows. |
Win+D |
Show desktop. |
Win+I |
Settings |
Win+B |
Show hiden icons |
Win+Number |
Start the program pinned to the Taskbar. |
Win+Shift+Left/Right |
move window to another screen |
Win+Up/Down |
maximize/restore/minimize window |
File Explorer
| Key | Function | Note |
|---|---|---|
F2(CL+2) |
Rename. | |
Ctrl+Shift+E |
Expand navigation pane to the current folder. | |
Ctrl+N |
Open a new window of the same folder. | |
Ctrl+Shift+N |
Create a new subfolder in the current folder. | use Ctrl+Alt+n to create new file |
Ctrl+W |
Close the current window. | |
Alt+Up |
Arrow Go up one level. | |
Alt+Right |
Arrow Go forward. | |
Alt+Left |
Arrow Go back. | |
Alt+d |
Move the focus to the address bar, and select the current path. (press Ctrl+c to copy) |
|
Alt+p |
Preview panel | alt+1 to show navigation pane (when add it to quick access bar) |
Ctrl+arrow key and Ctrl+ Spacebar |
to move to an item and press Spacebar to select/unselect multiple individual items in window | ctrl+arrow: move while select; ctrl+space: toggle selection |
Shift+arrow(Caps+ikjl) |
continously Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document | |
Alt+Spacebar |
Show context menu of the active window. | |
F4(CL+4) |
Move the insertion point to the address bar, and display the contents of the drop-down list of previous addresses. | |
F5(CL+5) |
Refresh. | |
Alt+Enter |
Show properties of the selected file. | |
Shift+F10(Shift+CL+0)(CL+;) |
Open the shortcut menu for the current selection (which is the same as a right-click). | |
Ctrl+Shift+1/2/.../8 |
View modes | Ctrl+Shift+3: icons; Ctrl+Shift+6: details; |
F11(CL+-) |
Toggle full-screen mode. | |
Ctrl+F3(CL+3) or Ctrl+F |
go to search box, your could then press Tab go to navigation pane, then press Tab go to file list. | Note: replaced by everything, but we could use Ctrl+E to use it. note: after press Ctrl+e then press Esc would go to file list directly |
Ctrl+E or Ctrl+F then Esc |
select the file pane(works for file explorer and open/save dialog) |
Virtual desktops
| Key | Function | Note |
|---|---|---|
Win+Ctrl+d |
Add Dessktop | |
Win+Ctrl+F4(CL+4) |
Close desktop | |
Win+Ctrl+Right/Left(CL+l/j) |
Switch to right/left one |
Dialog box
| Key | Function | Note |
|---|---|---|
Ctrl+Tab (Ctrl+Shift+Tab) |
to switch tabs | |
spacebar |
to toggle checkbox | |
Alt+Down |
show dropdown list |