Hi Torben, hope I have not missed this in the config but we need the option to put the playlist in focus from a keystroke as well as a mouse.
Kind regards Tony
I haven’t tried it, but Tab is the standard Windows key to cycle the focus round the controls (e.g. Playlist, Browser, Players, …) within an application.
Apologies in advance if that’s a red herring, though!
BFN
CAD
Hi Cad that works a treat!
Thanks tony
I thought we had the answer to this. Unfortunately we use a custom keyboard to help partially sighted users.
Its intended to remove the standard keyboard so need a key command we can use in remotes.
Neither tab (to use as the key) or playlist focus are options in the config tool. So this is still a request for added features.
kind Regards Tony
Hmm … in my experience, the majority of custom keyboards emulate a standard keyboard at some level. When initially plugged in, and without their ‘define these keys as something special’ software running, there is usually a Tab key in there somewhere!
Which make/model of custom keyboard are you using, and can its supplier and/or or maker not offer you any advice or help about finding/setting up a Tab key?
BFN
CAD
Cheers Cad. I will know more when those with the budget give me some money to buy the keyboard.
Looks like this is the favourite at the moment:
http://www.xkeys.com/xkeys/xkpro.php
Kind Regards Tony
Well, from what I just read on the XKeys site, you flip a switch on the XKeys, press the XKeys key you want to program, pres the keys on your real keyboard that you want to assign, then flip the XKeys switch again.
So I would guess that their firmware can detect any key on PC keyboard, and therefore you could configure a ‘Tab’ key on the XKeys.
If you want a more flexible layout with the option of Big Keys (1×2, 2×1, 2×2, etc.) then check out the well-regarded Tipro range. They make 64- and 96-key (and larger!) units, and they often appear on eBay. Their programming and keycap design software is perfectly OK and downloadable from their site if you want to have a play (you don’t need a Tipro connected to your PC to be able to use these ;)).
I’ve seen some nice pictures here in the Forum of customised versions of these and I can’t help thinking that with visually impaired users, the option of some larger keys would be a big benefit compared to the somewhat inflexible-looking XKeys. The Tipro prices (esp. used ones) are competitive, particularly if you can pick one up with some of the Big Keys already fitted. If you buy one new, many sellers can supply Big Keys and might even fit them for you.
Final point to add is that Tipros are designed for EPOS use, thus are designed to withstand being hammered—day in, day out—for several years (Ever seen any EPOS keypads with worn-out or broken keys? Me neither! :D).
Just one to ponder (as Charlie would say) for you.
BFN
CAD
I’ve got a Tipro KM128 QWERTY and a KM096 in my studio at home - Both ex POS and customised for playout use. They turn up on eBay quite frequently and as Cad says, easily programmed and the “Layer” feature is quite neat (up to 4 “presets” per button) which is a sort of Shift or Fn key if you like. If you find one with a card-reader attached, it’s easily removed using a screwdriver.
Although you can run the software (to makes labels, for example) on any PC - I regularly get a BSOD on startup on my home PC if I have the Tipro drivers installed - the screen references a Tipro DLL so I assume that it’s throwing a wobbler as it can’t see a Tipro keyboard attached. However, it doesn’t happen all the time. Home system is a P4 3.6GHz running XP SP2.
PS: If you ever wondered why Homer Simpson is bald - you’ll find the answer under the keys of a s/h Tipro 
The Tipro keyboard we use in one studio is a 128 key one found on eBay - I can’t recommend them enough.
There’s also a 96 key one in use, and another one almost finished - I don’t think you can knock the price second hand. One thing though… our playout computer has no PS/2 ports and I ended up buying a new USB controller for it (the USB-PS/2 converters didn’t work).
If you look online there’s a few stores selling the keycaps - give them a call and they should only be about 20p each for the largest quad ones. The transparent covers and keys are sometimes sold separately, which is handy.
(And I can’t support Charlie’s note about pinging off keys on a used Tipro keyboard enough.)
Cheers guys found 1 on Ebay new for £60 + postage:
Kind regards Tony
I should point out that I’ve NEVER had a BSOD on the studio PCs - only on my upstairs PC where I installed the Tipro software to make the labels… After un-installing the software, all is well. You certainly do not need the software to run the keyboard as they are self-contained and work just like a normal QWERTY - indeed you can piggy-back your existing keyboard on them anyway 
I know I installed the Tipro label maker here and had no problems with it.
I did not install any Tipro driver software, I installed only the label maker, downloaded direct from the Tipro site. Maybe that’s the difference between my experience of it and Charlie’s?
Tony: delighted you found a s/h Tipro and like the others here, I’m sure you’ll find it MORE useful than the XKeys would have been.
BFN
CAD