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Feb
7
Written by:
Peter Henry
Saturday, February 07, 2009 2:57 PM
If you're like me, you LOVE your keyboard and mouse. I don't mean LOOOOOVE your keyboard and mouse, just that, you care what you spend eight hours + a day touching! You care about what you're using to communicate your ideas from your brain to the computer. If you're like me, you have something like Microsoft's ergonimic keyboard.
Does your Microsoft keyboard have a zoom slider on it?
To me, this Zoom slider should be labled either Scroll or Page since that's what I think it should be doing. Zooming? What java-lover-nut had that brain fart? Oh, sorry, a bit emotional I guess eh? Sorry, I like my keyboards. :>
Back to all seriousness, if you think this should be a scroll function, it's not that hard to change but does require some tweaking.
Background
Microsoft has put all the keyboard customizations into the following file: C:\Program Files\Microsoft IntelliType Pro\commands.xml.
Edit: 10-25-2009, DOH! I goofed when I first cut'n'pasted the pick when I originally created this article (the pic was to the mouse directory, not the keyboard. I've updated it today.
Note: If you're using 64-bit Windows, dont' worry about the "c:\Program Files (x86)\........" you just need to concentrate on the path above and you'll be good to go.
The good news is you can edit it and boom your almost there! But if you change the wrong thing, you'll either get an error message or nothing. Not very useful. I'm VERY surprised Microsoft didn't include a better utility to change/modify the contents of this file. Yes, yes, I know you can use the current keyboard editor but it only changes the "special keys" up top on the keyboard.
For the other commands (like the zoom slider) you'll need to modify the commands.xml file by hand.
Making the Required Changes
Warning Note: Make sure you backup the Commands.xml file BEFORE playing with it, anything you do to YOUR file is by your own doing and I claim NO responsbility for any damages you may cause to your own machine. By continuing to read this article, you disolve the author from any ownership of wrong doing, dangers, loss of data or gain of frustrations by this process. There? Does that satisfy the lawyers reading this? :>>>>
To play with this file on XP, you're all good. With Vista and UAC turned on, you might have to do some fiddling because of Vista's over-protectionism trying to, uh, protect you. If you're using Visual Studio, just open up your command prompt as an administrator and then modify your Commands.xml file via notepad by the command prompt. That's the easiest way that worked for me.
Run Notepad on the Commands.xml file. First thing you'll notice about this file is the breakdown by languages. There is an ENG node in there, but I suggest editing the ALL node since any changes in there will apply to everyone on your computer regardless of their language.
There are two changes you will need to make to ensure the zoom becomes a scroller for you in all your applications.
First, I suggest changing the StandardSupport application node in ALL so that the zoom slider will turn into a scroller everywhere.
NOTE: If you want to change the ScrollUp/ScrollDown to pageup/pagedown, you'll also need to change the the Activator to KeySeq. If you don't, you'll get a nice error message later on when you goto restart the itype.exe (I'm getting there). Also, if you want to use the pageup/pagedown, watch the case, notice no caps at all in the pageup/pagedown, again, errors will arise if you put in the wrong entry.
Second, for IE, you'll have to make the same change in the IEFrame7 node.
Notice, there are two IE applications listed, you'll only need to change the IEFrame7 if you're using the latest version of IE. I've tried changing the first IEFrame application without effect, your milage may differ and if so, please leave your observations in a comment, I would love to read them! :>
Save the file. If you weren't listening/reading to me earlier AND you are using Vista and UAC, then you'll be prompted with a nasty message saying you cannot save the file. NAAAANAAAAAAA You didn't listen did you?! You'll have to go back up and start over again. Or, you could save the file to a temp location and copy the file from there to the right place, then answer CONTINUE to the UAC verification dialog that pops up. That's the other way to edit this file, but I think opening the command line as administrator is easier (IMHO).
Deploy the Changes you Just Made
Ok, now that you've made the appropriate changes, you're good to go! You can do one of two things here. You can either reboot which is arguably easier to do. Or, secondly, you could kill the iType.exe process and restart it. That is easier IMHO cause you're able to play/tweak your settings over and over (just in case you got it wrong the first time, or you're playing around).
Open up Task Manager ("Three Finger Salute", CTRL+ALT+DEL), select itype.exe, then click End Process.
Don't be surprised if at this point you've lost all those funky keyboard functions, that's the program that provides them and you just killed it. So now, you'll just restart itype.exe.
Once you do that, you can try out your new found scroll functionality! If you find you're not scrolling but continuing to zoom, you'll have to retrace your steps cause you obviously did something incorrectly. I'm sure it's just something small (like the wrong language node in the xml, or you didn't restart the right process).
So that's how you reconfigure the Zoom slider to the more appropriate scroll functionality (IMHO) for your Microsoft keyboard.
CAVEAT: One small note, the last time I did this was during the Microsft keyboard 6.2 driver days. Once I upgraded the driver to 6.3 I found I lost all my commands.xml settings! Yes, I lost my customizations! Microsoft is not very nice in that regard, it's expecting people to leave that file alone. So keep this link handy for the next time you upgrade your keyboard driver caue you'll need to do this all over again.
References:
Hacking the Natrual 4000 Keyboard
hacking the Microsoft Natural Keyboard 4000
Change Zoom to Scroll
Hacking the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000, redux
Copyright ©2009 Peter Henry
Tags:
33 comments so far...
Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Thanks a lot for the tip Peter. I just got this keyboard as you know and love the short cut!
By Sylvain on
Thursday, February 19, 2009 9:23 AM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
re you just got this keyboard
Very cool! :> I hope you enjoy it! Takes a bit of getting used to but worth it! :>
By phenry on
Thursday, February 19, 2009 9:24 AM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Thank you so much for the detailed instructions! I have RSI and using a mouse wheel just kills me. Scrolling with the zoom slider is sooo much better!
By lemmego on
Friday, February 20, 2009 8:28 PM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Very cool! I'm glad I could help out! Someday I would like to have a program to do this for me automagically, maybe when I get some spare time?! LOL ya, that made me laugh too, when do we ever have "spare" time?! :> Have a good one! :>
By phenry on
Friday, February 20, 2009 8:28 PM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Thanks for the more detailed info!
By Sam Yu on
Friday, March 27, 2009 10:36 AM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Glad I was able to help Sam! :>
By phenry on
Friday, March 27, 2009 10:39 AM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Thanks so much for the detailed how-to. I type 8-12 hours a day. Now I do not have to reach for the mouse to scroll down the page and the zoom feature still works by holding the control and using the zoom slider at the same time. Thank you and have a wonderful day.
By AHupp on
Thursday, May 21, 2009 12:29 PM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Thanks for the comment AHupp! :> Much appreciated and glad I could help! Have a good one! :>
By phenry on
Thursday, May 21, 2009 12:29 PM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Thanks so much for the detailed how-to. I type 8-12 hours a day. Now I do not have to reach for the mouse to scroll down the page and the zoom feature still works by holding the control and using the zoom slider at the same time. Thank you and have a wonderful day.
By AHupp on
Thursday, May 21, 2009 12:52 PM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
OK, as much as I want this to work, I cannot get it to do so. I have Windows Home Premium 64 bit, Microsoft Digital Media Pro keyboard, and Microsoft IntelliType Pro 6.31. I have edited the All and IEFrame7 nodes to "scrollup" and "scrolldown". In my saved document, it shows those to be edited. Now confusion: I deleted the existing commands.xml file and replaced it with the edited one. Correct? I then rebooted, and when I use the scroll (zoom) slider, I receive an error message about improper installation. Yes, before the edit, the zoom slider worked fine. In fact, after receiving the error message, I deleted the edited file and replaced it with the saved original commands file, and it works fine again. Perhaps I am still doing something incorrectly with the replacement file, or perhaps it works differently with the sytem I have. Have any further advice for this novice? Thanks
By K Hoffmann on
Wednesday, June 10, 2009 12:26 PM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Hey K, thanks for the comment. Sorry you're having those problems, but believe it or not, that's good! At least you KNOW you're playing with the right file (there's another commands.xml for the mouse I believe which I mistakenly played with for a bit before figuring out I was editing the wrong file, DOH!). Also, I would look at using the Taskbar and restarting the program instead of rebooting every time you change the file, stopping/starting that program is MUCH fast to debug than rebooting.
re novice
hhhmm you can't be a novice (or much of one) if you're confident enough to play around with XML files! HAHA :>
re error with improper installation
Usually when I've gotten that, it's cause I've put a KeySeq in place of the Activator, or I've put a bad/mismatching type. Does any of this apply? I would double check these.
How are you editing your files? Notepad? Visual Studio? Notepad++? The version of Windows should be ok, I don't remember having this type of problem when I was using a x64 box.
re editing ALL and IEFrame7 nodes
Are you using IE8 by any chance?
Another tact to use is, once you find a combo that's working (ie not throwing improper installation error, which means you know you got a "good" line, maybe not perfect but working) is to copy'n'paste that to everything in the file for the C319 and C320 (making sure to keep that backup handy too!). It's possible Windows is using another hive than the one you think you're using? This will help to identify that. That's how I found out the original node I was using wasn't the right one (then I had to go hunting for the right one, one by one!).
Unfortunately this is a sleuthing exercise for you. Good luck and please report back what you find. I might be able to help out more with a bit more information? I can't promise anything except that I'll try (like you :>).
By phenry on
Wednesday, June 10, 2009 12:35 PM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Thanks for all of the tips. Before sleuthing, I am using IE8. Is that a concern? Also, am using Notepad.
Thanks, Karl
By Karl Hoffmann on
Friday, June 12, 2009 3:49 PM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Hi Karl, I believe the node to play with changes with IE8. Darn, I'll have to hunt for it later. Sorry about that (that I can't do it at the moment, been putting in A LOT of late hours lately and need to get home tonight asap). More soon (remind me if I forget).
re notepad
Cool.
Have a good one and good luck, let me know how it's going.
By phenry on
Friday, June 12, 2009 3:51 PM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Henry, FYI in the node IEFrame 7, it follows with AppName="Internet Explorer 7.0 and 8.0">
I have IE8.
I may delete the MS mouse software since it uses the same/similar files.
Does it make a difference if the Intellipoint software loads in Program Files or Program File (x86) ?
Thanks again.
Karl
By Karl Hoffmann on
Monday, June 15, 2009 8:45 AM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Howdy Karl.
re commands.xml
I have a few "extra" nodes in my commands.xml under the All node, IEFrame, IEFrame7, Internet Explorer_TridentDlgFrame. I think to be safe I added/changed all of them to,
re delete MS/ipoint.exe
I don't think you need to go that far, just make sure you're play with the right XML.
re Program files and the (x86) version
Nope, you only have the IType software in one of those directories right? I think the keyboard setup program puts it into the x86 dir by default?
Good luck.
By phenry on
Monday, June 15, 2009 9:28 AM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Hi Henry;
Still no success in converting the zoom to a scroll control. In Notepad, I have modified the two files you refer to and no success. Additionally, I have modified all of the files with a......Activator="ZoomIn" .....to ScrollUp, no success. After modification, I have saved the file under a folder in Documents, deleted the original file, and replaced it with the modified file. To check, I have opened the modified file in Notepad, and all of the modifications are present. However, once I try to use the slider for scrolling, I always get an error message that I have to reload the Intellipoint software. At that point, I can delete the modified file and replace it with the original file, and it works fine again as a zoom slider. I know I am not changing any lines other than the zoomin/zoomout to scrollup/scrolldown.
I have tried it under Program Files and (x86) with no success.
The only item which remains different is that you are modifying a model 4000 keyboard and mine is the Microsoft Digital Media Pro Keyboard. Perhaps something in the driver software is different than what you modified, and is causing the problem.
Whatever it is, I guess I will have to live with a zoom slider................unless you can uncover my error.
Meanwhile many thanks to you, and to people like you who are so knowledgeable and can get around manufacturer "goofs".
Karl
By Karl H on
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 5:10 PM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
By the way, I have found the scroll DOES work with PDF files, but so far, nothing else. Why only PDF?
Karl
By Karl H on
Thursday, July 16, 2009 2:22 PM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Hi Karl.
re why PDFs?
I'm guessing cause it's natively handling those events. Doesn't help you though. However, I am getting a new box soon and having to redo my keyboard setup again, so I hope to have some new (and hopefully helpful) information for you next week!
By phenry on
Thursday, July 16, 2009 2:23 PM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Peter, just realized I have been calling you Henry all along. My apologies.
Karl
By Karl Hoffmann on
Monday, August 24, 2009 12:10 PM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
HAHA No worries, you're not the first (and not the last I'm sure). Still haven't gotten that new PC yet, so I haven't tried this fix with a x64 yet, soon though. Have a good one.
By phenry on
Monday, August 24, 2009 12:11 PM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Any idea if this can be done on a Mac?
By Brad on
Tuesday, September 01, 2009 11:33 AM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Hey Brad, thanks for the comment, great question, unfortunately I don't have a matching answer. Oh man, I hope someone does and leaves a message though! Good luck! If you find something I hope you're able to come back and post.
By phenry on
Tuesday, September 01, 2009 11:35 AM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
To change the scroll speed, use the regular IntelliType keyboard program, and set "zoom speed" to as fast as it will go. IMO it's still not fast enough, but it is faster.
By Daniel Beahm on
Monday, September 07, 2009 7:53 PM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Great tutorial...why didn't microsoft implement this stuff with the other customize options?
I have mild RSI too and using my left hand to do the jobs of the left hand reaaaaallllly helps. I macroed the click to the Web/Home Button to relieve my clicking finger ! I also macroed double click and right click.
If you use Firefox you have to edit this element in commands.xml :
Anyway what makes this keyboard great is it's customizability and thanks Peter Henry for making it invaluable!!!
Greetings from Greece!
By MiNd on
Monday, September 14, 2009 10:40 AM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Hello Greece! :> I LOVE Pilos (as authentic Greek as we can get here! they make the BEST Souvlaki platter in town!).
Thank you for leaving a comment (and I'm even happier I could help you out! HAHA). Hope you visit again for some other good tid bits. Have a good week.
By phenry on
Monday, September 14, 2009 10:42 AM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
This is great tutorial you have put together. You rock...!
By Fan on
Friday, October 23, 2009 2:01 PM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Thank you very much Fan! I'm glad I was able to help you out, I'm continually amazed at the features holes each new MS mouse driver has, especially in regards to this! You'd THINK they would find a way to give users a UI to change this eh? Thanks again for the feedback.
By phenry on
Friday, October 23, 2009 2:03 PM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Hey Karl, you still watching this post? If you are, I was lucky enough to get a 64-bit box recently and got the zoom thing to work on it. So the fears we had in the summer about 32 vs 64 bit is not part of the problem. I think however I might have found it (and don't hit me please), I think it's my fault. DOH! DUCK! I apologize. As I was setting up my box at home, I realized one of the pics above reference the intellipoint directories (they're for the mouse). Therefore, if you're playing with the commands.xml in that dir, nothing you do will make the zoom work. Sorry about that. Can you confirm/try again with the intellitype directory? I'll update the pics tonight/this weekend.
By phenry on
Sunday, October 25, 2009 1:06 PM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
I was just poking around my server logs and found someone referenced this article on another site! Very cool! No big deal, that's what I'm hoping for, but this one's in german! HAHA Very cool!
http://tweakers.net/productreview/15020/microsoft-natural-ergo-keyboard-4000.html
If you're coming here from that site, please let me know this was helpful
By phenry on
Monday, November 09, 2009 8:43 PM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Peter, still monitoring and will retry soon. Will let you know. Thanks.
Karl
By Karl on
Monday, November 16, 2009 9:37 AM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Thanks for the heads up Karl. Good luck with it. I do hope you can get it working. As a last ditch effort, I can post my xml file on my site and give you an email as to the location to download. That way we'll try to eliminate the issue of the correct file and entries. Just a thought. Have a good one.
By phenry on
Wednesday, December 02, 2009 2:19 PM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Worked Grate Thanks!!!
By Dudi on
Wednesday, January 06, 2010 9:38 AM
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Re: Do you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a "Zoom Complex?"
Hey Dudi, thanks for the blog comment! Glad this helped you out! Awesome news! Have a good one!
By phenry on
Wednesday, January 06, 2010 9:38 AM
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