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What's the best way to make a keyboard layout for Windows?
Specifically a layout that will appear in the 'Text Services and Input Languages' list and without buying expensive software.
I know about the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator but find it completely limited as you can't do simple things like remap the CapsLock key or the number keys.
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To change the keyboard layoutOn the Language bar, click the Input language button, and then select an input language. Click the Keyboard layout button, and then select a keyboard layout.
It's surprisingly easy to create one. To create a custom keyboard layout, you need an app called Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator. It's a free app developed by Microsoft that just about anyone can use to create a custom keyboard layout.
You can build one yourself! A keyboard layout is basically a .DLL with a function that returns a table of assignments. The driver kit contains examples, and my Programmer Dvorak comes with source too (which is not derived from the DDK).
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For remapping CapsLock or the number keys, use remapkey.exe found in the Windows 2003 Resource Kit Tools.
Keyboard layouts that show up in “Text Services and Input Languages” can’t remap CapsLock or do anything not supported by Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator; the operating system just doesn’t support it. Anything that Microsoft can do with a keyboard layout, you can do with Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator.
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