The Sinclair QL Forum

tofro wrote: Tue Mar 04, 2025 11:52 amThe method that apparently doesn't, uses Minerva's keyboard hooks to link in an externally loaded German keyboard driver.

This should actually work, at least it would be the easiest way for everyone to adjust the layout.

Minerva actually allows that, but the compiler may not allow this for some reason. It works for GB and DE, ROM-dependent, but the other layouts would have a problem.

XorA wrote: Tue Mar 04, 2025 11:52 am

Code: Select all

commit df8949823fb1cb746d576704bc9679003e9412f1
Author: Ian <iankjordan@gmail.com>
Date:   Sat Jan 15 10:41:23 2022 +0000

    SD2Screen/uqlx_cfg : German/GB Keyboard changes
    
    German keyboard mapping by tofro.
    GB keyboard mapping from Ian

According to the log you did

The KBD= parameter doesn't make your rom localised on its own as people are discovering, Ill try and make manual clearer around that!

No wonder it works if done right
Although:
If I start SQLX with all done as above marked as "working", the Mac version still has some small flaws: the "^°" key (that's the one left to the "1"), the "<>" key (the one just next to the left shift key) seem to be swapped, and the accents key ("´`", left of backspace) produces "\^". Can someone (@Ralf?) please verify if that's the same on the Windows version? Just to know whether we'll need a specific Mac keyboard handling.

RalfR wrote: Tue Mar 04, 2025 12:01 pm

tofro wrote: Tue Mar 04, 2025 11:52 amThe method that apparently doesn't, uses Minerva's keyboard hooks to link in an externally loaded German keyboard driver.

This should actually work, at least it would be the easiest way for everyone to adjust the layout.

Minerva actually allows that, but the compiler may not allow this for some reason. It works for GB and DE, ROM-dependent, but the other layouts would have a problem.

Exile and the Spanish community got the Spanish keyboard working but I don't know under which QDOS OS. Basically I don't have a pile of EU keyboards so I really need people to submit code. Desin did for his specific variant of DE and Exile did on behalf of the Spanish guys!

RalfR wrote: Tue Mar 04, 2025 12:01 pm

tofro wrote: Tue Mar 04, 2025 11:52 amThe method that apparently doesn't, uses Minerva's keyboard hooks to link in an externally loaded German keyboard driver.

This should actually work, at least it would be the easiest way for everyone to adjust the layout.

Well, it eats RAM - which is, admittedly not so valuable these days, but: There were games loading to absolute addresses instead of properly allocated memory that weren't that happy with this method.

tofro wrote: Tue Mar 04, 2025 12:05 pm

No wonder it works if done right
Although:
If I start SQLX with all done as above marked as "working", the Mac version still has some small flaws: the "^°" key (that's the one left to the "1"), the "<>" key (the one just next to the left shift key) seem to be swapped, and the accents key ("´`", left of backspace) produces "\^". Can someone (@Ralf?) please verify if that's the same on the Windows version? Just to know whether we'll need a specific Mac keyboard handling.

MacOS keyboard layout is an utter pain, the UK keyboard is actually US layout. Im assuming their DE layout is similar and does not follow accepted standards?

So we might need MacOS handling!

(I developed sQLux on a mac)

XorA wrote: Tue Mar 04, 2025 12:10 pm
MacOS keyboard layout is an utter pain, the UK keyboard is actually US layout. Im assuming their DE layout is similar and does not follow accepted standards?

So we might need MacOS handling!

(I developed sQLux on a mac)

Not sure if that's really the Mac's fault or rather SDL2 hacked into submission to work there. Some of it looks that way (at least last I looked)....

The German Mac keyboard is pretty much standard, except the position of the "@" and "~" keys which have remained in the same place since 1984, I think....

EDIT: Which reminded me to have a look at them in sqlux, and, oh wonder, they both don't work as well. Darn!

I hope this doesn't make XorA fall off his seat - I have the current sQLux up and running on Windows 11 this morning!

Like Ralf, the FIX_ASPECT = 2 gave me circular circles on my 1920x1080 display. I have it booting up from my QPC2's QXL.WIN

The only thing I need to ask for help with is in setting up the printer in the sqlux.ini - not sure how the Linux-orientated instructions in the PDF translate to Windows relating to the PRINT = option.

The printer is the Windows default printer, Epson Stylus COLOR 880 (M) - that's its name in Windows. Works from Windows, QPC2 and even on a QL when plugged in there (i.e. it has old-style Epson control code sets).

When I try to print to PRT from sQLux, a window briefly pops up and quickly vanishes before I can read what's in it. Nothing shown as "waiting" in the Windows printer queues.

If someone could suggest suitable PRINT = line examples for the sqlux.ini for Windows, that would be great as the examples in the manual don't work here, as they are (I'm assuming it's just me misunderstanding how it's meant to work).

Actually, printing isn't too big a deal if I can't get it to work - I can print easily enough from QPC2 if need be.

tofro wrote: Tue Mar 04, 2025 12:05 pmIf I start SQLX with all done as above marked as "working", the Mac version still has some small flaws: the "^°" key (that's the one left to the "1"), the "<>" key (the one just next to the left shift key) seem to be swapped, and the accents key ("´`", left of backspace) produces "\^". Can someone (@Ralf?) please verify if that's the same on the Windows version? Just to know whether we'll need a specific Mac keyboard handling.

Windows:

^ gives <
° gives >
´ gives \
` gives ^
< gives \
> gives °

<AltGr> for brackets at 7, 8, 9 does not work. also for "@" at "q" and "|" at "<".

RalfR wrote: Tue Mar 04, 2025 12:30 pm

tofro wrote: Tue Mar 04, 2025 12:05 pmIf I start SQLX with all done as above marked as "working", the Mac version still has some small flaws: the "^°" key (that's the one left to the "1"), the "<>" key (the one just next to the left shift key) seem to be swapped, and the accents key ("´`", left of backspace) produces "\^". Can someone (@Ralf?) please verify if that's the same on the Windows version? Just to know whether we'll need a specific Mac keyboard handling.

Windows:

^ gives <
° gives >
´ gives \
` gives ^
< gives \
> gives °

<AltGr> for brackets at 7, 8, 9 does not work. also for "@" at "q" and "|" at "<".

So, exactly the same as on MacOS. Those poor, poor QL C programmers, what will they do without their brackets?
I'll have a look at it when I find a bit of time.

Thanks, Ralf.

dilwyn wrote: Tue Mar 04, 2025 12:28 pmWhen I try to print to PRT from sQLux, a window briefly pops up and quickly vanishes before I can read what's in it. Nothing shown as "waiting" in the Windows printer queues.

I have set "PRINT = lpr -Praw" and can LIST to prt, but nothing happens. PAR does not seem available and the Microsoft PDF printer doesen't start.