Modifier Keys?

[richmond62]

I am trying to work on something so that someone can access all 5 forms of a glyph supplied by the Unicode consortium:

1. Lower case form.

2. Upper case form.

3. Combining form.

4. Super script form.

5. Subscript form.
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May be accessed by an end-user ALL via a single alphabetic key on their keyboard + 1 or more modifier keys . . .

1. No modifiers pressed.

2. SHIFT pressed.

3. ALT pressed.

4. ALT + SHIFT pressed.

5. In trouble.

If anyone can think of anything I would be very grateful.

[Klaus]

What about CTRL and CMD?

[richmond62]

Well, CTRL key works on Mac, but I wonder as with Linux it serves the purpose of the COMMAND key on Mac if it won't screw up.

[Klaus]

Ah, yes, sorry, I'm a bit Mac-centric.

[richmond62]

Don't be sorry.

HOWEVER I have to cope with a load of Bulgarian 'academics' who have a serious problem conceptualising of there being other computer operating systems other than Windows (well, actually, owing to the stultifying education system in this country, they find any kind of abstract thought almost impossible . . .).

When I started my ESL school here is Bulgaria 20 years syne, several parents expressed delight at my computers running RunRev standalones on Ubuntu: and then they all asked' "Which version of Windows are you using?" Haven't seen much change to be honest!

[richmond62]

Well, I opted for the capsLock key for number 5: although it is a bit of a pox owing to its locking thing.

[dunbarx]

Richmond.

The locking thing would make me cringe. No other double combination of control keys seems attractive?

Craig

[richmond62]

Between an Apple computer, and a 'box' running either Windows or Linux there seem to be no other choices.

[dunbarx]

I don't suppose you are amenable to three control keys?

Craig

[richmond62]

I could be: what do you suggest?

[richmond62]

I wonder how many people are going to want to press 4 keys at once or 3 keys and a mouse click?

What I really need is a dozen victims for usability tests.

[stam]

I could be: what do you suggest?

cmd-opt-shift + key is not an uncommon construct in MacOS

[richmond62]

cmd-opt-shift + key is not an uncommon construct in MacOS

Indeed:

and how would ctrl-alt-shift + key go down with Windows users?
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AND how am I to know if an end-user has some 'crappy' keyboard connected to their rig that prevents 2 or 3 mod keys at once?
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Marvin.jpg (14.5 KiB) Viewed 112 times

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Marvin says:

"Some keyboards have limitations on how many keys can be pressed simultaneously due to their internal wiring. This is sometimes referred to as "ghosting". "

[dunbarx]

I am confused.

The difference between the names of keys ("alt" vs. cmd. for example) will not affect their behavior. Why not just ignore this entirely? The stack's instructions, which can be tailored for any platform, can refer to whatever name is appropriate.

Or am I missing something here?

Craig

[richmond62]

Yes, you are missing something (I couldn't give a toss about the key names):

How would a windows user feel about pressing 3 modifier keys at once?