Functional Keys ('Central Control') 2.0: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly!

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2018, November 12 - 11:29pm

BryMD

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Functional Keys ('Central Control') 2.0: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly!

FUNCTIONAL KEYS 1.5 RELEASED!

I'm ecstatic to announce that Functional Keys has been updated to version 1.5, and is finally ready for the limelight!

All the major bugs have been squashed. Functional Keys now doesn't bring Finder to the foreground anymore, and finally works with full screen applications. In addition to this, I've also added brand new Exposé-esque controls.

On the downside, I've had to add a dependency to Satoshi Hasumi's awesome KeyboardLauncher that I've included in the download. But on the upside, this also adds full compatibility with both 68K and PPC Macs running Mac OS 7.1 or newer. And if you've already installed another hot key macro engine or menu bar application launcher, you can use any of those instead, as Functional Keys now should be compatible with most of them.

Go grab a copy here:
http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/functional-keys/

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2018, November 12 - 11:48pm

BryMD

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I've already started working on version 1.6, planning on adding compatibility with OtherMenu/OSA Menu for those of you wanting to use Functional Keys akin to Ambrosia's ColorSwitch Pro, as well as Audion controls.

After that I've basically refined Functional Keys to my needs, and I'll turn my attention to Seagull AutoPlay.

But if any of you are actively using Functional Keys and desire new controls added, I'm usually not the hardest to persuade to get back on the saddle

2018, November 13 - 12:18am

cbone

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Thanks, Bry!

2018, November 13 - 9:01pm

(Reply to #3) #4

BryMD

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Any time, cbone

2018, November 13 - 9:08pm

BryMD

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FUNCTIONAL KEYS 1.6 RELEASED!
Beta-ed Functional Keys this morning, and discovered crap-tons (still metric ) of bugs with the Exposé-functions. Been working non-stop all day to crush all the bugs, and, with version 1.6, the Exposé-functions should now work flawlessly. Also beta-ed against SheepShaver and Basilisk II without a hitch, so Functional Keys is now certified compatible with classic Mac OS emulators on modern systems

Version 1.6 is available here:
http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/functional-keys/

2018, November 16 - 10:36am

lazarusnine

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Thanks for putting the effort into this. I haven’t had the chance to try it out yet, but I’m looking forward to at the weekend. It’s just very refreshing to see a bit of dedication to coding these sorts of useful utilities.

2018, November 16 - 3:57pm

(Reply to #6) #7

BryMD

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No need to thank me (though it DEFINITELY helps on my motivation ). After all I'm creating this for my own needs, mostly due to my intense deep-seated hatred for that inconsequent mess of an appendix known as the Control Strip - as well as me constantly catching myself jabbing at the F-keys whenever the sound from my iMac G4 was waking my son.

Have already adapted Functional Keys for OtherMenu in the 1.7-beta, so am rapidly closing in on throwing that damned Control Strip to the trash

However, this also causes me a bit of a headache, as Functional Keys now has so many optional components that an installer with the following options is sorely needed:
- Just Functional Keys + Feedback Sounds (for using with Quickeys/OSAMenu/etc. instead)
- KeyboardLauncher (for default keyboard access)
- OtherMenu (for default menu bar access)
- 'Exposé Windows' function (for menu bar access to windows in frontmost application)

Know Installer VISE from back in the day, but can only find version 8.5 here at the Garden, and doing all the work from SheepShaver running OS 9.0 these days

If anyone here at the Garden has a working copy of an earlier version of Installer VISE it would help me IMMENSELY, as I then wouldn't have to wait until spring 2019 to upload Functional Keys 1.7!!!

2018, November 17 - 12:36am

(Reply to #7) #8

mrdav

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--->working copy of an earlier version of Installer VISE<----

My software database shows versions 3.5, 3.6 Lite, 4.5, 6.0.1 of Installer VISE. Which one(s) do you want? I have not tested any of them (yet).

2018, November 17 - 12:43am

(Reply to #12) #9

BryMD

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DUDE! 6.0.1 would be AWESOME 6.0 is familiar with all possible install locations for Mac OS 8.6 or earlier, which, in this case, hopefully will cover needed locations for Mac OS 9 as well!

Please, please, PLEASE upload it so I can get cracking on delivering the goods back to the Garden

2018, November 18 - 12:50am

(Reply to #13) #10

mrdav

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Here it is

http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/installer-vise-601

2018, November 19 - 2:00am

(Reply to #20) #11

BryMD

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Thank you very much for uploading 6.0.1, mrdav! Really appreciate it!

However, as you've already discovered yourself, none of the available serials work Have tried every available serial for every available version in desperation without luck

6.0.1 even seems to be anterograde aware, as it already seems to know about serials for much later versions. Is it calling home perhaps?

2018, November 19 - 2:57am

(Reply to #21) #12

mrdav

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-->it calling home perhaps?<--

The serials do not work even if the Mac is disconnected from the Internet.

2018, November 19 - 12:53am

(Reply to #20) #13

BryMD

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I have working copies of both 3.5 and 4.5 in my stash, but, as already mentioned, I won't have access to it until spring

Any chance of bothering you again by uploading 4.5 so that I can wrap up Functional Keys 1.7 for you guys?

Thanks again, man!

2018, November 19 - 3:12am

(Reply to #22) #14

mrdav

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Here is v. 4.5

https://mega.nz/#!lc5jlYoL!6FYJLo0-Zkp7a8tMx2fxFEiIl6DeZrpzmBQoK953kCA

2018, November 20 - 1:42am

(Reply to #24) #15

BryMD

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Thank you so much, mrdav! You're the best

But yet again there's problems with registering it Have now Installer VISE 4.5, 5.5, 6.0.1 and 6.5, and none of them work with any of the available serials

If they're not calling home, this really doesn't make any sense. Have gotten 3 types of errors when trying to register:

1. serial not valid.
2. serial is for a NEWER version(!)
3. serial has expired.

Looking at number 3, is this perhaps a date issue? Can't seem to set the date back on SheepShaver myself as it constantly fetches it from the host system, so no way for me to check this one out for the time being

2018, November 20 - 7:48am

(Reply to #25) #16

mrdav

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I have found that the following serial works for v 4.5 after setting the date to 20th March 1997 (about a month after the creation date of the software):

Name: Anonymous
Code: IVR450M4996671 (not the online code)

After the software is registered you can reset the date and all should be well. I suspect this will be the procedure for the other versions (including 6.0.1) as well...just choose a date not long after the creation date before you try to register with a relevant SN. However I will leave it to others to sort this out.

PS: I did this without Internet connection. Have no idea if it will work if you are connected.

2018, November 22 - 2:28am

(Reply to #28) #17

BryMD

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Ha! Knew it! I will just have to find a workaround for SheepShaver clinging onto host system time then

2018, November 16 - 4:00pm

#18

BryMD

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PS: Here's a screenshot of the current status of Functional Keys 1.7b:

2018, November 16 - 7:55pm

(Reply to #8) #19

nil0bject

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does it show which function key to press?
looks awesome
add eject?

2018, November 16 - 9:00pm

(Reply to #9) #20

BryMD

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Thanks, man

No it doesn't. Apple keyboards have somewhere between 12 and 15 F-keys, and Functional Keys already count 15 utilities. Add Apple's own Eject Extras for both optical drive bays on a Power Mac, and you're looking at a worst case scenario of 17 utilities for 12 keys.

As such, I've given the user (myself included) complete choice on which utilities, which order, and which key (or key combination) for which keyboard.

Speaking of Eject Extras, integrating it with custom icons directly into Functional Keys in a future release is really a cakewalk, so I just might do that

2018, November 16 - 9:00pm

(Reply to #8) #21

fogWraith

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Looking better and better with each release, and that theme is easy on the eyes too

2018, November 17 - 4:04am

(Reply to #8) #22

os9er

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Quick question (slightly off-topic): What theme are you using? It looks amazing.

2018, November 17 - 1:22pm

(Reply to #14) #23

fogWraith

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I think it's "BBX Mercury" for Kaleidoscope

2018, November 17 - 3:13pm

(Reply to #16) #24

BryMD

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Totally! William Bart's awesome BBX Mercury, my default go-to theme for Kaleidoscope

2018, November 18 - 12:03am

(Reply to #8) #25

BryMD

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Changed the screenshot above after adding Drive Eject function (on nil0bject's request) as well Volume Increments.

*reload the page to see it*

2018, November 20 - 9:14am

(Reply to #19) #26

nil0bject

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hey, cheers for adding the eject item. volume increments are a good idea, but can you only do it as a submenu? can you add a slider with 7 increments into the menu, instead of the sub menu?
do you have plans for other utilities, or you don't want this to be another control strip?

2018, November 20 - 4:38pm

(Reply to #29) #27

BryMD

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As an extension of this being my pitch on forever banning the Control Strip from all my Macs, this could very well be considered to be 'another control strip'

The entire structure of Functional Keys is simply a series of tiny 'one-trick-pony applications' waiting to be launched either via the keyboard (KeyboardLauncher) or via the menu bar (OtherMenu).

On the downside, this structure prevents the addition of a volume slider in the menu - though I would LOVE having one! Aaaaah, those ColorSwitch Pro days

On the upside, there are INFINITE possibilities to which functions that could be added either by me or by anyone else who wants to expand on the concept. I'm full on retard on programming/data fork, but a Greek God on scripting/resource fork. As such, functions like Internet Connect/Disconnect is something I easily could add, and conversely there will be other functions I won't be able to add.

So if you have some functions you'd like to see, feel free to chip in The more the merrier

2018, November 20 - 5:06pm

(Reply to #32) #28

nil0bject

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I get it. Will think about anything I can add.
Btw, what happens when the menu gets really long? Is it just a standard macos menu that will scroll down?

2018, November 20 - 5:24pm

(Reply to #36) #29

BryMD

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Sweet

It'll scroll if it get's too long. Another solution would then be to move each group of functions (Volume, Depth, Resolution...) into folders (read: sub-menus), though having immediate visible access to all functions from first-level in the menu is the ideal...

2018, November 20 - 7:53pm

(Reply to #37) #30

nil0bject

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agreed.
i was wondering if there was any way to display the current values of things like volume, resolution, depth, etc? Like in the control strip, the current value has a bullet point, •, next to it.

and another thing, can submenu items be generated dynamically? eg. could the eject function be a submenu which shows mounted drives? USB and disk images as well?
How does the 'Windows' submenu work?

2018, November 21 - 5:32am

(Reply to #38) #31

BryMD

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First-level no. Think of it as a glorified Apple Menu.

Sub-menus yes. Those are specific OtherMenu scripts that OtherMenu dynamically interprets (you see that the current volume increment is 7 in the screenshot). Though, the trade off with OtherMenu scripts are that they are NOT available for hot key assignment in KeyboardLauncher

A sub-menu with eject options for mounted disks is a brilliant idea!

2018, November 17 - 9:23am

#32

Bolkonskij

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Been awfully busy this week, but finally found the time to try out Functional Keys. You rock! It's awesome, works like a charm on my MDD running 9.2.2. I tried it on my PowerMac 6100 (running 7.6.1) and it would freeze, but that might not be Functional Keys fault. I'll give it another try later on. (oh and yes, I'll answer your mail shortly... thanks for replying!!)

Anyway, thumbs up! Keep up the good work

2018, November 17 - 2:04pm

(Reply to #15) #33

BryMD

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Thanks for the flattering words, man! Truly appreciated

Really don't like that it seems to freeze on 7.6.1 though Are all the functions causing a freeze, or just the Exposé-functions? And does double-clicking the utilities cause a freeze, or just when using the F-keys? *wondering a lot*

2018, December 22 - 1:45pm

(Reply to #17) #34

BryMD

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Hi Bolkonskij! Just beta-ed version 1.9 on OS 7.5, and you're right: Functional Keys DOES freeze the system Pinpointed the problem to Functional Keys running as background-only applications in a non-multitasking environment. It's REALLY easy to fix, but the question still remaining is: Do we want Functional Keys to work transparently on OS 8 and 9, or do we want OS 7 compatibility...

2018, November 20 - 2:05am

#35

BryMD

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While giving up on Installer VISE for the time being, I've found some time to design the menu bar icon for Functional Keys. So for all you pixel-nuts out there, here's a sneak peek

2018, November 20 - 7:13am

(Reply to #26) #36

fogWraith

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Looking really good there, going to put this thing on my Lombard

2018, November 20 - 4:33pm

(Reply to #27) #37

BryMD

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Awesome Please let me know how it turns out! PS: Version 1.6 still only has function key-access. If you're wanting menu bar-access, you sadly have to wait until I iron out the last few quirks.

2018, November 20 - 9:17am

(Reply to #26) #38

nil0bject

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Love that you kept consistent with the default Finder "shadow/lighting"!
But I think it's 1 pixel too tall. Can you do another version and shrink the blue gradient, in the top box, down to 1 pixel?

2018, November 20 - 3:57pm

(Reply to #30) #39

BryMD

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Hey! A fellow pathologic perfectionist! Love it! Cheers!

Made the icon following the Apple Platinum color scheme (with mildly modified gradients) so that it would blend in rather than being another sore thumb in the menu bar.

As for that extra pixel, I was going forwards and backwards between making the icon itself vertically symmetric, or keeping the vertical symmetry between the remaining pixels superiorly and inferiorly relative to the menu bar. I opted for the latter

2018, November 20 - 5:03pm

(Reply to #31) #40

nil0bject

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Ha, I can't deny being that.
Love your attention to detail. Very refreshing to see.

2018, November 22 - 2:14am

#41

BryMD

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And speaking of icons, just finished up the icon for the KeyboardLauncher control panel as well Originally designed it retaining the Apple Platinum color scheme, but quickly realized a launch button just HAS to be red Here it is, for those of you who appreciate this sort of thing:

2018, November 22 - 4:52am

(Reply to #40) #42

lazarusnine

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I DO ‘appreciate this sort of thing’. That icon is fantastic!

2018, November 23 - 12:42am

(Reply to #41) #43

BryMD

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Thanks, brother

Love it when I meet people who share my passion for icons! Totally adore the 256 color 32x32 pixel artistry towards the end of the nineties. There were some SERIOUS masterpieces coming out back then, especially from the Iconfactory. Both their 'Apple Desktop Collection'-series, and their 'World of Copland'- series still rock to this very day!

2018, November 22 - 5:13am

(Reply to #40) #44

nil0bject

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I love a big red button!
The lighting confused me a little, because of the shine on the base. But it makes sense, because the base would be a metallic material, the button more of a polymer.
I kinda wish more UI's were isometric/oblique, as the flatness of modern era UI's feel too sterile, to me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PnqgmzDc0k

2018, November 23 - 12:58am

(Reply to #42) #45

BryMD

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We're one the same page again, I see

The metallic rim actually gave me quite the headache. First did a brushed metal shine using greys, but that made the spatial-effect disappear in the grey of the background. And trying the same with the desaturated purples made it go to crazy town. So ended up with a compromize my visual cortex accepted, though with highly implausible physics - as the shine and shadow lie at a 45 degree angle. Oh well, sometimes physics can go f*ck itself

And +1 for the GI Joe reference

2018, November 23 - 12:59am

#46

BryMD

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Must admit I'm feeling a bit burned out from pushing pixels right now Still a ways to go before finishing up the KeyboardLauncher customization. Will try to push on for the coming days to see if I can tie the last of the loose ends, as well as getting Installer VISE up running for easy install options. I'm already way into version 1.8b, so bumping the version number on my next official release:

Get ready for Functional Keys 2.0

2018, November 23 - 10:33am

(Reply to #43) #47

nil0bject

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ah, don't feel the burn with development. if you need to, write all your thoughts and plans down, bullet points or whatever, then take a break. come back to it with a fresh mind.

2018, December 20 - 1:07am

#48

BryMD

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Man, it's silent here at the Garden these days! Everyone preparing for Christmas?

Been making HUGE progress with Functional Keys in the last couple of weeks, and have already finalized both version 1.7 and 1.8, and this evening also version 1.9. However, since version 1.7, Functional Keys has been in dire need of a new Read Me file with new (and much MUCH easier ) installation instructions, and this has prevented me from releasing the updates into the wild.

Seems version 1.9 WILL be the next official release after all, acting as a stop gap until I tame Installer VISE for version 2.0 Will try to get the new Read Me written sometime during the holiday, and hopefully Functional Keys 1.9 will be ready for prime time just in time for new years

2018, December 20 - 1:07am

#49

BryMD

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In the mean time, I've uploaded the custom skins for both OtherMenu and Keyboard Launcher for those of you wanting to take a sneak peek of the aesthetical progress of Functional Keys.

The Keyboard Launcher skin was a true b*tch to get done! Don't think I've ever done such unappreciative work, so I REALLY hope you guys like it

Anyways, here they are:

OtherMenu Custom Skin
Keyboard Launcher Custom Skin