deskthority

Hey guys, this will be my first entry here. I've been working on converting a WheelWriter 2 keyboard to work as a USB keyboard, and so far I've followed the instructions that I found on the internet. The keyboard is working and feels fantastic to type on! I am very pleased with it as is, but I was hoping to get it up to perfection and figuring out two keys that doesn't do much.

The keyboard will get cleaned up real good and reassembled once I get it working like I want to.



My keyboard has a norwegian layout, and this is just fine when I'm using the standard config file for Soarer's Converter, because the computer reassigns the keys just like if I hooked up a regular keyboard. Luckily, most of the symbols are right where I expect them.

However, if you look closer at the left shift, you can see it's a rather small key, leaving room for another key between it and the Z key. I have found it to be sending out the letter 8 when I type. After finding this in the config file, I tried changing its function to the letter B, and this change was successful. Now I have changed it to AUX1. I was hoping I could make AUX1 become the signs < and > when shifted. So far I have not figured out how this would be programmed. Also, when I open the config.sc files in notepad, everything looks like chaos - are there better ways to edit these files?

Also, my Enter key is not a "bigass" one like I've seen on photos of other keyboards like this. There is another key here, with apostrophy / single quote ' and when shifted, an asterisk *. This function is handled by the BACKSLASH assignment, I guess the national conversion takes care of the symbols I want. However, the key on the WW2 is not doing anything at all. It outputs 5E in the HID_listen program. If only I could tell which one of the UNASSIGNED spots in the config file I need to change to BACKSLASH... I guess that would make it complete.

Really looking forward to bring the buckling springs keyboard to my main computer. I really appreciate all the knowledge being shared here

Nice to see another Norwegian guy! That is a nice looking project.

I use Notepad++ or Sublime Text to edit text files.

The enter key you have is the standard ISO enter key, used in most European keyboard layouts.

Skål!

I do prefer this ISO enter key, if only I could use that ' * key next to it..

I found that the files I was editing were just messy. I went back to GitHub and grabbed the text there and saved it as a .sc file, still using regular Notepad.

https://github.com/BASLQC/ibm-wheelwrit ... teensy2.sc

I have also tried a little bit of editing for my own needs. I have configured the left row (top-down) to become Esc / F5 / F6 / F7 / Left Alt. On the right hand, the key above the arrows is now the FN key. I use the F5-F7 keys a lot in a digital audio workstation called Reason, for swiching in between the mixer / rack / sequencer. I use an external audio interface with its own volume knob, so I don't need the Vol_up and Vol_down keys. Also, I changed the correction key located left to the arrows to become a dedicated Delete key. I also use that a lot in the same DAW. Would anyone be interested in me uploading the altered file?

Damn this project is fun. I have ordered another Teensy now, I am hoping to create an adapter for the Model F keyboard that comes with my IBM 5155. I was thinking just to use a spare RJ45 network plug so I don't have to modify the keyboard at all.

So a little update on this subject. I made a video where I show this typewriter keyboard and some other boards I happen to have. It's not an educational or pro video of any kind, but there are a lot of clicking noises for your pleasure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rH38mmDFm0

At last I settled for the Mod. F for my main setup Still typing on the thing right now. Getting some complaints from the S/O that it sounds like I'm poppin popcorn.