Windows: remap caps to control (work computer) (lemmy.ca)

submitted 6 months ago by imaradio@lemmy.ca to c/techsupport@lemmy.world

15 comments fedilink hide all child comments

At work I have a Windows PC. I don't have much personal experience with Windows which is why I am asking.

I want to remap the caps lock key to function as a control key. Ideally, on a per-user basis as sometimes other people use the workstation and I don't want to confuse them.

Was able to install Auto Hot Key. A test script worked. However I couldn't find working instructions about how to do this specific remapping. Example scripts I found seem to have some conflict between v1 and v2 of AH.
I don't have admin access however I could probably ask for something, but it would have to work immediately without a lot of fooling around. I will not be granted admin access to try a bunch of things til I find something that works.

What's the best way?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] somnuz@lemm.ee 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Okay, so make a script, name it whatever you feel like and paste this:

; The keyboard hook must be installed.
InstallKeybdHook
SendSuppressedKeyUp(key) {
    DllCall("keybd_event"
        , "char", GetKeyVK(key)
        , "char", GetKeySC(key)
        , "uint", KEYEVENTF_KEYUP := 0x2
        , "uptr", KEY_BLOCK_THIS := 0xFFC3D450)
}

; Disable Alt+key shortcuts for the IME.
~LAlt::SendSuppressedKeyUp "LAlt"

; Test hotkey:
!CapsLock::MsgBox A_ThisHotkey

; Remap CapsLock to LCtrl in a way compatible with IME.
*CapsLock::
{
    Send "{Blind}{LCtrl DownR}"
    SendSuppressedKeyUp "LCtrl"
}
*CapsLock up::
{
    Send "{Blind}{LCtrl Up}"
}

Save it, run it and you should be good to go.

edit: This is V2, just in case.

[-] imaradio@lemmy.ca 1 points 6 months ago

Thanks I will do this!

Does this first line mean anything? I didn't install anything except the basic AH package:

;The keyboard hook must be installed.

[-] somnuz@lemm.ee 2 points 6 months ago

It is just a comment for the InstallKeybdHook command just bellow it, as it is crucial for this magical code (that I don’t fully grasp yet) to work.

But it does.