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Beginner Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 22

How do you turn off the scrolling through commands with the arrows up/down in 2.29? I'd like to use my arrow keys for directions but the scroll up/down seems to take precedence for some reason. Is there a way to modify that default behavior?

Sorcerer Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 715

Beginner Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 22

Sorry! I got here via google search and didn't realize it was the zmud forum.

Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 4:56 pm

Sorry, but you can't. The arrow keys are tied to the command line. For example, the left/right arrow keys move the cursor back and forward through the letters on the command line, just like in any other normal Windows edit box. This is a windows function, so there is no way to change it. Since the left/right keys were used by Windows, CMUD uses the up/down keys for the command line history and there is no way to override it.

Most people use the number pad on their keyboard for movement. In fact, CMUD comes with the number pad predefined for movement. Just make sure the NumLock key is on.

Beginner Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 22

That's great for people who aren't on a laptop! My problem is, with a laptop, I don't have the luxury of a number pad (and using the keyboard as a number pad has it's own problems - like trying to type things!). However, this brings up an interesting point. It is possible to remap keys in windows so it might be possible for me to remap the up/down arrow keys to something else and then they might be available to do other things.

Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 7:58 pm

You could always get and use one of those USB keypads, they are fairly cheap i believe.

Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:29 pm

I'm sure there is probably some keyboard remapping software somewhere out there...you'll need to Google for it...I've never used anything like that myself. Of course, the problem will be that then you won't be able to edit your command line with the arrow keys, since I'm assuming you'll want to map directions to *all* of the arrows and not just up/down.

It might be easier to just create some macros in CMUD for various Ctrl keys. For example, a lot of games use the WASD keys for movement, and it would be easy to map Ctrl-W to north, Ctrl-A to west, Ctrl-S to south, Ctrl-D to east, etc.

Or, you can map the Ctrl-arrow keys too. Something like:

#KEY CTRL-UP {north}

for example.

The hardest part will be trying to remap the left/right keys since those are handled by Windows at a pretty low level to allow cursor movement within edit boxes.

Beginner Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 22

I was using crtl-up, ect. but I found it was inconvenient to have to use both hands to move around (especially when eating) so I remapped my arrow keys with Key Tweak to some nonsense keys I don't even have (some sort of www keys on fancy keyboards). So now I can use then for macros and thus for directions but as pointed out above, I can't use them as normal arrow keys easily. As I only use XP for mudding, it's not really a problem but it's not exactly a clean solution either. However, other people in my position (laptop users) may want to know how to work around the problem. Key Tweak is free and easy to use. http://webpages.charter.net/krumsick/

Just remember to map the arrow keys to something you don't use and something your system doesn't use (escape isn't a good choice for instance). Also, if you're feeling clever, you can remap your arrow keys to page up, page down, home and end so you can use them under normal circumstances by pressing the ctrl key (or alt - I can never remember).

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 12:18 pm

You should have a ctrl key on the right side of your keyboard that you can press with your right thumb while pressing the arrow keys with the rest of your right hand.

One thing you can try if you don't have a lot of keyboard space (ie, laptop users) is to create a bunch of buttons in a square that has all the directions you need, and then you can click them to send them. You could even write a script to grey out the ones you can't use.

Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 6:29 am

I do this all the time. I made a generic compass package (modeled off of Zugg old zMUD pictures) that I will upload to the library.

Upload done. It's called Compass. Just remember to set the location of Toolbar 2.

Beginner Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 22

Problem solved. Very Happy

Thanks for all the help guys.

I don't have a control key on the right side since I'm running windows on a MacBook (weird keyboard problems to begin with...) but I remapped the number pad enter key to the right control key, which is generally where the right control key should be - if it were a PC keyboard. Fortunately, num-lock does not need to be active for that key to work (otherwise I'd have a ton of problems) so now I can use the arrow keys with one hand.

On another note, I can't seem to find the library to download Compass. I'm sure it's on the zuggsoft site somewhere but I'm coming up blank. Could someone point me in the right direction? Thanks.

Novice Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 41

Click the Library button on CMud's main toolbar, click Get Latest from Library at the top and wait. Find the package you want. In this case you want the Compass package.