mac-keyboards

Scripts for Keyboards for macOS

Introduction

I wanted to use non-Apple keyboards with my work Mac. Standard UK ISO keyboards need remapping to work with Macs, because the Mac UK layout is not standard UK ISO. I also didn't want to install 3rd-party software like Karibiner onto my work Mac to do this.

Fortunately, since macOS High Sierra, the hidutil program has provided a way to remap keys. A number of people have written helpful articles about this:

• Technical Note TN2450: Remapping Keys in macOS 10.12 Sierra by Apple - includes some USB HID key usage IDs
• Using hidutil to map macOS keyboard keys by Rakhesh Sasidharan
• macOS function key remapping with hidutil by Adam Strzelecki
• Remapping Keys on macOS High Sierra by Brad Howes
• MacBook Keyboard Setup: The Mysterious § Key by Dimitar Chakarov

The USB HID key usage IDs can be found in section 10 "Keyboard/Keypad Page (0x07)" of the USB HID usage tables. You can download e.g.: version 1.4 from USB.org or find them in the USB.org document library.

Keyboards

• Corsair K65 Keyboard (ISO UK)
• HS60 ISO v2 or v3 from Mechboards UK (ISO UK)
• KBParadise V60 Type R Polestar (ANSI)

Corsair K65 Keyboard (ISO UK)

Name: Vengeance K65 Compact Mechanical Gaming Keyboard – (UK English) Part Number: CH-9000040-UK

The script here makes it possible to use the K65 with UK layout under macOS Catalina. It may work with earlier releases, but I have only tested it on macOS Catalina. It definitely requires at least macOS Sierra (10.12) for the hidutil program.

Using a combination of macOS settings and the script, it's possible to use all the ISO UK keys and still benefit from special macOS key combinations like Option + e e to get an e-acute.

Requirements

• Swap Option and Command, so that the Windows key maps to Option, and Alt maps to Command. To do that, open the "System Preferences" app, then open "Keyboard", then open Modifier Keys..., select the keyboard in the drop-down box, then swap the keys in the other drop-down boxes.

• Add "British - PC" to the list of input sources. To do that, open the "System Preferences" app, then open "Keyboard", then "Input Sources". Click on the plus to add British - PC, and then move it to the top to activate it. You should also enable the Input Sources icon in the menu bar, to make it easier to switch to/from different layouts later.

Usage

./Corsair-K65-ISO-UK.sh

Notes

• Switch input source using Ctrl + Space (brings up menu) or Ctrl + Option (Windows) + Space to cycle through them.

• The right Application key (context menu key) is mapped to the Windows key, which means it's effectively the Option key.

• Media keys Fn + F10-F12 work out of the box on macOS Catalina (previous, play/pause, next).

• Special volume media keys at top (mute, volume up/down) work out of the box on macOS Catalina.

Known Problems

• The Command + \ shortcut for 1Password doesn't work. It seems like that's mapped at a lower level than the mappings set up by the script. Instead, use Command + # on the keyboard. (Note Command = Alt on the actual keys.)

• F-keys don't work because there are some pre-existing shortcuts by macOS set up that bypass the F-keys. It's possible to disable this behaviour, by disabling the shortcuts.

• Home/End/etc. keys don't work.

• How to have this applied during Mac startup? (Currently it's lost across restarts. And sometimes on long sleeps -- or perhaps when you unplug the keyboard? Yes, when you unplug the keyboard.)

• Fn + F9 doesn't work right now (stop media key) -- why is that?

• Windows lock button doesn't seem to do anything on macOS Catalina.

HS60 v2 or v3 ISO

Usage

./HS60-V2-UK.sh

Notes

• Switch input source using Ctrl + Space (brings up menu) or Ctrl + Option (Windows) + Space to cycle through them.

• The right Application key (context menu key) is mapped to the Windows key, which means it's effectively the Option key.

Known Problems

• The Command + \ shortcut for 1Password doesn't work. It seems like that's mapped at a lower level than the mappings set up by the script. Instead, use Command + # on the keyboard. (Note Command = Alt on the actual keys.)

KBParadise V60 Type R Polestar (ANSI)

Requirements

• Swap Option and Command, so that the Windows key maps to Option, and Alt maps to Command. To do that, open the "System Preferences" app, then open "Keyboard", then open Modifier Keys..., select the keyboard in the drop-down box, then swap the keys in the other drop-down boxes.

Usage

./KBP-V60-Mini-US.sh

Notes

• Switch input source using Ctrl + Space (brings up menu) or Ctrl + Option (Windows) + Space to cycle through them.

• The right Application key (context menu key) is mapped to the Grave (Backtick) / Tilde. Shift+Application gives you a Tilde. This is easier than the FN+Shift+Escape combination supported by the keyboard out of the box.