Shift plus Left-logo key combination action

While adding a feature to one of my apps, which involved using a (selectable) hot key plus modifier, I came across something odd.

Pressing the combination ‘Left logo key plus Shift key’, the Boot-Configure window opens. Not only this, but looking at the output from Reporter a load of commands are being run ($.!boot files and the configure run file) and it seems to loop as long as the key combination is held down. (My usage was to hold down the hot key while dragging a file to an applications iconbar icon, thus the keys woulod be held down for a couple of seconds).

I get the action on two different machines (ARMX6 and IGEPv5) with OS versions Nov 2020 and Dec 2021. I have also tried rebooting with a minimal boot and the action is always there (I do not use the Configure-Boot look at or run on any of my machines so no apps have been booted).

Is this a known feature of the OS or some core module, or is it something unique to my machines? Not a thing I would normally have noticed if I hadn’t been trying various hot key combinations for my own use.

Doesn’t happen on my Pi, but I recalled seeing something in the source a billion hours ago.

Tracked it down. It is happening in Switcher, where the additional keys are Red, Green, and Blue. Together with ‘C’ and ‘S’ prefixes (Ctrl, Shift), this gives a range of combinations for special keypresses that Switcher will recognise.
The Shift is only supposed to work with ‘Blue’ (what’s that, Menu?). The normal and Ctrl versions can be set up in !Configure → Keyboard.

This sets Key$[C|S][Red|Green|Blue] (so, Key$CRed for example).
Just look in the Switcher source for “Green”, you’ll spot it.

Doing *Show Key* should list the ones that have been defined.

IIRC then right shift-left logo = right logo and shift-right logo = left logo

All part of the “interesting” keyboard/character handling mixed with the WIMP

Yep happens on my ARMX6 also
show key

Key$Red : SCSI::SSD.$.!Boot.RO500Hook.Res.!Configure

They are set in Configure → Keyboard under Macro Keys.
Have been there for a long time, I think.

Doing Show Key should list the ones that have been defined.

Well, i’m bu****ed. On the ARMX6

*show key*
Key$Blue : Help_On
Key$CBlue : Help_Off
Key$Green : SCSI::SSD.$.!BOOT

So what is setting these values? Are they defaults?

They are set in Configure → Keyboard under Macro Keys.
Have been there for a long time, I think.

So these are defaults set by the OS. It certainly messes things up if you intend to use these keys in any software.

show key
Key$Blue : Help_On
Key$CBlue : Help_Off
Key$Green : SCSI::SSD.$.!BOOT

… but then none of these actually do anything on the ARMX6, but Shift+left logo does.

So what is setting these values? Are they defaults?

Part of the keyboard handler as I recall.
Once upon a time, there was a means of generating new keyboard setups —> IKHG. Doesn’t work in the current keyboard setup though.

Not to prolong this, but on my machines the commands ‘Help_On’ and ‘Help_Off’ simply give the error ‘File “name” not found’, so these definitions look redundant anyway.

I guess I need to go away and have a rethink about the app feature.

As supplied in ROOL’s OS5.28 and OS5.29 !Boots the soft colour keys are undefined, as (not) seen in !Boot.RO520Hook.Boot.PreDesktop

Defaults are present in the KeyBoard Configuration tool

Found some old Castle/Iyonix stuff from earlier this century.

Extra Keys

The three extra keys (Windows-Left, Windows-Right and Menu) that appear on the keyboard will be reserved for user applications and coloured red, green and blue.

These keys generate Wimp key codes as follows:

Windows key    Future IYONIX  Key      Shift-key  Ctrl-key  Shift-Ctrl-key
               labelling      code     code       code      code
Left Windows   U1 (red)       1C0      1D0        1E0       1F0
Right Windows  U2 (green)     1D0      1C0        1F0       1E0
Menu           U3 (blue)      1C1      1D1        1E1       1F1

Note that some keys generate the same code, for example U2 and shift-U1 both generate Wimp key code 1D0. Unfortunately this is unavoidable due to the lack of spare key codes. It is therefore proposed that Ctrl-U1 to Ctrl-U3 should be used for extra functions, but that Shift-U1 and Shift-U2 be avoided (shift-U3 may be used).

The intention is to allow the user to assign these keys to different functions, selectable from a list which would typically include:

      New web browser window with default home page
      New web browser window with search page
      Email application
      Write new Email
      Search telephone directory/dial number
      CD Player control
      Open root directory
      Open user-specified directory
      Open user-specified file (eg a letter template or order template)
      Calculator
      Calendar
      World map/time zones

A new setup utility in !Boot will allow different actions to be assigned to these keys, and there would be a mechanism for applications to offer functions to be mapped onto each key.

Unfortunately this is unavoidable due to the lack of spare key codes

Why? &1xx is already out of the byte size character range, and we’re pretty much committed to a half-assed Unicode key implementation (sending the keys as separate bytes), and also what the hell does anybody think it’s going to happen should RISC OS ever deign to support media keys? On a modern keyboard, there are quite a few – Volume Up, Volume Down, Mute, Skip back, Play/Pause, Skip forward, Sleep, Search, something that looks like a binary star, something to do with the screen, brightness, maximise, minimise, home, music app, browser app, file viewer app…and that’s just looking at the keyboard I have here…

Really, was going into the &2xx range so difficult?

both generate Wimp key code 1D0

Arguably RISC OS never got modified keys right. From the days of Arthur it needed idiotic application work to tell the difference between Shift Up and Page Up. To add to that, the Wimp even loses the distinction between Enter (keys) and Enter (numpad)…
I’m just guessing a lot of this nonsense was “because that’s how the Master did it”?

[yes, the mess that is the keyboard is a pet rant]

Really, was going into the &2xx range so difficult?

A whole extra bit, which would actually make &3xx possible too, if anyone can think of a use.

To add to that, the Wimp even loses the distinction between Enter (keys) and Enter (numpad)…

I’ve never understood why there’s a difference between behaviour in different portions of the OS

[yes, the mess that is the keyboard is a pet rant]

No problem, the therapy is working here.

Keyboard handling is a bit of a nightmare, just remembered I was going to do debugging of such before the holiday is over, but only one day left and I suspect the kids might want playing with at some point.