Keyboard - 58 User-reprogrammable keys for SketchUP

beginner

Whilst not exactly cheap (who would pay only £6 for a keyboard?)...

...Thinking about it, wouldn't an ipad app be a much better way of doing this?

Hi Hieru, I wanted to highlight the price gap between the keyboards (personally, I have approx. £75 keyboard with mouse), but I like your idea about the ipad app.
Regards

Hieru

Looks like there already is something for the ipad using Keypad+:

keypadplus.dopplerthepom.com/KeyPad_for_sketchup.html

@unknownuser said:

I would miss the tactile feeling of pressing keys.

A programmable touch screen with haptic feedback would be an ideal interface.

Dave R

Darn! I might have to buy an iPad.

Oh, wait! That keypad thing would be a whole lot less money.

Rich O Brien

I notice on their site they say...

@unknownuser said:

Sketchup does this when you have the Pain Bucket tool selected and press the Alt key (but who can remember that?).

Pain bucket? Who can remember to press Alt key?

Dave R

I've never found the Alt key to bring up any pain. Certainly not enough pain to put in a pain bucket.

Hieru

Taking a second look I've already got memorable shortcuts for many of the featured functions and most of the rest are no quicker to select with a keypad than a mouse. To be any use I'd need a whole new set of commands for frequently used plug-ins.

Dave R

Commands for plugins--I think that's where an extra keyboard would be good.

Khai

and I use one of these -

http://store.razerzone.com/store/razerusa/en_US/pd/productID.168824900

comfy and reliable..

tho I want the updated version

http://store.razerzone.com/store/razerusa/en_US/pd/productID.221675100/categoryId.35156900

Bob James

@Khai
Just curious: Of what use is a gaming keyboard in SU? Is it the programmable keys?

Khai

@bob james said:

@Khai
Just curious: Of what use is a gaming keyboard in SU? Is it the programmable keys?

yup in one. it's marketed as a gaming addon.. but when you consider, it's a 16 key fully programmable keyboard.. it's far more than just gaming.

mines set to all the major SU shortcuts on the keys with the thumbpad set to change to pan, rotate, etc

Bob James

@dave r said:

Commands for plugins--I think that's where an extra keyboard would be good.

Would the programmable keys be able to activate ruby plugins in general (i.e., not just the built-in shortcuts)?
I watched a PhotoShop tutorial the other day and the guy was using a tablet and an auxilliary keypad. It sure looked like the keypad was making his job a lot more efficient/quick.

Dave R

Bob, I don't know why they wouldn't. You can set keyboard shortcuts for any plugins now.

Bob James

Thanks, Dave.
I've decided to try the tablet/keypad approach to my modeling/photoshop workflow. I've bought a Wacom INTUOS4 Medium Pen Tablet with Mouse and am thinking about the keypad that was/is the original subject of this thread.

Dave R

I'll be interested to know how you get on with it, Bob. it's too bad you bought that tablet. I have one sitting here that I should sell. I used it a couple of times and don't like it. Nothing wrong with it but I'm left handed with a pen but use the mouse with my right hand. I am just too clumsy with my left hand to be able to work the tablet efficiently and know where I'm working in SketchUp. I tried it a few times but I decided I have too much work that has to get done to be able to spend the time getting proficient with it. I wouldn't try to switch the mouse to my left hand now, either, for the same reason.

I am interested in that keyboard, though. Let us know how that works for you.