If you are like me a geek of prefering to use keyboard to operate your Windows system, then here is the right place for you.

The goal of MetaKB is described by the below gif:

MetaKeyboard is based on AutoHostKey.

Quick start

• clone this repository:

git clone https://github.com/metaseed/metaKeyboard.git

• go to folder metaKeyboard and run metaKeyboard.exe

Description

MetaKB redefined the CapsLock key as a function key:

• If you press it, it act like the ESC key;
• If you hold it and press another key, it acts like another FUNCTION key (like: ctrl, alt) for you.

you can press CapsLock+` to toggle between normal CapsLock function and the new function key function.

below we use 'CL' to stands for the redefined CapsLock key

Keyboard Map

arrow keys are defined same as Vim

Direction Keys Mapping Table

Key	Map	Note
CL+h	Left
CL+j	Down
CL+k	Up
CL+l	Right
CL+i	Home
CL+o	End
CL+u	PageUp
CL+n	PageDown

The LAlt(left Alt) key combined with the keys in this table gives you a shortcut: i.e. if you want to press Alt+Up you could just press LAlt+k, no need to press Alt+CL+k together.

Note: the RAlt still act as normal Alt key.

Other Remapped Keys

Key	Map	Note
CL+1..=	F1..F12	F1 -> CL+1 ... F10 -> CL+0, F11 -> CL+ -, F12 -> CL+=
CL+Backspace	Delete
CL+;	Context Menu	show context menu, like mouse right click
CL+b	pause/Break
CL+p	PrintScreen
CL+[	mouse left button click
CL+]	mouse right button click

Function and Software

Frequently Used Function

Key	Map	Note
Win+f	go to FileExplorer's files pane	move focus to files pane of FileExplorer to manage files
Win+n	go to FileExplorers navigation pane	move focus to navigation pane of FileExplorer to manage files
CL+\	copy file full path	when in FileExplorer
Ctrl+Alt+c	copy and search with search engine	press ctrl+c and search with Google
Ctrl+Alt+n	create new file in the folder
Win+v	open virtual machine manager	configurable, default is Hyper-V

MetaKB related

Key	Function
Ctrl+Win+Alt+l	reload the metaKB software, environment variables and path would be updated
Ctrl+Win+Alt+c	close the metaKB software

Frequently Used Software

Key	Map	Note
CL+c	open the folder with code editor	configuralbe, default is VSCode
CL+d	show/hide your word dictionary software	in your favorite dictionary software config the hotkey shift+alt+d to toggle the software, and make sure to config your dictionary software auto start when windows starting.
CL+e	edit file with configured editor	configurable, default is gvim
CL+f	search in folder	configurable, default is everything in the software folder
CL+t	open terminal	configurable, default is Cmder in the software folder
CL+w	open web explorer and navigate to your searchEngine	configurable, default is Google
CL+shift+w	open web explorer and navigate to your searchEngineSecondary	configurable, default is Bing
CL+m s	start screen capture tool	after starting, use the shortcut key config in the software to trigger screen capture.
CL+m Alt+s	start screen gif recorder	configurable, default is ScreenToGif in the software folder
CL+m t	open task manager	configurable, default is ProcessExplorer in the software folder
CL+m r	screen ruler	configurable, default is aruler in the software folder
CL+m v	open all *.sln files in the folder with visualStudio	configurable

configurable means could be configured in config.ini file

Tricks

1. in file explorer, find the frequently used button on the Ribbon, and right click, select Add to quick access toolbar, base on the order, you can press Alt+1..to trigger this command. for example, I usually add the checkbox Navigation pane to the quick access bar so I can press Alt+1 to show/hide it.

Development

Debug

to run the index.ahk file your need to install AutoHotkey, and run the follow command in the repository folder:

mklink config.ini .\metaKeyboard\config.ini /H
mklink software .\metaKeyboard\software /J

Other Useful Programs and configuration

1. VSCode with plugins: Settings Sync, vim, metaGo....; configuration file is: GITHUB GIST: https://gist.github.com/metasong/b227db6a892b4c3ec1bb4900bc54977b. after install vscode and install the Settings Sync plugin, and sync settings with the gist file.
2. VisualStudio: the shortcut keys are reconfigured, configuratin is VSCode.vsk in the ./software/VisualStudioShortcut foler. Copy the VSCode.vsk into the folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\Common7\IDE or create a symble link point to to the VSCode.vsk pointing to it. and select the VSCode keyboard mapping scheme in your VS options: Environment/Keyboard config page. VS Extensions used: AceJump, Hide Main Menu Hot Commands for Visual Studio, Hot Keys - Keyboard Shortcuts, MixEdit, Resharper Ultimate,Visual Commander, VsVim
3. ClipJump
4. Git for Windows, except git tools, it provides a lot useful tools

Appendix: Windows Useful Shortcuts

Common

Key	Note
Alt+Tab	to switch between open apps, and using LAlt+h,j,k or l to select active app.
Ctrl+Z/Y	Undo/Redo.
Alt+F4(Alt+CL+4)	Close active app.
Alt+Space	show system menu, n(miNimize),r(Restore),x(maXimize),c(Close) window
Win+L	Lock Windows.
Win+D	Show desktop.
Win+I	Settings
Win+B	Show hiden icons
Win+Number	Start the program pinned to the Taskbar.
Win+Shift+Left/Right	move window to another screen
Win+Up/Down	maximize/restore/minimize window

File Explorer

Key	Function	Note
F2(CL+2)	Rename.
Ctrl+Shift+E	Expand navigation pane to the current folder.
Ctrl+N	Open a new window of the same folder.
Ctrl+Shift+N	Create a new subfolder in the current folder.	use Ctrl+Alt+n to create new file
Ctrl+W	Close the current window.
Alt+Up	Arrow Go up one level.
Alt+Right	Arrow Go forward.
Alt+Left	Arrow Go back.
Alt+d	Move the focus to the address bar, and select the current path. (press Ctrl+c to copy)
Alt+p	Preview panel	alt+1 to show navigation pane (when add it to quick access bar)
Ctrl+arrow key and Ctrl+ Spacebar	to move to an item and press Spacebar to select/unselect multiple individual items in window	ctrl+arrow: move while select; ctrl+space: toggle selection
Shift+arrow(Caps+ikjl)	continously Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document
Alt+Spacebar	Show context menu of the active window.
F4(CL+4)	Move the insertion point to the address bar, and display the contents of the drop-down list of previous addresses.
F5(CL+5)	Refresh.
Alt+Enter	Show properties of the selected file.
Shift+F10(Shift+CL+0)(CL+;)	Open the shortcut menu for the current selection (which is the same as a right-click).
Ctrl+Shift+1/2/.../8	View modes	Ctrl+Shift+3: icons; Ctrl+Shift+6: details;
F11(CL+-)	Toggle full-screen mode.
Ctrl+F3(CL+3) or Ctrl+F	go to search box, your could then press Tab go to navigation pane, then press Tab go to file list.	Note: replaced by everything, but we could use Ctrl+E to use it. note: after press Ctrl+e then press Esc would go to file list directly
Ctrl+E or Ctrl+F then Esc	select the file pane(works for file explorer and open/save dialog)

Virtual desktops

Key	Function	Note
Win+Ctrl+d	Add Dessktop
Win+Ctrl+F4(CL+4)	Close desktop
Win+Ctrl+Right/Left(CL+l/j)	Switch to right/left one

Dialog box

Key	Function	Note
Ctrl+Tab (Ctrl+Shift+Tab)	to switch tabs
spacebar	to toggle checkbox
Alt+Down	show dropdown list