Welcome to DoubleCommand!
By Michael Baltaks (email)
News
2004-12-17
DoubleCommand 1.5.3 released for Mac OS X 10.3, added support for Control + Home/End PC style and fixed a bug with Command -> Option mapping.
2004-08-10
DoubleCommand 1.5.2 released for Mac OS X 10.3, this release enables right side modifier keys under 10.3. Wait, right side keys? Yes, under 10.3 (I'm not sure which version since, but 10.3.4 at least) DoubleCommand can tell between the different modifier keys, so some requests for different behaviour based on which side is pressed will be fulfilled in the near future.
2004-07-16
DoubleCommand 1.5.1 released for Mac OS X 10.3, including a new Preference pane and a standard install package.
DoubleCommand 1.5 released for Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther). I've realised that the install script requires the development tools, so I'll be switching to a Mac OS X package format for the next release. I also have a preference pane contributed by Christian Nadolle - it will be uploaded soon and feature in the package when that arrives.
Mac OS X 10.3.3 now includes a new feature under the Keyboard preference pane - choosing the function keys behaviour! This means you can have real function keys by default and require pressing the fn key for volume and brightness etc. The DoubleCommand feature that provided this will eventually be split to allow more fine grained control over which function keys do what, now that the OS does the basics.
DoubleCommand 1.5b3 released for Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther). Fixes the shift delete as forward delete feature, and adds kernel panic protection. If DoubleCommand fails to load, it will disable itself to avoid further panics.
DoubleCommand 1.4.4 released for Mac OS X 10.2 only. DoubleCommand is not yet compatible with Panther (Mac OS X 10.3). I will be working on this and will update this site when a compatible version is available.
Visit the sourceforge project for information on the mailing lists (want email when there's a new version? Subscribe to doublecommand-announce) and source code access via cvs.
About DoubleCommand
DoubleCommand is a Mac OS X kernel extension that lets you remap certain keys to certain other keys. It started out as a quick way to turn the Enter key into a Command key, but is now far more powerful than ever before. Why would you want to do this? Well, on my PowerBook G3 there is an Enter key to the right of the space bar - where I would really rather have a Command (Apple) key. So now I can! Many people have emailed and requested different key changes, so now DoubleCommand allows you to choose from several key mappings. For the full feature listing look at the install page.
DoubleCommand started out as a hack of iJect, which was generously GPL'd by Christian Starkjohann. So go check out the great software he makes over at Objective Development www.obdev.at
As a result, DoubleCommand is released under v2 of the GPL. Please read the file Licence.txt for more information.
Features and Suggestions
For the full list of current features see the install page.
Current suggestions (some in progress now):
- Giving Command-Tab back to applications (see ragingmenace.com for this).
- Configuring F keys.
- Using F keys for Page up and Page down.
- Enter as Control - click (pseudo right mouse button).
- Num lock/clear as forward delete.
- F11 toggles Delete/Forward Delete.
- F keys for volume control.
- Turning the Option key into an fn key.
- Turning the Control key into an fn key.
- Smart Caps Lock (shift turns it off).
- F1 - F4 as undo, cut, copy and paste.
- F14 and F15 as standard F keys.
If you have any suggestions or comments, just email me. Unfortunately, DoubleCommand can't tell which application is being used and so can't be configured per application right now.
Notes
DoubleCommand is for Mac OS X only, if you want this feature in Classic as well, see the end of this page.
For real Function keys under Mac OS X, see macosxhints.com - or just use DoubleCommand.
For an alternative forward delete, try fn delete.
You may experience problems using a key like enter as a modifier when dragging with the trackpad if you have "ignore trackpad when typing" turned on. You can simply go to the Keyboard preference pane and turn this feature off if you have this trouble.
Donations
I put time and effort into the software I make, and am happy to give it away with source code for free. If you feel that it is worth something to you, why not let me know?
You can send donations via Paypal to me if you care to. And a great big thankyou to the many who have generously donated!
Version History
1.5.3 - 2004-12-17: Fixed Command -> Option bug (not clearing Command flag), added Control + Home/End PC style.
1.5.2 - 2004-08-10: Enabled right side modifier keys under 10.3.
1.5.1 - 2004-07-16: Removed system log output, created an installer package including a new preference pane.
1.5 - 2004-06-09: Updates some internal key codes for Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther).
1.5b3 - 2003-11-24: Fixes the shift delete as forward delete feature for Panther, adds kernel panic protection.
1.5b2 - 2003-11-11: 1.5b2 released - fixes the enter as fn key feature for Panther.
1.5b1 - 2003-11-11: 1.5b1 released - fixed for Panther (10.3) and compiled with Xcode.
1.4.4 - 2003-11-04: 1.4.4 declared final.
1.4.4b6 - 2003-10-27: Fixed shift delete as forward delete for Office, fixed a bug in home and end keys, added F12 and eject swapping, fixes for function key swap for some PowerBook keyboards.
1.4.4b5 - 2003-10-15: Fixes for fn to control, support for TiBook function key behaviour swapping.
1.4.4b4 - 2003-09-26: Many fixes for capslock to control.
1.4.4b3 - 2003-09-16: Fixed the enter key to command key problem.
1.4.4b2 - 2003-09-15: Fixed the power key problem, fixed the sticky capslock to control feature.
1.4.4b1 - 2003-09-04: Fixed the stick fn key problem, changes to the f key swapping feature (needs more testing).
1.4.3 - 2003-07-16: Added real function keys, disable capslock and also much improved install and config system.
1.4.2 - 2003-06-04: Added backslash as fwd delete and also much improved install and config system.
1.4.1 - 2003-02-07: Compiled with new compiler for smaller binary, also PC home and end keys.
1.4 - 2002-08-30: Quick recompile to support Mac OS X 10.2.
1.3 - 2002-07-19: Code tidy and added capslock becomes control and other features.
1.3b2 - 2002-06-06: Fixed a kernel panic with Mac OS X 10.1.5.
1.3b1 - 2002-05-01: All versions joined into one, now configurable at any time!
1.2.2 - 2001-12-15: Removed Shift-F12 option since it interferes with the Shift+Delete feature.
1.2.1 - 2001-10-23: Fixed problem with Deluxe that blocked the Command+Shift+Delete empty trash key shortcut.
1.2 - 2001-10-22: Added Shift-Delete feature, split into standard and deluxe versions.
1.1 - 2001-10-21: Fixed keyboard bell and enter key event problem. Fixed Command-Tab problem. Fixed page jump problem in BBEdit.
1.0 - 2001-10-16: Initial release.
If you want the extra Command key feature under Classic Mac OS (8 or 9) you could go here: www.resexcellence.com/hack_html_99/07-02-99.shtml or here: www.macmilitia.com/how-to/ibookhack.shtml for resedit hacks, or here: www.opus.plugin.ch/freeware/sk/ for more friendly software.
