Microsoft Multimedia Keyboard, How to use with fb2k? Options

[rfarris]

I've searched very thoroughly and I can't find any information on making fb2k work with the special keys on my Microsoft Wireless Natural Multimedia Keyboard.

I found several (snotty) replies to this request saying that the topic had already been discussed (with no pointer to the discussion), but if it ever was, it's been erased because there is no help at all on this subject.

Has anyone successfully gotten their Microsoft multimedia keys to work with fb2k? How?

-- Rick

[joelpt]

Here's my luck so far on this issue --

I have been able to get MS multimedia keys working in Foobar2k, but it's always been a bit flakey.

First thing is make sure Foobar2000 Prefs->Core->Enable default multimedia keyboard support is checked.

Second is an apparent bug in FB2K. If FB is minimized to the system tray, the Stop/PrevTrack/NextTrack buttons don't seem to be picked up by FB. However, if you press the Play/Pause button first, it will un-minimize FB for you (and WON'T pause or play the track). Then, once unminimized, you can use Stop/NextTrack/PrevTrack or Play/Pause and it seems to work like one would expect.

I have observed this behavior in both Win2k and WinXP.

In short, if you want multimedia keys to always work, don't minimize Foobar to the system tray! Also it may just be me, but I can't get Foobar NOT to minimize to the systray as of 0.8.2; whenever I use the Minimize button it always goes down there even if the corresponding option is turned off in FB. So for now I just leave the window open behind my other windows.

Perhaps there is a way to get this working by setting up a global hotkey in Foobar2000 for the multimedia keys (non-global ones are already in there); unfortunately, it seems that pressing the multimedia keys in Foobar Prefs doesn't "catch" the key you are trying to get assigned. And I dare not manually edit foobar2000.cfg

Joel

[Saint]

Ok assuming you have the (crappy) intellitype software installed, it will stop fb2k registering the multimedia keys. So:--

1) Goto task manager (ctrl alt del) and end the process type32.exe
2) Make sure multimedia keys are enabled in fb2k
3) Assign GLOBAL hotkeys to the functions you want, assigning them to the corresponding multimedia key.
4) Once all that is saved run the type32.exe utility (you can run it by opening the options in ctrl panel)
5) You should naw be able to control fb2k even when it is minimised to the tray.

*note* You may need to disable what the keys do in the type32 utility. For example some of the keys defalt to windows media player. Once disabled fb2k should work no problem.

It works for me anyway. This was posted before in the forum but i can't seem to find it now so i can't give credit to who came up with it in the first place.

[kode54]

The exception to the rule is that you cannot disable or configure what the volume/mute keys do.

The alternative is to rename/delete type32.exe and replace it with something like this, which will do absolutely nothing, and make sure that crap is never started up again.

[anza]

Hmm.. This is totally weird. I've got Microsoft MultiMedia Keyboard and it's multimedia kyes just started working even when foobar's minimized. They didn't work before, and I used "foobar2000.exe /command" as a workaround, but I just tried to check what joelpt said, and all I noticed was that it really works without any problems (even with IntelliType (type32.exe) installed). Kool.

[SirFlashback]

this is a bit wired here.
So i got a ms.tech keyboard with multi media keys.
I dont use any software related to this keys.

The keys had worked before but they had an odd behavior when fb2k was minimized.
I changed the keys in prefs -> core -> keyboard shortcuts

The buttons use to work like any other button theyr name are "Forward (MM)" "Play (MM)" etc etc.

If u set the global option u don't have any problems with minimizing.

have fun...


PS: ups i think this was said befor.. i just wanted to underline that there is no software required (like type32)

This post has been edited by SirFlashback: May 27 2004, 11:34

[rfarris]

Thank you all for your help. I learned a bit from each of you. The Saint steps were the most complete and detailed. I'll elaborate on them here for the edification of others perusing this thread.

The Saint Steps to Microsoft Multimedia Heaven

• End the process type32.exe using the task manager
• Enable multimedia keyboard support in fb2k
  • Open fb2k preferences
  • Open the Core property page
  • In the Other section ensure Enable default multimedia keyboard support is selected
• Assign global keyboard shortcuts
  • Open the Keyboard Shortcuts page
  • Scroll the top Assigned shortcuts window down until you locate a group of shortcuts with (MM) after them
  • Highlight each one that you'd like to use and click on remove
  • Now, in the Action window, highlight the first command you'd like to assign to your multimedia keys
  • Check the Global hotkey box
  • Click in the Key box so that you see a blinking cursor
  • Press the multimedia key you'd like to assign to the action
  • Press the Add key
  • Highlight the next action and repeat this sequence of steps until you have assigned all the keys you want to work in fb2k
• Close the fb2k preferences window
• Try out your keys
• Restart type32
  • Select Run from the start menu
  • Type type32 in the Run box and press ok

Notes:

After you start type32 your keys may no longer work -- type32 may pop up and claim that the command is not available, or nothing may happen. If so, open the keyboard applet in the control panel and on the third tab Key Settings, select each key you reassigned, click Edit and choose Disable the use of this key. Everything should work fine now.

-- Rick

[kode54]

The latest IntelliType Pro does not bind global hotkeys, but instead installs a global keyboard hook. Starting it after Foobar2000 has bound its global shortcuts will not make any difference. In fact, it will make things worse, as both Foobar2000 and type32 will react to the keys.

1) End type32 process.
2) Rename/delete type32.exe, found in %programfiles%\Microsoft IntelliType Pro\.
3) Unpack null type32.exe in place of the original.

Now you are free to bind all the MM key shortcuts, and all those MM action keys that Windows handles by default will continue to function. (For example, Media player, Mail, Web/Home, Calculator, and Sleep.)

[MC Escher]

I asked this before, but I got no answer, and seeing a lot of people in an explaining mood I'll try again to get multimedia keys work for my keyboard...

I've got a keyboard that sais LiteOn on the back but is according to the Device manager a "Standard 101/102-key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 keyboard" (maybe LiteOn is a Microsoft subsidiary?).
Does anyone have an idea how to get this keyboard's multimedia keys working with Foobar2000? I don't have a type32 process running, and doing said above without closing type32 didn't work out (I couldn't enter a multimedia key in the keyboard shortcuts).

I would really like to see those keys working, as it's the only thing I'm missing with this otherwise great audio program.

[Moneo]

MC Escher: do the keys work with other players? Did you install any software that came with the keyboard? Do multimedia keys work in any other applications?

This post has been edited by Moneo: May 28 2004, 19:36

[MC Escher]

It works in Winamp and WMP.
I can't remember what was installed along with this keyboard, but I'm pretty sure that were only drivers. Volume and mute work on the whole computer and not on media players.
With the collumns and normal UI the multimedia keys only work when Foobar is on top (not minimized and not behind some other program), and with foo_tunes they don't work at all.

This post has been edited by MC Escher: May 28 2004, 20:30

[MC Escher]

Anyone?

[Org]

I installed this software:

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseand...d/Download.mspx

The multimedia keys of my keyboard work perfectly in fb2k (I'm using WinXP). I have enabled the fb2k Core option "enable default multimedia keyboard support".

I even programmed one of the (otherwise rather useless) extra keys start foobar2000.

This post has been edited by Org: Jun 6 2004, 10:31

[MC Escher]

Hm that didn't work.
But although te device manager says it is a "Standard 101/102-key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 keyboard", I've found out the exact thing: http://www.liteon.com/prod/getProduct.do?x...2&menu_id=4_2_8
Any ideas? Appearently this keyboard isn't as "Fully compatible with PS/2 and Microsoft Windows OS" as the website states.

[JEN]

I have a microsoft natural multimedia keyboard and did the following to get the multimedia keys to work globally with foobar2000.

1. typed "c:\program files\foobar2000\foobar2000.exe" /help to get a list of all the commands

2. Opened the keyboard option screen to modify the multimedia key settings

3. click "start a web page, program, or file" and typed in the following for the play/pause key:

"C:\Program Files\foobar2000\foobar2000.exe" /playpause

I did the same for all other keys replaying the ending with the appropriate command.

Hope this helps

[MC Escher]

I'm sorry but I can't completely follow it, wich keyboard option screen?

[JEN]

click start > settings > control panel > keyboard > key settings.

When you get to the "key settings" screen, select the button you want to edit and then click "edit" followed by "start a program, web page, or file".

If you selected the playpause button in the screen before, you might enter something like "C:\Program Files\foobar2000\foobar2000.exe" /playpause in the text box.

[MC Escher]

The default keyboard menu in Win XP didn't have that Key Settings thing, so I installed Intellitype again, but it still doesn't work.
I can't enter C:\Program Files\foobar2000\foobar2000.exe" /playpause anywhere else then in the option "Start from program, web page or file", and there it obviously doesn't work. In the list of commands I can do nothing but choose a predefined command.

[penvzila]

Mine just showed up in the foobar config menu as configurable buttons.

[anza]

The default keyboard menu in Win XP didn't have that Key Settings thing, so I installed Intellitype again, but it still doesn't work.
I can't enter C:\Program Files\foobar2000\foobar2000.exe" /playpause anywhere else then in the option "Start from program, web page or file", and there it obviously doesn't work. In the list of commands I can do nothing but choose a predefined command.

That's just where you should enter the text. Be sure you don't have any useless quotation marks in the box (so the correct string would be C:\Program Files\foobar2000\foobar2000.exe /playpause)

[MC Escher]

Doesn't work.

[JEN]

So what happens if you type:

"c:\program files\foobar2000\foobar2000.exe" /playpause

in the command prompt (DOS)?

[MC Escher]

That works, but that is off course even more work then swithing to foobar and pressing the next button.
And, as I daid earlier, the multimedia keys do work when Foobar is the active window.

[anza]

What Jen tried to explain was that if that works in the command prompt, it should work if you put it to the "Start from program, web page or file" box in the multimedia keyboard settings.

[MC Escher]

Heh, so that means I'm a hopeles case?
If it isn't up to the settings, the problem must be with the keyboard itself, or with Foobar. Since the MM keys do work in other programs like Winamp and in Foobar only when the window is active, I think it's the last.

This post has been edited by MC Escher: Jun 10 2004, 17:35