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Trap/Release

Troubleshooting

Overview

KickKeys is a complete solution for Transliteration. With it you can write a foreign language using a normal computer keyboard without memorizing difficult key sequences. It allows you to specify your own key mapping, change existing ones, use any font you like and on top of all these it allows you  to use all these features on Microsoft WordPad or Microsoft Word. This eliminates the need of learning to use another new editor.

KickKeys allows you to send and receive language emails through Outlook or Outlook Express. You can use the same key mapping features while you are writing your email.

Key Definition File

Key Definition File or KDF is the central idea behind transliteration. Let us take an example. Adarshalipi (a popular Bengali font). maps the letter "Ka" to the key "l" of the keyboard. However "Ka" is pronounced like the letter "k" in English and if you can change this mapping so that when you press "k" the Bengali letter "Ka" is typed on the editor then you don't have to remember the difficult existing mapping. KickKeys allows you to do just that. Through its user-friendly interface you can say, I want to type "k" and get "Ka". This way you can create a complete set of mapping for a font and then you don't have to remember the difficult mappings. The file that contains all these mappings for a font is called the Key Definition File or KDF for short.

To continue with our example, Joydurga (another popular Bengali font) maps "Ka" to "K". Now if you are not using KickKeys and you wish to start using Joydurga instead of the Adarshlipi (whose mapping you have somehow learned) then you would need to start memorizing the key mappings of Joydurga. With KickKeys you just create another KDF and you don't have to learn anything new.

Running KickKeys

KickKeys starts when you start the machine. You should see a small icon in your system tray. To use it for creating a document you need to open Microsoft Word or Microsoft WordPad, choose the appropriate font and then click on the KickKeys icon in the system tray. You should get a message saying your application has been trapped. Go on typing your document. After you are done with the document, click on the icon again to release the application. It's as easy as that. Just a word of caution, since KickKeys traps your Keys you might have to turn it off before typing the name of the file while saving it.

If you want to use  Mail then you can open Outlook or Outlook Express and start from there. While composing a mail if you choose a font that is supported by the current KDF, then when you click on the KickKeys icon it will trap those applications and you can write language E-mails after selecting the required font.

Benefits

  • KickKeys gives you freedom from specific fonts, specific key mappings and different keyboard layouts.
  • KickKeys is not tied with any language (though it comes with some readymade KDFs for some languages). You can use it to create Key Definition Files for any language.
  • KickKeys supports your favorite E-mail client.
  • KickKeys support your favorite editor.
  • It has features for the advanced users who need to create new KDFs for new languages and fonts as well as novice users who just want to type documents in their own mother-tongue and send emails with the same.
  • Above all it is free downloadable.

© 2001 KickKeys