November 28, 2008 at 09:31keyla - keyboard layout switch for Windows
To avoid misunderstandings, I’ll immediately say that keyla is not an automatic switch, like Punto Switcher, and it’s not able to switch the layout itself and is not even intended for this.
Once upon a time I had to use the Punto Switcher to use the Caps Lock key to switch layouts. I didn’t like that for this it was necessary to install such a rather cumbersome program. So I decided to write something of mine with open source - keyla . Screenshots with a brief description are provided on a separate page .
The program allows you to set a keyboard shortcut for cyclically switching layouts and keyboard shortcuts for switching to a specific layout. It is believed that with separate keys for each layout it’s easier to live, especially when there are more than two layouts. Well, in addition to this, keyla has several settings. A list of all keyla features is provided on the main page.
Keyla displays the current layout with a tray icon. I am a lazy person by nature, so far only icons for Russian and English layouts are available. If you are missing an icon, write the name of the language in the comments and I will add it. If you wish, you can do it yourself according to the manual, a link to which is easy to find on the main page.
The keyla interface and installer are translated into Russian and English. Localization of the interface is done by editing resource files, which is convenient for the program developer, but inconvenient for translators in two aspects: firstly, editing resource files is simply less convenient than simple text files, as in Miranda; secondly, to add localization to the program, it must be recompiled. On the program’s website there are pages with a description of the translation procedures, links to them are on the main page.
Using Google Translate, I translated the keyla description into English as well ( main page ). My level of English, unfortunately, leaves much to be desired.
Remark and suggestions are welcome!
UPD (12/11/2008)
In the comments, several ideas were expressed:
Once upon a time I had to use the Punto Switcher to use the Caps Lock key to switch layouts. I didn’t like that for this it was necessary to install such a rather cumbersome program. So I decided to write something of mine with open source - keyla . Screenshots with a brief description are provided on a separate page .
Opportunities
The program allows you to set a keyboard shortcut for cyclically switching layouts and keyboard shortcuts for switching to a specific layout. It is believed that with separate keys for each layout it’s easier to live, especially when there are more than two layouts. Well, in addition to this, keyla has several settings. A list of all keyla features is provided on the main page.
Keyla displays the current layout with a tray icon. I am a lazy person by nature, so far only icons for Russian and English layouts are available. If you are missing an icon, write the name of the language in the comments and I will add it. If you wish, you can do it yourself according to the manual, a link to which is easy to find on the main page.
Localization
The keyla interface and installer are translated into Russian and English. Localization of the interface is done by editing resource files, which is convenient for the program developer, but inconvenient for translators in two aspects: firstly, editing resource files is simply less convenient than simple text files, as in Miranda; secondly, to add localization to the program, it must be recompiled. On the program’s website there are pages with a description of the translation procedures, links to them are on the main page.
Using Google Translate, I translated the keyla description into English as well ( main page ). My level of English, unfortunately, leaves much to be desired.
Remark and suggestions are welcome!
UPD (12/11/2008)
In the comments, several ideas were expressed:
- Replacing the layout and case of already entered text, as in the program "Typo" (aka Snoop )
- Replacing phrases ( suggested by tenshi )
- Character AutoCorrect ( suggested by iZENfire )
- Show layout icon next to cursor or active input field ( suggested by almaz user and on the program website )
- unnecessary, because there is a Punto Switcher containing almost everything you can think of, and AutoHotKey , scripts on which to implement the tasks listed above are easier to write than code for keyla, if you neglect the creation of the user interface and force the user to edit the script itself, and easier to expand
- harmful because this functionality is not related to the main purpose of the program and it is ideologically incorrect to implement it (and some users may not like it)
