More predictable user interface?

[Calab]

I would like to suggest a more predictable keyboard interface for VCC. I've been setting up the key mapping for my hardware project using VCC v2.1.9.2, but I just downloaded v2.1.9.3 and see that the menus have changed.

To open the Insert Disk 0 dialog in VCC version 2.1.9.2 you would type Right ALT + F, 3x right arrows, 6x down arrows, 1x right arrow and ENTER. In version 2.1.9.3 that changes to Right ALT + F, 3x right arrows, 2x down arrows, 1x right arrow and ENTER.

I would like to have hot keys for often used menu items, such as Right ALT-0 for the Insert Disk 0 dialog, or Right ALT-A to flip the artifact colors, etc. Some suggestions would be:

Right ALT-0: Disk 0 insert dialog
Right ALT-R: RGB/Composite toggle
Right ALT-A: Swap artifact colors
Right ALT-C: Insert cartridge dialog
Right ALT-P or Right ALT-S: Debugger Processer State
etc.

It would also be nice if the items on the top menu had hot keys, similar to how Right ALT-F opens the File menu, and similar to how Right ALT-F L opens the Load config menu. Some suggestions would be:
Right ALT-O: COnfiguration menu
Right ALT-T: CarTridge menu
Right ALT-E: Edit menu

It would be nice if I could sent Right ALT + T + 0 to open the Cartridge menu and open the Insert disk 0 dialog found under the Cartridge menu. It would be even nicer if I could send Right ALT 0 and have that dialog simply open.

"Why?", you ask... I'm building a piece of hardware that can be used on your emulator as a Coco layout keyboard and Coco joystick interface. This will include quick keys to access items such as the Insert Disk 0 dialog or Insert cartridge dialog.

Once working, I would like to make the plans available for others.

Take a look at my little project:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2359462640/?multi_permalinks=10163762309602641

Thanks for this great emulator!!!

P.s. I just noticed that the menus don't work at all in full screen mode. Can I even access the Insert Disk 0 dialog in full screen mode?

[edit] Changed "Left ALT" to "Right ALT" - I'm dyslexic :) [/edit]

[Calab]

I've been playing with VCC and have noticed that there are a number of ALT keys that do work for the menus that aren't apparent. For example, if you hit Right-ALT + C + C, you have actually selected the Cartridge menu. You can then hit down arrow to see the menu, then F to get to Floppy drive 0.

Still, not being able to access the menus in full screen mode is an issue. How does one insert a floppy disk when in full screen mode?

If the answer is to get out of full screen mode to use the menus, how does my hardware know if the user is in full screen mode or not? The key sequence would be different depending on the mode. Being able to open the Disk 0 Insert dialog directly without the menus would be quite helpful.

[ejaquay]

While in full screen mode F10 brings up Cartridge menu where you can load disks. F12 gives a help box listing what the fuction keys do

[ejaquay]

I have been thinking of adding VCC menus to the keyboard mapper. That would allow user to choose key combinations that bring them up. I think that has already been added as a enhancement item.

VCC uses the left alt key for the keymapper and for Nitros9 to generate special characters. The right alt key is left for Windows to use and can be used to access menu bar items for apps running in windowed mode, including VCC.

Logic probably could be added to the Main Win message loop to capture Right Alt when running VCC in full screen mode to duplicate to some extent what Windows does for free when running in windowed mode.

An additional thought is to change the top level "Configuration" menu to "Settings" so that left Alt-F would bring up File, Alt-E Edit, Alt-S Settings, Alt-C Cartridge, Alt-D Debugger and Alt-H Help; all controlled by standard Windows behavior.

It is possible to run AutoHotKey to map alt key sequences to Function keys to do pretty much the same things.

[Calab]

I do have one more request regarding this subject...

When a user opens the Cartridge menu, and click Cartridge, the user can type "L" to select a new cartridge, eject the current cartridge and load the selected cartridge. When the MPI has been loaded as a cartridge the "Load Cartridge" menu is not there.

I suggest leaving the "Load Cartridge" option on the menu, even when the MPI is loaded. With the MPI loaded, when the user select "Load Cartridge" and they select a new cartridge, it should automatically eject the MPI and load the new cartridge.