You have access to a bunch of goodies! Check out the Makefile to enable/disable some of the features. Uncomment the `#` to enable them. Setting them to `no` does nothing and will only confuse future you.
`MO(layer)` - momentary switch to *layer*. As soon as you let go of the key, the layer is deactivated and you pop back out to the previous layer. When you apply this to a key, that same key must be set as `KC_TRNS` on the destination layer. Otherwise, you won't make it back to the original layer when you release the key (and you'll get a keycode sent). You can only switch to layers *above* your current layer. If you're on layer 0 and you use `MO(1)`, that will switch to layer 1 just fine. But if you include `MO(3)` on layer 5, that won't do anything for you -- because layer 3 is lower than layer 5 on the stack.
`LT(layer, kc)` - momentary switch to *layer* when held, and *kc* when tapped. Like `MO()`, this only works upwards in the layer stack (`layer` must be higher than the current layer).
`TG(layer)` - toggles a layer on or off. As with `MO()`, you should set this key as `KC_TRNS` in the destination layer so that tapping it again actually toggles back to the original layer. Only works upwards in the layer stack.
### Fun with modifier keys
*`LSFT(kc)` - applies left Shift to *kc* (keycode) - `S(kc)` is an alias
*`RSFT(kc)` - applies right Shift to *kc*
*`LCTL(kc)` - applies left Control to *kc*
*`RCTL(kc)` - applies right Control to *kc*
*`LALT(kc)` - applies left Alt to *kc*
*`RALT(kc)` - applies right Alt to *kc*
*`LGUI(kc)` - applies left GUI (command/win) to *kc*
*`RGUI(kc)` - applies right GUI (command/win) to *kc*
You can also chain these, like this:
LALT(LCTL(KC_DEL)) -- this makes a key that sends Alt, Control, and Delete in a single keypress.
The following shortcuts automatically add `LSFT()` to keycodes to get commonly used symbols. Their long names are also available and documented in `/quantum/keymap_common.h`.
KC_TILD ~
KC_EXLM !
KC_AT @
KC_HASH #
KC_DLR $
KC_PERC %
KC_CIRC ^
KC_AMPR &
KC_ASTR *
KC_LPRN (
KC_RPRN )
KC_UNDS _
KC_PLUS +
KC_LCBR {
KC_RCBR }
KC_PIPE |
KC_COLN :
`MT(mod, kc)` - is *mod* (modifier key - MOD_LCTL, MOD_LSFT) when held, and *kc* when tapped. In other words, you can have a key that sends Esc (or the letter O or whatever) when you tap it, but works as a Control key or a Shift key when you hold it down.
These are the values you can use for the `mod` in `MT()` (right-hand modifiers are not available):
* MOD_LCTL
* MOD_LSFT
* MOD_LALT
* MOD_LGUI
These can also be combined like `MOD_LCTL | MOD_LSFT` e.g. `MT(MOD_LCTL | MOD_LSFT, KC_ESC)` which would activate Control and Shift when held, and send Escape when tapped.
We've added shortcuts to make common modifier/tap (mod-tap) mappings more compact:
*`CTL_T(kc)` - is LCTL when held and *kc* when tapped
*`SFT_T(kc)` - is LSFT when held and *kc* when tapped
*`ALT_T(kc)` - is LALT when held and *kc* when tapped
*`GUI_T(kc)` - is LGUI when held and *kc* when tapped
*`ALL_T(kc)` - is Hyper (all mods) when held and *kc* when tapped. To read more about what you can do with a Hyper key, see [this blog post by Brett Terpstra](http://brettterpstra.com/2012/12/08/a-useful-caps-lock-key/)
### Temporarily setting the default layer
`DF(layer)` - sets default layer to *layer*. The default layer is the one at the "bottom" of the layer stack - the ultimate fallback layer. This currently does not persist over power loss. When you plug the keyboard back in, layer 0 will always be the default. It is theoretically possible to work around that, but that's not what `DF` does.
### Remember: These are just aliases
These functions work the same way that their `ACTION_*` functions do - they're just quick aliases. To dig into all of the tmk ACTION_* functions, please see the [TMK documentation](https://github.com/jackhumbert/qmk_firmware/blob/master/tmk_core/doc/keymap.md#2-action).
Instead of using `FNx` when defining `ACTION_*` functions, you can use `F(x)` - the benefit here is being able to use more than 32 function actions (up to 4096), if you happen to need them.
## Macro shortcuts: Send a whole string when pressing just one key
Instead of using the `ACTION_MACRO` function, you can simply use `M(n)` to access macro *n* - *n* will get passed into the `action_get_macro` as the `id`, and you can use a switch statement to trigger it. This gets called on the keydown and keyup, so you'll need to use an if statement testing `record->event.pressed` (see keymap_default.c).
```c
const macro_t *action_get_macro(keyrecord_t *record, uint8_t id, uint8_t opt) // this is the function signature -- just copy/paste it into your keymap file as it is.
{
switch(id) {
case 0: // this would trigger when you hit a key mapped as M(0)
if (record->event.pressed) {
return MACRO( I(255), T(H), T(E), T(L), T(L), W(255), T(O), END ); // this sends the string 'hello' when the macro executes
So above you can see the stroke interval changed to 255ms between each keystroke, then a bunch of keys being typed, waits a while, then the macro ends.
Note: Using macros to have your keyboard send passwords for you is a bad idea.
### Additional keycode aliases for software-implemented layouts (Colemak, Dvorak, etc)
Everything is assuming you're in Qwerty (in software) by default, but there is built-in support for using a Colemak or Dvorak layout by including this at the top of your keymap:
#include "keymap_<layout>.h"
Where <layout> is "colemak" or "dvorak". After including this line, you will get access to:
*`CM_*` for all of the Colemak-equivalent characters
*`DV_*` for all of the Dvorak-equivalent characters
These implementations assume you're using Colemak or Dvorak on your OS, not on your keyboard - this is referred to as a software-implemented layout. If your computer is in Qwerty and your keymap is in Colemak or Dvorak, this is referred to as a firmware-implemented layout, and you won't need these features.
To give an example, if you're using software-implemented Colemak, and want to get an `F`, you would use `CM_F` - `KC_F` under these same circumstances would result in `T`.
## Additional language support
In `quantum/keymap_extras/`, you'll see various language files - these work the same way as the alternative layout ones do. Most are defined by their two letter country/language code followed by an underscore and a 4-letter abbreviation of its name. `FR_UGRV` which will result in a `ù` when using a software-implemented AZERTY layout. It's currently difficult to send such characters in just the firmware (but it's being worked on - see Unicode support).
## Unicode support
You can currently send 4 hex digits with your OS-specific modifier key (RALT for OSX with the "Unicode Hex Input" layout) - this is currently limited to supporting one OS at a time, and requires a recompile for switching. 8 digit hex codes are being worked on. The keycode function is `UC(n)`, where *n* is a 4 digit hexidecimal. Enable from the Makefile.
## Other firmware shortcut keycodes
*`RESET` - puts the MCU in DFU mode for flashing new firmware (with `make dfu`)
*`DEBUG` - the firmware into debug mode - you'll need hid_listen to see things
*`BL_ON` - turns the backlight on
*`BL_OFF` - turns the backlight off
*`BL_<n>` - sets the backlight to level *n*
*`BL_INC` - increments the backlight level by one
*`BL_DEC` - decrements the backlight level by one
*`BL_TOGG` - toggles the backlight
*`BL_STEP` - steps through the backlight levels
Enable the backlight from the Makefile.
## MIDI functionalty
This is still a WIP, but check out `quantum/keymap_midi.c` to see what's happening. Enable from the Makefile.
## Bluetooth functionality
This requires [some hardware changes](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/3psx0q/the_planck_keyboard_with_bluetooth_guide_and/?ref=search_posts), but can be enabled via the Makefile. The firmware will still output characters via USB, so be aware of this when charging via a computer. It would make sense to have a switch on the Bluefruit to turn it off at will.
## Building
Download or clone the whole firmware and navigate to the keyboard/planck folder. Once your dev env is setup, you'll be able to type `make` to generate your .hex - you can then use `make dfu` to program your PCB once you hit the reset button.
Depending on which keymap you would like to use, you will have to compile slightly differently.
### Default
To build with the default keymap, simply run `make`.
Several version of keymap are available in advance but you are recommended to define your favorite layout yourself. To define your own keymap create file named `keymap_<name>.c` and see keymap document (you can find in top README.md) and existent keymap files.
