Windows – Remapping SHIFT + SPACE to an underscore (_)

keyboard shortcutskeyboard-layoutspeedwindows 7

I found this question and was so excited when I found out I could remap my whole keyboard with a really simple Microsoft product called Keyboard Layout Creator.

My problem: Keyboard Layout Creator doesn't allow me to modify the space bar with any "shift state" keys (e. g., Ctrl, Ctrl + Alt, and Shift).

Characters assigned to the SPACE KEY in any shift state must be spacing characters

I want to remap Shift + Space to an underscore (_).

This would be really helpful for me, because my database names are all formatted with underscore separators (e. g., this_is_a_database_name), and I think it'd be faster with this key combination than Shift + -.

Best Answer

This is possible with AutoHotkey:

Download and install the latest version.
Create a new script called underscore.ahk with your favorite text editor.
Write the following in the file and save it:
```
+Space::Send _
```
Double-click the file to run the script.
If you wish, copy the script (or a link to it) in the Startup folder.

Pressing Shift + Space now inserts an underscore.

AutoHotkey script:

+Space::
state := GetKeyState("CapsLock", "T")
if state
    SendPlay {Space}
else
    SendPlay _
return

Space::
state := GetKeyState("CapsLock", "T")
if state
    SendPlay _
else
    SendPlay {Space}
return

What it does:

If CapsLock is not active:
- Space inserts space.
- Shift + Space inserts underscore.
If CapsLock is active:
- Space inserts underscore.
- Shift + Space inserts space.

If you want Space to behave normally when CapsLock is not active, just eliminate the first block.

How to use:

Download and install the latest version.
Save the above script as underscore.ahk, using your favorite text editor.
Double-click the file to run the script.
If you wish, copy the script (or a link to it) in the Startup folder.

How it works:

+Space:: ... return executes ... when Shift + Space is pressed.

+Space:: ... return executes ... when Space is pressed (without modifiers).
state := GetKeyState("CapsLock", "T") checks if CapsLock is active.
- If it is, state is true and the block after if state gets executed.
- If it isn't, state is false and the block after else gets executed.
SendPlay X inserts the character (sequence) X.

You cannot use Send here, since it would trigger the script recursively, resulting in an infinite loop.
return terminates the script at the current point.

The second return is optional, the first isn't. Without the latter, Shift + Space would cause both blocks to get executed.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Windows – How to disable Ctrl+Shift keyboard layout switch (for the same input language) in Windows

Windows – When caps lock is pressed, space bar returns underscore

AutoHotkey script:

What it does:

How to use:

How it works:

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