Display key names floating on top of screen (rather than in separate window)

[GoogleCodeExporter]

This is an idea for future versions:

Would it be possible to add an option by which key-mon is not displayed in a 
separate window, but where the key names appear on top of the screen whenever 
one types (probably best with some transparency)?

I think there is screencast tools around which do that. For example the one 
used in Derek Wyatt's vim tutorials, such as:
http://vimeo.com/6170479

best,
flo.H

Original issue reported on code.google.com by fhollerweger01@qub.ac.uk on 14 Mar 2011 at 10:50

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Sorry, just realised this is a replica of #46.

So +1 for #46 then :)

best,
flo.H

Original comment by fhollerweger01@qub.ac.uk on 14 Mar 2011 at 10:51

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Original comment by livibet...@gmail.com on 12 Aug 2011 at 4:33

• Changed state: Duplicate

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Unmerged from Issue 46, it's not the same.

Original comment by livibet...@gmail.com on 18 Aug 2011 at 4:07

• Changed state: New
• Added labels: Component-UI

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Issue 60 has been merged into this issue.

Original comment by livibet...@gmail.com on 18 Aug 2011 at 4:08

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Few things about merges.

1. Unmerge from Issue 46

Issue 46 is purely about the visibility of main window but this issue is about 
showing keys in different window as seen in the video link in the issue 
description.

2. Merging Issue 60 in

The idea of showing '$' instead of 'Shift+4' is acceptable but it would be 
strange for showing '$' in [the key image of] main window because we might 
still have Shift image on main window for keys like 'Shift+F1'. However, it 
still can be done though it would look strange to me. But I would rather to see 
this in the idea of this issue, which is to show '$' on separate window.

3. The issues of the issue

I have thought about implementing this after watched that video. I also checked 
out the ScreenKey which I found out it was based on key-mon as it said in its 
README. (It has probably with dwm because popping floating window will always 
steal focus and that interrupts whatever you are doing.)

As you can see in those Vim tutorial videos, you can observe few things:

 (a) It shows '$'
 (b) It shows Backspace
 (c) It shows Modifier icon + Key

I would like to see '$' if use separate window.

I mention (b) is because I thought it would interpret Backspace and actually 
deleted the last character, but it didn't, it just showed a Backspace icon.

(c), I think this is also expected way to do.

I am thinking to mimic the same functionality. I don't know what that program 
is, if it's Python (on Mac, I guess), I would like to just port it into key-mon.

The representation might look:

  [Ctrl][C]"abcde"[Ctrl][V]"dada"[Enter]

The things enclosed by brackets are the same key images as seen in main window. 
Those by quotes, will be the normal typed text being shown in probably a 
gtk.Label. I don't think the style will match, but that will be dealt with 
later.

The reason to make C in Ctrl+C as [C] is because it's modified by Ctrl key and 
it's not visible. If you watch the video linked above carefully, you can see 
there is ^W, that might be an option. But I would prefer [Ctrl][W].

There is a couple of issues (wouldn't be resolved), I already have in mind:

 (a) Composed result probably wouldn't be shown but in raw key press and we might need a compose key icon.
 (b) So is result of AltGr key.

And I have question:

  What should be the name of this feature? I don't like ScreenKey, it's a program's name not suitable for feature's name.

If I am going to develop this, this probably will be a new branch something 
like 'xyz-dev', I believe this would take a while until it gets stable.

Original comment by livibet...@gmail.com on 18 Aug 2011 at 4:49

[GoogleCodeExporter]

http://pabloseminario.com/projects/screenkey/
A list of screnshots featuring Screenkey.
The name could be keyshow - keydisplay - keypresent.

Original comment by viale.fa...@gmail.com on 3 Jan 2012 at 7:55