Cannot map <SHIFT + key> to <ALT+NUM> character

[Sergio0694]

Microsoft PowerToys version

0.53.0

Running as admin

• Yes

Area(s) with issue?

Keyboard Manager

Steps to reproduce

• Open PowerToys
• Go to "keyboard manager"
• Go to "Modify key bindings"
• Press "+" to add a new row for a new key binding
• On the source key, with an it-IT keyboard, click on the button and then try to enter ç (SHIFT + ò).
• On the destination key, with an it-IT keyboard, click on the button and then try to enter ` (ALT + 96)

✔️ Expected Behavior

• The source key should be set to the ç character.
• The destination key should be set to the ` character.

Note that the ` character in particular doesn't exist on a keyboard with it-IT keyboard, which is kinda the point. I'd like to use PowerToys to just have it type a ` for me whenever I enter a ç character (which is useless in Italian anyway), instead of having to manually use ALT + 96 every time, which is rather clunky.

❌ Actual Behavior

• The source key can't be set to ç. PowerToys just toggles between SHIFT and ò when trying to press SHIT + ò to enter ç.
• The destination key can't be set to `. PowerToys just toggles between ALT + NUM9 and ALT + NUM6 when doing ALT + 96.

Note that it seems there's two separate, unrelated issues here:

• Not being able to set a SHIFT + key character as source.
• Not being able to set a destination character by entering ALT + NUM.

I just opened this one issue to track both, but I reckon the two could also be considered as different issues.

[Jay-o-Way]

It's correct that you cannot remap keys/shortcuts to ALT codes. Pressing an ALT code need 5 keys that you do not press all at once, but in order. For that, see issue #6976 or #2927. Therefore, both examples are the same issue. As I always say in my own words: it's a KEY manager, not a CHARACTER manager.

[Sergio0694]

Ah, I see, thanks! Yeah the ALT + NUM issue is definitely just a duplicate of that other one then.
Isn't the issue with no being able to set ç as source key a separate issue though?
As in, SHIFT + ò can be pressed at the same time in order to produce ç, so shouldn't that be supported? 🤔

[Jay-o-Way]

Isn't the issue with no being able to set ç as source key a separate issue though?
As in, SHIFT + ò can be pressed at the same time in order to produce ç, so shouldn't that be supported? 🤔

When SHIFT + ò is physically available on your keyboard, yes, this should be possible. Note: this is two keys. If you open "Remap a key" in PowerToys Settings, here only one key is detected, so you should use "Remap a shortcut". If the letter is not visible, then maybe it's VK_192 in the list.

Scancode	VKey (hex)	Name
27	C0	VK_OEM_3

@crutkas - I assume the list of available keys is based on the lay-out, right?

[crutkas]

if they can do the "Type Key" and see the output as expected, it should work. We do straight vkey remapping currently.