Question:

I am looking for a software solution that allows me to create custom key mappings for PC games or emulators. Specifically, I want to be able to assign keyboard keys to specific locations on the screen, so that when I press those keys, it simulates a mouse click on those locations. For example, if I want to make the R key trigger the run action in a game, I want to be able to place an R on the screen where the run button is, and then press R to run. I have tried various key mapping programs, but none of them seem to have this feature. Do you know of any program that can do this, or how I can achieve this functionality?

Answer:

If you are a PC gamer or an emulator enthusiast, you may have wondered how to customize your keyboard to suit your preferences and needs. For instance, you may want to assign keyboard keys to specific locations on the screen, so that when you press those keys, it simulates a mouse click on those locations. This can be useful for games or emulators that do not support keyboard input, or for creating your own shortcuts and macros.

However, finding a software solution that allows you to do this may not be easy. Most key mapping programs only let you remap keys to other keys, or to predefined functions. They do not let you map keys to screen coordinates, or to mouse actions. So, how can you achieve this functionality?

In this article, we will introduce you to some of the best tools that can help you create custom key mappings for PC games or emulators. We will also show you how to use them, and what are their advantages and disadvantages.

Key Remapper

[Key Remapper] is a powerful and versatile tool that lets you remap keys, mouse buttons, and mouse wheel actions. It also allows you to create profiles for different applications, and switch between them easily. One of the unique features of Key Remapper is that it enables you to map keys to mouse clicks on specific screen locations. This is exactly what you need for your scenario.

To use Key Remapper, you need to download and install it from its official website. Then, you need to create a profile for the game or emulator that you want to customize. To do this, click on the Add button at the bottom of the main window, and select the application from the list. You can also drag and drop the application icon to the Key Remapper window.

Next, you need to add the key mappings that you want. To do this, double-click on the profile name, and then click on the Add button at the bottom of the profile window. You will see a dialog box where you can choose the source key, the target key, and the options. For your scenario, you need to select the source key as the keyboard key that you want to use, and the target key as the mouse button that you want to simulate. For example, if you want to make the R key trigger the run action in a game, you need to select R as the source key, and Left Mouse Button as the target key.

Then, you need to specify the screen location where you want the mouse click to happen. To do this, click on the Options button, and then check the box that says “Click at the specified point”. You will see a small window with a crosshair cursor. You need to drag this window to the game or emulator window, and position the cursor over the button that you want to click. For example, if you want to click on the run button in the game, you need to move the cursor over the run button. You will see the coordinates of the cursor in the dialog box. Click on OK to save the settings.

You can repeat this process for any other keys that you want to map to mouse clicks on the screen. When you are done, click on OK to close the profile window. You will see your profile and key mappings in the main window. You can enable or disable them by checking or unchecking the boxes next to them. You can also edit or delete them by right-clicking on them and selecting the appropriate option.

Key Remapper is a great tool for creating custom key mappings for PC games or emulators. However, it has some drawbacks. First, it is not a free tool. You need to pay a registration fee to use all its features. Second, it does not support mapping keys to mouse movements or mouse wheel actions. Third, it does not have a visual keyboard GUI that shows you the remapped keys. Fourth, it does not support mapping keys to combinations of keys or mouse actions. Fifth, it does not support mapping keys to work only in specific windows or regions of the screen.

AutoHotkey

[AutoHotkey] is a free and open-source scripting language that lets you automate tasks and create custom shortcuts and macros. It also lets you remap keys, mouse buttons, and mouse wheel actions. It is one of the most powerful and flexible tools for creating custom key mappings for PC games or emulators. However, it also requires some programming skills and knowledge.

To use AutoHotkey, you need to download and install it from its official website. Then, you need to create a script file that contains the commands and instructions for your key mappings. To do this, you can use any text editor, such as Notepad. You need to save the file with the .ahk extension, and place it in a convenient location.

Next, you need to write the code for your key mappings. AutoHotkey has a rich and comprehensive syntax and documentation that you can refer to for learning how to write scripts. For your scenario, you need to use the following commands:

• `Send` – This command sends keystrokes or mouse clicks to the active window. You can use it to simulate mouse clicks on specific screen locations. For example, if you want to make the R key trigger the run action in a game, you need to write:

“`R::Send {Click 100, 200}“` This means that when you press the R key, it will send a left mouse click at the coordinates (100, 200) on the screen. You need to replace these numbers with the actual coordinates of the button that you want to click in the game or emulator window. You can use a tool like [MousePos] to find out the coordinates of any point on the screen.

• `CoordMode` – This command sets the coordinate mode for mouse commands. You can use it to specify whether the coordinates are relative to the active window or the entire screen. For example, if you want to use the coordinates relative to the game or emulator window, you need to write:

“`CoordMode, Mouse, Window“` This means that the mouse commands will use the coordinates relative to the top-left corner of the active window. You need to write this command before any mouse commands in your script.

• `#IfWinActive` – This command creates a context-sensitive hotkey that only works when a specific window is active. You can use it to make your key mappings work only in the game or emulator window. For example, if you want to make your key mappings work only in the game window with the title “Super Mario Bros.”, you need to write:

“`#IfWinActive, Super Mario Bros.“` This means that the following key mappings will only work when the window with the title “Super Mario Bros.” is active. You need to write this command before any key mappings in your script, and end it with a blank line.

You can repeat these commands for any other keys that you want to map to mouse clicks on the screen. When you are done, you need to save the script file, and run it by double-clicking on it. You will see a green icon with an H in the system tray, indicating that the script is running. You can right-click on this icon to pause, reload, edit, or exit the script.

AutoHotkey is a powerful tool for creating custom key mappings for PC games or emulators. However, it has some drawbacks. First, it requires some programming skills and knowledge. You need to learn the syntax and commands of the scripting language, and debug any errors or issues in your code. Second, it does not have a visual keyboard GUI that shows you the remapped keys. Third, it does not support mapping keys to mouse movements or mouse wheel actions.

Conclusion

In this article, we have introduced you to two of the best tools that can help you create custom key mappings for PC games or emulators. We have also shown you how to use them, and what are their advantages and disadvantages. Depending on your needs and preferences, you can choose the tool that suits you best.

Key Remapper is a user-friendly and versatile tool that lets you remap keys to mouse clicks on specific screen locations. It also allows you to create profiles for different applications, and switch between them easily. However, it is not a free tool, and it does not support mapping keys to mouse movements or mouse wheel actions. It also does not have a visual keyboard GUI, and does not support mapping keys to combinations of keys or mouse actions.

AutoHotkey is a free and open-source scripting language that lets you automate tasks and create custom shortcuts and macros. It also lets you remap keys, mouse buttons, and mouse wheel actions. It is one of the most powerful and flexible tools for creating custom key mappings for PC games or emulators. However, it requires some programming skills and knowledge. It also does not have a visual keyboard GUI, and does not support mapping keys to mouse movements or mouse wheel actions.

We

hope that this article has helped you find the best solution for your scenario. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Happy gaming!