IT4 keyboard layout

Overview

This is an alternative layout for the Italian keyboard, but its principles may be easily adapted to other languages.

It is aimed both at fixing some generic language problems with the original layout, and at helping developers reach more easily the symbols they need.

Letters

• é reachable with a single stroke, on +
• È reachable on shift+è
• î reachable on opt+shift+ì

Those letters are either misplaced or totally absent in the traditional layout.

Symbols

Like in some ancient keyboards, you reach the numbers using shift (or capslock), while the unmodified key outputs a symbol.

• & on 1
• " on 2
• $ on 3
• { on 4
• } on 5
• - on 6
• / on 7
• ( on 8
• ) on 9
• = on 0
• + on shift++
• % on shift+ò
• * on shift+à
• ! on shift+,
• ; on -
• … on opt+,
• • on opt+.
• ° on opt+-

Deadkeys

• long vowel on opt+7
• diaeresis on opt+u
• acute accent on opt+8
• grave accent on opt+9
• circumflex on opt+ì

Full map

I suggest you look at the full map using Ukelele, but here it is anyway.

plain

\ & " $ { } - / ( ) = ' ì

tab q w e r t y u i o p è é

caps a s d f g h j k l ò à ù

lshift < z x c v b n m , . ;

shift

| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 ? ^

tab Q W E R T Y U I O P È +

caps A S D F G H J K L % * §

lshift > Z X C V B N M ! : _

opt

bt ¢ ~ Dl D' Dg ç ¡ D^

tab ə € ® ™ D¨ π [ ]

caps α ß δ γ £ @ #

lshift ≤ † © β D˜ µ … • °

shift+opt

¿ î

tab Ə

caps Δ ‰ — ¶

lshift ≥ · –

capslock

\ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 ' Ì

tab Q W E R T Y U I O P È É

caps A S D F G H J K L Ò À Ù

lshift < Z X C V B N M , . ;

Platforms

This is the OSX version. I did create partial Linux and Windows ports: if anyone is interested in completing them and keeping them up-to-date feel free to contact me.

Installation

1. copy the file IT4.keylayout into /Library/Keyboard Layouts or ~/Library/Keyboard Layouts
2. logout
3. login
4. open "System Preferences" / "Language & Text" / "Input Sources"
5. search for "IT4 Keyboard Layout" and check the box
6. check also "Show Input menu in menu bar"
7. go into the menu bar and select "IT4 Keyboard Layout"

Steps 2 and 3 were necessary in older OSX versions, while may not be required anymore in modern ones.