Assigning Macros for Volume Control. Help?

I just got my new Alienware 17 and trying to assing volume up and down and mute to those macros keys A-D but I can't seem to do it. I used another users APK to see if that would get the problem going but it didn't. Help?

 

I am watching for answers here as well. I have been looking at those buttons and thinking Volume Up; Volume Down, playback pause, and DVD Eject but I have absolutely no idea how to set them up

Yet!!!!

 

Please anyone? Help us!

 

I wanted to know the same thing before buying and someone in the aw17 thread told me he did it. Sounded like a simple matter of assigning them, no tricks or workarounds. Maybe we can ask him?

 

I've tried assigning the keys using all of the settings but nothing allows for FN to be picked nor strung together

 

Search on google something like 'shortcut for volume control up or down', create those shortcuts somewhere like your desktop and then assign them to your A-D buttons. It should not be difficult...

 

That would be a good way to do it Why not just using the regular Fn keys instead anyway? just curious

 

Have you tried just going to the macro editor, and instead of assigning a macro with fn+whatever, try assigning a keystroke of the same? That's how I got it working. (I'm on version 3.0.29.0, not sure if that is the latest)

I think that may have been me.

I can't quite hit fn+down (pause/play) with one hand... Having it mapped to a macro key is just so much more convenient!

 

Dusk Star at the risk of sounding like a noob ............. what Macro Editor?

As soon as I got my computer I replaced the Hard Drives and did a clean install and I can't seem to find a macro editor on my machine. I also could not find Power DVD either but I installed a different copy to get around that.

Porras as Dark Star said have you tried using one hand to hit Fn - (dn Arrow) to pause the playback. It is not a big deal but the media buttons on the R4 were really handy and replacing them with a Fn combination was a step backwards in my opinion.

 

Ah. Have you installed the AlienFX editor? Try installing/opening that, and clicking on the TactX button at the bottom. That's what I meant by the macro editor.

As for sounding like a noob... You've been on this forum for significantly longer than I have. I am much more likely to be the noob in an exchange like this...

 

I'd love to be able to assign my top right two alien shortcut buttons to volume up and down and eliminate the FN key!

 

OK GUYS! that was easy, open up alienware Tactx, go to your macro keys, click which one you want to assign, click assign macro, then create new macro, name it, hit start recording and hit FN+volume up ( and volume down for the volume down hot key ). Hit stop record, WALA, you've got it now! ENJOY!

 

Thanks for helping everyone out (I do not use those buttons for volume etc., I only have them assigned to certain programs; I prefer to use the buttons the way Mr. Porras suggested). +1 Rep.

 

Hitting fn+ a volume up button while busy...playing a game etc.. much harder then just going into the alienware tactX and re- assigning the c and d macro buttons for a one hit volume up and a volume down. I'm actually shocked this wasn't suggested earlier as I tried this for less then one minute once i read this thread.

 

This does not work for me. Hitting the FN key does not register for me.

 

It has to work, FN+your volume up at same time, you have to click start recording, hit this combo, then stop recording. Works like a charm on mine!

 

I just downloaded the latest version of the Alienware Command Center and I tried again and it didn't work

 

Do you guys have the same model of Alienware?
Same operating system?

I don't know, there's gotta be a variable here.

 

When I did it I didn't record a macro, I just used the top option "Assign Keystroke", which I set as fn+whatever.

For reference, I am running the latest CC version, on windows 8 professional. Maybe it doesn't work properly under windows 7?

 

I'm using 7 so we are covering both bases here. Operator error lol. Gotta record the keystroke. Mine works perfect and i love using one button rather then fn+ another keystroke everytime.

Maybe i'll see if i can record a video on my phone later and upload it for you.

 

Thanks I'd appreciate that

 

I just wanted to provide some more feedback about this - I just received my AW17 (Windows 8, clean install) and tried this. I can confirm it worked right away with the 'assign keystroke' function. Volume keys are now on macro keys C and D.

 

Insightful (or anyone else) - I have been tinkering around with The Command Center for a while and it appears clear I cannot use the FN key in either a keystroke setting or a macro setting. Have you been able to resolve it on your end? I am using the new Alienware 17 with Windows 7 and would love to be able to use the macro keys for media. Please let me know. Thanks!!!

 

Hi,

Just received an AW17 laptop on Windows 7. Been playing with the TactX tools and I also can't record macros or enter any keystrokes that use FN + ? keys. When logging a keystroke, you can see CTRL + ? or ALT + ? or SHIFT + ? or pretty much any other keystrokes on the keyboard.

But when you hold or just press the FN key....nothing registers at all.

I upgraded to 3.5.14.0 of the Alienware command center but that made no difference...

Any other thoughts on this? I'm also trying to assign volume controls to the A-D Function keys.

-JeffR

 

You guys, try to import this profile. It's the one I made.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1557352/volume.akp

Doesn't solve the problem with the key, but at least you should have volume controls.

 

Thanks so much for uploading your profile. That does work to establish volume controls on the TactX keys.

But there is a trick to making it work. Don't bother trying to import the new .akp file into the AW Command Center....it screws it up again when it tries to write the new default.akp

What you need to do is make a backup copy of your original default.akp file in your /documents/Alienware TactX folder. Then copy the supplied volume.akp file to overwrite the original default.akp file.

Immediately reboot your system.... Do NOT open AW Command Center at this time to try to take a look at the key assignments as AW Command will screw up the file again.

Once you've rebooted, the volume controls will be assigned to the B, C and D TactX Keys.

Warning....don't ever try to use AW Command to look at the key assignments...it will screw up the default.akp file and the keys won't work any more.

Thanks again for supplying the useable volume.akp file.

-Jeff

 

My pleasure, Jeff.

Good to know about the profile thing.

I'm still thinking about how to use my remaining macro key. I suppose there isn't a way to assign it so that it cycles through energy saving profiles, right? I have Battery saver, Balanced and High-Performance but there's no way to quickly change between them. You have to go through the Control Panel.

 

Running Windows 7 here as well, FN key not being recognised....Could it possibly be a keyboard layout setting?

 

Could you please share this again?

 

That is quite possible because when I try and record a Macro it registers every key press EXCEPT Fn. I have given up trying to assign volume control to the macro keys and hope that they bring the media keys back with the next version of the 17"

 

Sure
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bkm2onpg83d6ko0/volume.akp

 

Thank you very much. This made my supervisor very happy!

He is also with no problem modifying the first macro key (the A) and still it holds on to volume up and down + mute! Now A = @ key, and the 3 last is volume!

He also took a backup of this AKP file to store for later just in case so thanks a lot!

Seems like this problem is windows 7 based!

Update: an restart after modifying the first macro key did not destroy the file!

 

Good

Interesting choice, the @ key...

 

Thanks Mana Cerace. I will install it later tonight.

+1 rep

 

Hi guys, any chance someone still has the volume.akp file and could share it? I cannot assign the FN key on my Alienware 18, so it seems this would be the best option. Thanks in advance for sharing!

Meanwhile I found a different and quite effective solution if your Function Key (FN) cannot be assigned in Alienware TactX.

1. Visit http://www.autohotkey.com/ and download the program (AutoHotKey).
2. Install it.
3. Open the default script and paste my script:

#NotrayIcon
~RControl & Up::
Send {Volume_Up}
Return

~RControl & Down::
Send {Volume_Down}
Return

~RControl & Space::
Send {Volume_Mute}
return

~RControl & F8::
Drive, Eject, D:
return

4. Save the script and run it.
5. Right click on the script file and create a shortcut.
6. Copy the shortcut to [OS partition]\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup - please note that you need to display your hidden and system files in order to see these directories.
7. Run Alienware TactX (in your Alienware Control Center).
8. Choose the Macro Keys you want (on the left or on the right side of the keyboard).
9. Click on the desired Macro Key and assign to it a new macro (with "start recording"):

- Right Control Key + Up Arrow Key (Volume Up)
- Right Control Key + Down Arrow Key (Volume Down)
- Right Control Key + Space (Mute)
- Right Control Key + F8 (Eject Disc)

Or if you prefer you can simply import my settings file (Macro keys on the right - A (Volume Down), B (Volume Up), C (Mute), D (Eject Disc): http://m.punkgamer.pl/web/temp/Media_Keys_A18.akp (Right click to save).

10. Enjoy!

Tip: You can repeat the combination of keys during recording 2 or 3 times if you want to turn up or down the volume much more whenever you press the Macro Key.

Works great on my Alienware 18, should work on all other models without problem.