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From: jxf@altair.cis.ksu.edu (Jerry Frain)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Solution: swapping keys on extended keyboard
Message-ID: <1991Jan4.065438.19493@maverick.ksu.ksu.edu>
Date: 4 Jan 91 06:54:38 GMT
Sender: news@maverick.ksu.ksu.edu (The News Guru)
Organization: Kansas State University
Lines: 57

Last night, I posted the solution to logically swapping the caps lock and
control keys on the Apple extended keyboard to comp.sys.mac.programmer
(I finished my the job at 3:00am, and had to share my accomplishment
with the rest of the world).

I neglected to include the hardware side of this solution, for a number
of reasons.  Anyway, due to the popularity of this information, I'm
posting an e-mail reply I received to my original query about swapping
keys that I posted to this newsgroup.  It's good information, and a
very good description of what to expect (thanks Margarita!).

Enjoy.

  --Jerry Frain, jxf@cis.ksu.edu


> From: Margarita Suarez <marg@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu>
> To: jxf@cis.ksu.edu
> Subject: Re: Swapping keys on extended keyboard
> Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
> 
>               well, anyway to answer your question, if you remove the
> keycaps for the two keys, you'll see the button mechanism.  it's hard to
> describe, but basically the keyboard base has a black plastic clip
> between which the button sits with a spring under it.  i don't recommend
> trying this unless you're good with working with tiny parts *and
> figuring out how they are supposed to go together*.  i've done it
> successfully several times (swapping the lock mechanism around and then
> deciding i didn't want to lock either of the keys, so i put it somewhere
> else).  i'll try to describe what you'll encounter, but really, you're
> pretty much on your own once all the tiny parts fall out of place...
> 
>       \\        \         
>        \\________\ <- one side of black plastic clip
>         \________\
>         |   __   |
>       \ |  [__]  | <- key mechanism
>        \|________|
>          \_______\ <- other side of black plastic chip
> 
> what you need to do is pull the key mechanism out by carefully prying
> apart the sides of the clip and pulling up on the mechanism.  the
> lock-down type mechanism has a small white plastic part and a spring, so
> be careful not to lose any pieces.  there are also metal clips which act
> like springy things too.  note where they go.
> 
> basically the trick is to remove both key mechanisms and just swap them.
> easy as that, except the simple bouncy mechanism has 1 spring, 2 metal
> clips and a plastic piece that you have to hold in place while replacing
> it.  the spring will tend to jump out of the way at the last minute, so
> do it carefully and check that the key is bouncing right when you're
> done (if not, try again).
> 
> the locking mechanism has 1 spring, 2 metal clips, and a cryptic little
> white plastic piece (the lock).  this is the hardest one to figure out,
> but if you were able to fit the bouncy one, you can do this too.