I’ve had a Freestyle Edge keyboard for years now and I have to admit I severely underutilize its macro capabilities, partly because its programming language is so clunky. KM has supplanted that, but I’m wondering how I can assign macros to the 9 “game bank” keys on the left that are doing nothing? …

Do they work as USB Device Triggers? -rob.

I assume you mean USB device key as a trigger (since USB device trigger would activate when the keyboard is plugged in, right?). Nope, they don’t seem to register.

Yea, sorry, USB Device Key Trigger. If they don't show there, then I'm out of ideas—one was my limit :). -rob.

[image] kongjie: The only way I can think of (which I’d like to avoid) is programming those keys in the SmarSet app to be standard key combo I guess you would only need to do that once. But do you want to use those keys because they would be genuinely worth using or because it seems a pity th…

I’ve always been oriented toward using the keyboard over the mouse, but I’m at the age where it’s starting to get harder to learn new key combos. It can also be challenging to find key combos in Word that aren’t already used for something else. That bank of 9 keys is easily accessible, but more impo…

[image] kongjie: I wasn’t familiar with QMK, but looking at it makes me think it’s going to be a heck of a lot to figure out. A nominee for understatement of the year :). -rob.

If the keys are not spotted by either the Hot Key trigger or the USB Device Key trigger, then the only remaining options is to program the keys to simulate keys that can be detected or for something else to detect them and then trigger corresponding macros.

[image] kongjie: I’ve always been oriented toward using the keyboard over the mouse, but I’m at the age where it’s starting to get harder to learn new key combos. I’m no spring chicken and I cope! :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: It helps if one tries to be consistent about which modifier co…

[image] kevinb: I’m puzzled that you should think so! Well, if a keyboard requires a build environment and C programming, that seems complex to me. (I know many support Via and Vial, so there are options, but still, the root is at a very geeky level!) -rob.

I then keep a note of those combinations. Yes, I know most people won’t want that sort of admin, but it helps me to keep things in order. I do this as well; it does get a bit cumbersome, especially when I’m doing it across at least 6 different applications that I use regulary. That said, if a k…

Assigning macro to non-standard key (Kinesis Freestyle Edge)

Questions & Suggestions

mrpasini May 8, 2026, 11:26pm 19

Yes, and there's already a Keyboard Maestro solution to using them, which works with a separate keypad or a built-in one on an extended keyboard:

Assigning macro to non-standard key (Kinesis Freestyle Edge)

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