I created a personalized keyboard layout using Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator (MSKLC) and named it with the suffix “Custom.”
When I need to make changes, I uninstall the old layout, install the modified one, and rename it to identify the version. However, even after reinstalling and renaming the layout, Windows still displays the old name.
Upon checking the registry entry in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Keyboard Layouts, I noticed that the Layout Text key still contains the old name. I tried renaming it, but Windows did not reflect the change. I’m unsure where else Windows might be storing the old name and how to change it.
For reference, I am running 64-bit Windows 8.1.
3 Answers
Introduction
Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator (MSKLC) is a powerful tool that allows users to create custom keyboard layouts for their Windows operating system. It is a free tool that enables users to define new keyboard layouts, modify existing ones, and even create keyboard layouts for different languages. However, renaming a custom keyboard layout made in MSKLC can be a bit tricky, as Windows tends to hold onto the old name even after you’ve renamed it. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to rename a custom keyboard layout made in MSKLC and update it in Windows.
Step 1: Uninstall the Old Keyboard Layout
The first step in renaming a custom keyboard layout made in MSKLC is to uninstall the old keyboard layout. To do this, open the Control Panel and navigate to the “Region and Language” settings. From there, click on the “Keyboards and Languages” tab and then click on the “Change keyboards” button. This will open the “Text Services and Input Languages” window.
In the “Text Services and Input Languages” window, select the old keyboard layout that you want to uninstall and click on the “Remove” button. This will remove the old keyboard layout from your system.
Step 2: Install the Modified Keyboard Layout
The next step is to install the modified keyboard layout that you want to rename. To do this, open MSKLC and load the modified keyboard layout file. From there, click on the “Project” menu and select the “Build DLL and Setup Package” option. This will create a new installation package for your modified keyboard layout.
Once the installation package has been created, run it to install the modified keyboard layout on your system.
Step 3: Rename the Keyboard Layout
After installing the modified keyboard layout, you can now rename it. To do this, open the Registry Editor by pressing the Windows key + R and typing “regedit” in the Run dialog box.
Navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet001ControlKeyboard Layouts. This key contains a list of all the keyboard layouts installed on your system.
Locate the registry entry for your modified keyboard layout. The entry will be named something like “0000
Step 4: Update the Keyboard Layout Text
After renaming the registry entry for your keyboard layout, you need to update the keyboard layout text that Windows displays. To do this, navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet001ControlKeyboard Layouts<language code>-<layout code>.
In this key, locate the “Layout Text” value and double-click on it to open the Edit String dialog box. Change the name of the keyboard layout to the new name you want to give it and click “OK” to save the changes.
Step 5: Restart Your Computer
After making these changes, restart your computer to ensure that the new keyboard layout name is displayed correctly. Once your computer has restarted, go to the “Text Services and Input Languages” window in the Control Panel and check that your keyboard layout is now displayed with the new name.
Conclusion
Renaming a custom keyboard layout made in MSKLC can be a bit tricky, but by following these steps, you can easily update the name of your keyboard layout and ensure that it is displayed correctly in Windows. Remember to always backup your registry before making any changes, and be careful when editing registry entries. With a bit of patience and attention to detail, you can create and rename custom keyboard layouts that perfectly suit your needs.
To rename a custom keyboard layout made in MSKLC, you can follow these steps:
- Open the MSKLC software and open your keyboard layout project.
- Go to the “Properties” tab and click on the “General Properties” button.
- In the “General Properties” window, you will see the “Layout Name” field. You can modify the name of your layout here.
- Save the layout project and then build the layout by clicking on the “Project” menu and selecting “Build DLL and Setup Package”.
- Uninstall the old layout by going to the “Control Panel”, clicking on “Clock, Language, and Region”, and then selecting “Language”.
- In the “Language” window, click on “Advanced settings” in the right pane and then click on the “Change input methods” button.
- In the “Text Services and Input Languages” window, click on the “Language Bar” tab and then click on the “Change Keyboard” button.
- In the “Text Services and Input Languages” window, click on the “Keyboards and Languages” tab and then click on the “Change Keyboards” button.
- In the “Text Services and Input Languages” window, click on the “General” tab and then click on the “Add” button.
- In the “Add Input Language” window, select the layout you want to install from the list and click on the “OK” button.
- After installing the new layout, you can go back to the “Text Services and Input Languages” window and select the new layout from the list. The name of the layout should now be updated to the name you specified in the MSKLC project.
It’s also worth noting that you may need to log out and log back in for the changes to take effect.
As a final thought, it’s important to note that renaming a custom keyboard layout made in MSKLC is a simple process, but it does require you to rebuild and reinstall the layout in order for the changes to take effect. It’s also important to follow the steps carefully to ensure that the new layout is installed correctly. If you have any issues or questions along the way, it may be helpful to refer to the MSKLC documentation or seek additional assistance.
Unfortunately, the MSKLC program does not have a feature to edit the name that displays, so you will need to manually edit the .klc file using a text editor. To do this, you should first uninstall the previous keyboard you have installed in Windows. Then, right-click on the .klc file and open it with a text editor. Look for the old name that you want to update (it’s usually located near the end of the .klc file) and simply edit that name without changing anything else in the file. After making the edit, save the file.
Next, open the .klc file in MSKLC and go to Project > “Properties…” to check if the metadata is all correct. Make sure there are no spaces in the Name field, as this may cause errors during validation before building (the potential error will be logged in the log file).
Finally, build the keyboard by going to Project > Build DLL and Setup Package, and then install the setup file that was created. The name should now be updated.