True. I just found it mildly amusing, the combining of threads. Now we can be a large misery group instead of seperate ones.
But what isn't amusing is the awful keybinding problems we're having, haha. >.< I hope a fix comes out soon.

I'd like to add myself to the list of Left-Handed gamers. I use a Logitech Universal Trackball that sits on the Left side of my keyboard, and I use Numpad (for Movement) and surrounding keys for all of my FPS games.

Alas, it also appears to be the case that techniques useful for remapping through Oblivion.ini are ineffective with Skyrim.ini and SkyrimPrefs.ini. The latter file does contain a [Controls] section. However, various approaches to remapping actions have failed me so far. I am working from

http://cs.elderscrolls.com/constwiki/index.php/IsKeyPressed2

helpfully provided by Jazzlvraz. I tried 00## and 0x## variants with a range of actions likely to have the same names in Skyrim as they did in Oblivion. Maybe I had incredibly bad luck, but it seems more likely that the PC release presently does not support remapping through [Controls] in an .ini file.

Now I must decide if I will run AutoHotKey as a workaround or endure days/weeks/months of owning Skyrim while unable to play without significant discomfort. As wonderful as the game world may be, it counts for less when many thousands of users cannot enjoy it due to a control scheme versatility situation that is well below industry standards. This flaw is not like the beauty mark on Cindy Crawford's face. It is more akin to the toxic sludge pit near Butte, Montana -- for the thousands of people affected by it, the result is real and substantial misery.

If anyone with any ability to communicate with the developers is monitoring this thread, here are a few constructive suggestions . . .

• Enable .ini control remapping -- Some users could address this issue today, if only the [Controls] section of SkyrimPrefs.ini could be modified to assign actions to keys. Apart from enabling that feature, the situation would be greatly helped by a little online documentation including the current list of key codes as well as the current list of action terms. Oblivion was very accommodating, and I cannot imagine a valid reason why Skyrim should be inferior in this regard.
  
• Create a "disable favorites" toggle option -- In the event that the "reserved" status of the 1-8 keys was not arbitrary foolishness but rather a requirement imposed by quirky implementation of the "favorites" feature, it would be wise to allow users to disable "favorites" entirely. This could be a simple compromise solution that gets left-handed users in the game without requiring the "favorites" feature to play nicely with proper remapping capability.
  
• Completely overhaul in game control configuration -- In ideal circumstances, every action would be included in the in game control configuration menu, and each action would accept two different binds (though no bind would be accepted by multiple actions.) At least in this century, I have yet to see an FPS that fails to achieve that standard level of control scheme flexibility. The subset of the team involved with the PC UI has no cause for pride in their work until Skyrim in on par with that standard.

I join others in pleading that this concern be made a high priority. I realize there must be plenty of issues that affect multiple platforms or are of concern to all PC users. However, many of those issues are an understandable result of the ambitious nature of a project like Skyrim. This "reserved" status for 1-8 keys has nothing at all to do with the grand scope of the game. It is a rookie blunder. Until it is fixed, I suspect it will continue to generate criticism that is both legitimate and passionate. More importantly, until it is fixed, a non-trivial number of paying customers will be unable to properly enjoy this enticing world.

I'm another that registered just to make a post about this. Same sentiments as the others here. I'm not even left handed, but I use my mouse with my left hand and num keys with my right. I'm in utter disbelief Bethesda has done this. I can not play unless this is fixed. And even if it is, when will that be?

I remapped left hand to X and right hand to Control, and it won't let me assign spells and items with these keys. I need to use the space bar for some reason and this only equips stuff in my left hand. It refuses to equip anything in the right hand. Am I missing something? I can't play with the default controls, please fix this...

[YOU NEED TO RETURN KEY BINDINGS TO DEFAULT!! If you're downloading autohotkey and have already changed key bindings it won't work. Restore key bindings to default. All you need to do is quit the program from the taskbar when you're done playing Skyrim. This works!!)




I have a poll going on in the general forum about this issue. I was irate about it, but I want to play Skyrim. I did as was suggested and downloaded the Autohotkey program. It works wonderful, and NO you DON"T need to reboot your system to set them back. When you're done playing Skyrim simply left-click (for us lefties, I always say right-click when I know it is left-click for us) in the taskbar on it and exit the program.

http://www.autohotkey.com/

It takes about a total of one minute to download and install it. Anyway for anyone that wants here is how I did it. Note the first key is the key I am binding to, the second key is the key I am binding from. There are two occerences of this for each key, if you read the script it will be very easy to understand and tweak to your hearts content. Here is the best part. I haven't done it yet, but you can take num lock off and use the keys again to bind for the hot keys. That I will work on maybe tomorrow. I hope this helps someone....This is the post I did in General Forum a couple hours ago:

Okay, so I was very frustrated last night when I started playing and could not bind keys to the keypad. Also there are those who are upset that they cannot bind certain other keys. Well this is a 100% fix.

(1) you need to download a program called Autohotkey (very easy to find download and install.)
(2) Open Notepad

Here is what I personally wrote in, you may change it according to your taste:

#IfWinActive Skyrim

*numpad5::
send {w down}
return
*numpad5 up::
send {w up}
return

*numpad4::
send {a down}
return
*numpad4 up::
send {a up}
return

*numpad2::
send {s down}
return
*numpad2 up::
send {s up}
return

*numpad6::
send {d down}
return
*numpad6 up::
send {d up}
return

*numpaddot::
send {q down}
return
*numpaddot up::
send {q up}
return

*numpadsub::
send {r down}
return
*numpadsub up::
send {r up}
return

*numpad0::
send {e down}
return
*numpad0 up::
send {e up}
return

*numpad7::
send {Tab down}
return
*numpad7 up::
send {Tab up}
return

*numpad8::
send {f down}
return
*numpad8 up::
send {f up}
return

*numpad1::
send {Space down}
return
*numpad1 up::
send {Space up}
return

*Right::
send {LAlt down}
return
*Right up::
send {LAlt up}
return

*numpad9::
send {z down}
return
*numpad9 up::
send {z up}
return

*numpadAdd::
send {Ctrl down}
return
*numpadAdd up::
send {Ctrl up}
return

*Down::
send {Capslock down}
return
*Down up::
send {Capslock up}
return

*Up::
send {c down}
return
*Up up::
send {c up}
return

*Pgdn::
send {F5 down}
return
*Pgdn up::
send {F5 up}
return

*NumpadDiv::
send {m down}
return
*NumpadDiv up::
send {m up}
return

*PgUp::
send {i down}
return
*PgUp up::
send {i up}
return


#IfWinActive

(3) Save file to desktop as: skyrim.ahk

(4) Before you play skyrim double click on the skyrim.ahk file on your desktop you should notice an H in your taskbar now, meaning it is active. Open Skyrim and play.

Thank you to this website at Reddit for the tips on getting this working:
http://www.reddit.co...skyrim_and_the/

Here are a list of all of most of the keys as a reference when you edit the file:
Activate - E
Ready/Sheathe - R
Character Menu - Tab
Toggle POV - F
Jump - Space
Sprint - Alt
Shout/Power - Z
Sneak - Ctrl
Run - Shift
Toggle Always Run - CapsLock
Auto-Move - C
Favorites - Q
Quicksave - F5
Quickload - F9
Wait - T
Journal - J
Quickload - F9
Wait - T
System Tab - Esc
Quick Inventory - I
Quick Magic - P
Quick Stats - ?/
Quick Map - M

Here is the list of keys for AutoHotkey:

Note: The names of the letter and number keys are the same as that single letter or digit. For example: b is the "b" key and 5 is the "5" key.

Space - the spacebar
Tab
Enter (or Return)
Escape (or Esc)
Backspace (or BS)

Delete (or Del)
Insert (or Ins)
Home
End
PgUp
PgDn
Up
Down
Left
Right

ScrollLock
CapsLock
NumLock

Numlock ON Numlock OFF
Numpad0 NumpadIns
Numpad1 NumpadEnd
Numpad2 NumpadDown
Numpad3 NumpadPgDn
Numpad4 NumpadLeft
Numpad5 NumpadClear
Numpad6 NumpadRight
Numpad7 NumpadHome
Numpad8 NumpadUp
Numpad9 NumpadPgUp
NumpadDot (.) NumpadDel
NumpadDiv (/) NumpadDiv (/)
NumpadMult (*) NumpadMult (*)
NumpadAdd (+) NumpadAdd (+)
NumpadSub (-) NumpadSub (-)
NumpadEnter NumpadEnter


F1 through F24 - The 12 or more function keys at the top of most keyboards.

AppsKey - this is the key that invokes the right-click context menu.

LWin - the left Windows logo key
RWin - the right Windows logo key. Note: unlike Control/Alt/Shift, there is no generic/neutral "Win" key because the OS does not support it.
Control (or Ctrl)
Alt
Shift
Note: The hotkeys Shift::, Alt::, and Control:: fire upon release of the key unless they have the tilde prefix such as ~Alt::. By contrast, a specific left or right hotkey such as LAlt:: fires when it is pressed down.

Note: For the most part, these next 6 keys are not supported by Windows 95/98/Me. Use the above instead:
LControl (or LCtrl) - the left control key
RControl (or RCtrl) - the right control key
LShift - the left shift key
RShift - the right shift key
LAlt - the left Alt key
RAlt - Note: If your keyboard layout has AltGr instead of RAlt, you can probably use it as a hotkey prefix via <^>! as described here. In addition, "LControl & RAlt::" would make AltGr itself into a hotkey.

PrintScreen
CtrlBreak
Pause
Break -- Since this is synonymous with Pause, use ^CtrlBreak in hotkeys instead of ^Pause or ^Break.




Enjoy!


ETA: If you have already changed the binding on certain keys, don't forget to return them to default in order for the program to work and assign the keys correctly. It will be a lot easier that way.

I cant play

P. S.

If you are having difficulty figuring out how to tweak the script above, send me an IM with where you want the key bindings to go and I will tweak it for you and send it to you. That way all you will have to do is put it on your desktop and open it. It works and is not that hard.

Anyone have run into this bug? Once I have set a spell to my -left click- or -right hand- I can not remove the spell from that hand or change to another spell.... The only way to remove the spell is to put a weapon in that hand to remove the spell, then remove the weapon and put in a new spell. This happens in both the magic menu and the favorites menu. The -right click- or -left hand- works normally, I am able to add/remove spells from it no problem. I noticed the problem a couple of times early on but it seemed to go away. It seems when I got the destruction upgrade that lets you combine the same spell from both hands, it turned into a permanent problem....

very annoying. Setting hotkeys for spells is a workaround.....but i wish it worked correctly.... I was just getting use to the clunky UI....

Not only am I left handed, but I type using the Dvorak keyboard layout. Even if I'm forced to use ASWD, The A and the S are on opposite sides of the keyboard! After waiting 4 years, I seriously hope this gets fixed...

Just figured this one out for myself. Seems that if you custom bind Toggle POV the F key will not work for Favorites inside menus & if you custom bind Ready/Sheath the R key will not work inside menus either (for such things as Drop). This is highly upsetting.

EDIT: Add the Activate bound to E to the list of keys that won't work after custom binding.

My only issue with keymapping so far is that the game references default key binds in its hints, not the custom settings I use (I don't use WASD, I use the far less common QWES layout).

That's very helpful of you Calender, cheers mate.

However, Bethesda should have a fix for simple keybindings already.
(Of course they shouldn't have released a game in such apauling state to begin with)

Update: All attempts to use autohotkey have failed. Deleted all save files and all other config files. This did not produce desired results.

I also tried using Key Tweaks to alter the registry of the key inputs. This did NOT work. I restared my computer several times while making changes, all leading to no changes in game. Bethesda must have some agenda to prevent me from playing this game. I am completely baffled as to how changing the registry did not work. The keys were correctly remapped in all other applications and games. I am at a loss of words right now, as I have no alternatives.

Another person disapointed that this was overlooked. I dont want to have to use a third party program to have to fix such a simple and poorly thought out problem.
svck it up, get it fixed.

Registered to log this complaint with the rest of you.

But I want it to be clear: fixing the numpad keys is not enough. The UI is a disaster. Every action needs a custom bind option, and the UI needs to reflect these changes and respond to them. This is not optional. This is not just for lefties. This is fundamental to PC gaming.

The lack of keybinds and the glitches with binds that do exist make this otherwise brilliant game unplayable.

Please help us enjoy this game - you've clearly worked so hard on it, it's beautiful, bravo, just don't leave your PC customers hanging like this.

Gah. I just spent twenty minutes trying to figure out how to drop a freaking basket. It insisted I push "R". It turns out you have to push your "Ready Weapon" key, which has nothing to do with R on mine (it is bound to "[", which I map to a side mouse button.)

Then I spent a half an hour trying to figure out why the Favorites weren't working, when it turns out that I simply mapped the controls to keys they weren't expecting. Why does C and V as 'PoV' and 'Favorites' not work, when Y and C does?

Is it so hard to just let us click on the freaking thing?

I am another person who needs to have access to the numpad. I have never, ever played a game that would not let me remap to these keys... and it's not just leftys, I am right handed... I use a Microsoft Sidewinder keyboard with the numpad placed on the left side. I have always used the numpad for all games.

I really hope someone finds a way to remap these "reserved keys", as I cannot stand using the xbox controller. I really can't believe they have the key mapping set up this way.

I read that some people are using Auto hotkey to fix this somehow... is there a tutorial on how to do this?

Any help is appreciated.

Would be great to have a Bethesda modo to give their position (even if it's still unbelievable that they ve made such crap) ! People we see now that the dev platforms are consoles and no more pc...

I too am in the "use ESDF for movement" club, and I too am totally unable to use Favorites in-game. Skyrim has some algorithm for moving commands around as you remap keys, but the fact that they didn't unify this with the inventory keys -- and the fact that the inventory UI doesn't accurately reflect any remappings -- make this really painful. Very disappointing, indeed. I do hope this gets priority for a fix. In the meantime I will try using a 360 controller, which is definitely NOT my preference.

Edit: OK, I went the autohotkey route and I came up with a viable solution. Here's my script for using ESDF for movement:

#IfWinActive Skyrim *e:: send {w down} return *e up:: send {w up} return *s:: send {a down} return *s up:: send {a up} return *d:: send {s down} return *d up:: send {s up} return *f:: send {d down} return *f up:: send {d up} return *g:: send {f down} return *g up:: send {f up} return *a:: send {g down} return *a up:: send {g up} return *w:: send {e down} return *w up:: send {e up} return #IfWinActive 

This simply maps ESDF to WASD, so you can leave the default movement keys alone -- in particular, you DON'T remap the F key in game, which is what breaks favorites. It also rearranges some other keys (e.g. using G in place of F, using A in place of G) just to make sure all keys are still reachable.

With this config I can use favorites and ESDF together. THANK YOU, AUTOHOTKEY! And thanks to the poster in the last page or two who posted their autohotkey numpad script, it really helped!

I just simly want to use the third mouse button for 1st person/3rd person view AND be able to use the favorites menu. Bethesda, please help me!

By the way if I alter the above key mapping plus I change the Ready weapon key to something else I can't drop items with the default R key. I'm guessing this is the same issue.

As said by Hep this morning (page2), Autohotkey works fine, you have to install it, create a new text file (right-click on the desktop, new, text file), copy paste the script below (you can then personalize it), save it as Skyrim.ahk and then open it with autohotkey (right-click on it, "open with", and then find autohotkey exe in your program files folder (check the "always do this for this type of file or something" box, so next time you'll just have to double-click on Skyrim.ahk to run the script)).

If it doesn't work, try hitting Verr. Num. ? If that doesn't work, i don't have a clue, i only did what i wrote here...


Here is the script :

#NoEnv
SendMode Input
SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir%

Numpad7::r
Numpad8::w
Numpad4::a
Numpad5::e
Numpad6:: d
Numpad1::z
Numpad2::s
Numpad3::j
NumpadDot::Tab

(Take the space out between the "::" and the "d", because of forum smileys...)

That's all you need, you can change 0, 9 and the other numpad keys in the controls, in-game.

I'm in the (I think) pretty exclusive "WERC for movement" club and am facing much the same problems as everyone here. The interface keybinding simply doesn't correspond with my custom keybinding and I'm completely incapable of performing certain actions in the interfaces.

In my case it's pretty much fatal - I'm unable to drop things or store them in corpses. My only means of disposal is to eat them, and only the edible stuff at that. I'm doomed to either 1) reset my keys to default every time I want to get something out of my inventory, or 2) walk encumbered the entire game.

I'm going for 3) autohotkey for now, but for Bethesda's own sake I hope it overhauls its keybinding system before this thread grows fifty pages long.

I just remember Aion and STO both having the same key-binding issues when first released.
What really bugs me though is the fact that I′m seemingly unable to learn from prior mistakes...

"Favorites" still works fine, you have to use the new key you assigned to POV instead of F to make an object favorite...

Same principle for some other options in the menus. It's good to have the manual (page2 - map of the controls) to see what does what

I know it's quite confusing, looks like bethesda messed up with menus and controls... but hey, the game is great and once you're accustomed to your controls it works really fine !