Using an XK-24 in Minecraft
If you've ever wished you could have a dedicated keypad for Minecraft, we have you covered. Like many games, Minecraft uses a lot of keyboard controls. All the keyboard functions in Minecraft can be mapped to our XK-24. We can even launch Minecraft from the keypad. Here's how we did it, and you can too.
Use Our Minecraft Layout for the XK-24
- First download our layout here: xk24_minecraft.mw3
- Open MacroWorks 3 and go to "File" and then "Open." Select
the file you just downloaded.
- MW3 will ask you what device it is for. Choose the XK-24.
- Go to "File" and then "Apply." Choose your device (it
should automatically populate the field) and click "Apply."
- Program key #2 to launch Minecraft (see instructions below).
- Download our mock up of the layout below to help you label your keys.
Programming Your Own Minecraft Layout
First, make note of the default control assignments in Minecraft (access it from Options... then Controls...).
Then take note of the other commands used regularly in Minecraft, such as the number row keys and the scroll wheel for switching tools. Now, you're ready to program!
Launching Minecraft
Setting an X-keys to launch Minecraft, or other programs, is very simple!
- Open up a key for programming, either by double-clicking on it or physically
pressing it on your device. Make sure that the "Shortcut" option is
selected.
- At the bottom of the middle pane, you'll see a "Details" box.
- Click "File..." and a navigation box will pop up.
- Locate your copy of Minecraft.exe. In this example, it is located on my desktop.
Click on it and choose "Open."
- Save your key
Programming Repeating Keys
To make sure you get a good repeat rate and don't have any timing problems, you can use our trick:
- Open up a key for programming either by double-clicking on it or physically
pressing it on your device. Ensure that you have "Keystrokes" selected.
- Press your key (in this example, "W"), but do not let go of it
just yet.
- Move your mouse into the "On Press" box and click. You should see
your cursor flash in the box now. Let go of the key you were holding.
- Click into the "On Press" box again, then navigate to the "Functions" pane
on the right. Expand the "X-keys" tree item if it is not already expanded,
and double-click on "Auto Repeat" to add it to your key.
- Drag both the "Delay" and "Repeat Rate" sliders all the
way down to "-1." This will mimic your operating system's repeat
rate most closely.
- Save your key.
You can repeat these steps for all the functions you use in Minecraft.
The above trick ties the "down" state of the W key to the "down" state of the physical X-keys key, as well as "up" to "up." This can help eliminate timing issues, because the X-keys can sometimes send too fast for games to pick up. The autorepeat repeats the "down" state of the W key until you let go, allowing the key to behave just like a normal hardware key.
Programming Mouse Functions
In Minecraft, you can use the scroll wheel to swap tools. You can emulate this with your XK-24, following these simple steps:
- Open up a key for programming, either by double-clicking on it or physically
pressing it on your device.
- Navigate to the "Functions" panel on the right hand side, and under "Mouse" find "Mouse
Scroll." Double-click on it to add it to your key.
- At the bottom of the middle pane, you'll see a "Details" box. Adjust
it to the value you need. "1" is the correct selection for next
tool in Minecraft. "-1" will give you previous tool.
- Save your key.

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