new Input System does not seem to respond to F13+ keys

Hello!
I am on a project where our users will have the option of using an accessibility device for interactions. For certain operations the device sends out input beyond F12 which seems to be the highest function key the new Input System will recognize. Is there a fix or workaround for this issue besides using a software remapper?

Thanks so much for your help!

 

I don't think it's currently possible since not even the Debugger reacts to those keystrokes. I think the best you can do is open a bug about it. Besides the remap in the keyboard software, of course.

 

Bump. This is a regression from the old input system, which supported up to F15.

Where are we supposed to file bugs now that they closed the github repo?

 

https://forum.unity.com/threads/input-system-introduction-and-links.903905/
See the 'Where do I report issues?' section.

 

I have filed a bug report about this regression. I'll update this thread with any responses from Unity.

 

Got a response from unity:

Seems promising!

 

That's what I was told by Unity support as well. Not a regression after all I guess.

Btw, Unity support asked for some example use cases to justify adding this. I'll copy + paste my response here:

• Many keyboards and mice have extra programmable buttons that don't correspond to any of the standard keys. Gamers often bind these programmable buttons to F13-F24. See for example the Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite.
  
• It is often useful to have "virtual keys" that can have their input controlled by software, without worrying about interference with any hardware. This allows other software to interface with the game software without any special programming on the game's part.
  
• Some keyboards genuinely still have additional function keys. One of my players requesting this feature has a keyboard that goes up to F19.

 

Just wanted to add that there are, indeed, keyboards that have these physical keys.

• Some of Apple's official keyboards have F13 - F19 available. For example, the current Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad. I also found this Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad (zoomed in image) they were selling 10 years ago that had the same keys.
• There are other physical keyboards that have some of those keys, if not all of them. For example, the Unicomp PC 122 has all 24 F keys.

I'm not sure about Unity's backend support, but I can assure you that there is OS support for these keys. Windows fully supports all 12 of the extra function keys. As for MacOS and Linux, the only info I've been able to find is this Mozilla API document. It's logical to assume that MacOS supports F13 - F19, since Apple is selling keyboards with those keys, but I'm not sure about Linux or the other F keys on Macs.

I'm curious. Which backends exactly are Unity using for their input systems?

 

I am on MacOS, I can hit my F15 key to set up a hotkey and it sets the hotkey shortcut text to "F15", but it does not seem to be detected otherwise. On my Logicool keyboard, the F15 is decorated as the Pause/Break key. On other keyboards, these upper F-keys may be decorated as media controls or other shortcuts, but they can be assigned to anything you want them for.