Kinesis KB600-de, KB600-se, KB600-uk Quick Start Manual

QUICK START GUIDE (European Models)

Kinesis® Advantage2 Keyboard with the SmartSet Programming Engine

European Models: KB600-de, KB600-se, KB600-uk (see kinesis.com for US & limited edition models)

Your Advantage2™ keyboard combines Kinesis’ time-tested Contoured™ design with low-force Cherry mechanical key
switches and the powerful new SmartSet™ Programming Engine™. The fully programmable Advantage2 sets a new
standard for comfort and productivity. With the driverless SmartSet Programming Engine, you can quickly remap keys,
record macros, build custom layouts, and access all the
Onboard Programming Tools using the Program Key.
However, Power User Mode grants access to Advanced
Features such as direct-editing, backup, and sharing of the
configuration text files, and easy firmware updates, via the
integrated v-drive™ (virtual removable drive).

No special software or drivers are needed. The Advantage2 is
plug-and-play with all operating systems that support full­featured USB keyboards.*

This Quick Start Guide covers the installation and basic setup
of the Advantage2. For detailed instructions on customizing your Advantage2, Advanced Features, and Warranty
Information please download the Advantage2 User’s Manual at: kinesis.com/advantage2-resources.

Installation

1. Plug Advantage2 into your computer’s USB port. A device installation notice will appear on your screen.

2. When the auto-installation is completed, you should see a “device is ready to use” notice on your screen.

3. For maximum comfort, install the replaceable adhesive palm pads onto the keyboard’s integrated palm rests.

4. OPTIONAL: If you are connecting an Advantage foot pedal (FS007RJ11, FS007TAF) to the keyboard, plug it into the
telephone-style connector at the back of the keyboard using the coupler provided with the pedal.

Important Note

The SmartSet Programming Engine provides powerful tools for customizing the keyboard’s layout and settings. Because of
the risk of inadvertent reprogramming, Kinesis recommends that ALL USERS read this Quick Start Guide before using the
keyboard. Even users familiar with the original Advantage keyboard are advised to read this guide since some
programming commands have changed and new commands have been added.

Warning
The Advantage2 keyboard is not a medical treatment. Please consult the User’s Manual for basic Safety & Health Tips.

*Certain KVM and specialized telephony devices do not support programmable keyboards like the Advantage2. If you

experience compatibility problems please visit the Advantage2 Resources page (link above) or contact Kinesis Technical
Support.

Fig 1. KB600-uk with United Kingdom specic layout

© 2018 by Kinesis Corporation, all rights reserved. Printed in the USA on recycled paper. Smartset is protected by U.S. patent 9,535,581.
KINESIS is a registered trademark of Kinesis Corporation. ADVANTAGE2, CONTOURED KEYBOARD, SMARTSET and V-DRIVE are trademarks of Kinesis Corporation.
WINDOWS, MAC, ANDROID, and CHERRY are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation, Apple, Inc., Google, Inc., and Cherry Gmbh, respectively.

KINESIS CORPORATION

22030 20th Avenue SE, Suite 102

Bothell, Washington 98021 USA

[e-mail] www.kinesis.com

Default layouts

The standard factory layouts are shown below for the available European language models. The keyboard will work with any
language driver but the keycaps will only be correctly legended for German, Swedish, and United Kingdom using the
appropriate Windows keyboard drivers.

Fig 2. KB600-de, German Layout (“de” firmware version)

Fig 3. KB600-se, Swedish Layout (“de” firmware version”)

Fig 4. KB600-uk, United Kingdom Layout (“uk” firmware version)

Thumb Key Modes: PC, Windows, and Mac

Users may configure the four modifier keys in the thumb-operated clusters in one of three modes. All European models of the
Advantage2 keyboard have firmware which defaults to PC mode. PC mode features the “Alt Gr” key which is used to generate
the special key actions legended on the right side of certain keycaps. Windows or Mac mode may be enabled using the
onboard shortcuts Program + F7, and Program + F5 respectively. Users who require both a Windows key and an Alt Gr key can
“remap” a Windows key action from the keypad layer of F1 or F2 to the key of their choice (see User’s Manual). An extra
Windows keycap and keycap removal tool are included for this purpose.

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SmartSet Programming Engine

Many users will want to move (“remap”) one or more key actions. Others may want to store macros (pre-recorded key
sequences) triggered by a single alphanumeric key alone or in combination with a modifier key. There are also a number of
unique features (e.g. “Status Report”) and settings (e.g. key clicks, toggle tones) that can be adjusted. The SmartSet
Programming Engine gives you three different ways to customize keyboard settings and layouts: Onboard Programming (see
below), the SmartSet App (Must be used with U.S. English keyboard driver. Check Kinesis website for availability), and for
power users, Direct Programming (see Advantage2 keyboard User’s Manual).

SmartSet Onboard Programming Tools

To access the SmartSet Onboard Programming Tools (Fig 5), press and hold the Program Key (“progm”), then press the
appropriate key in the Function Key row, then release all keys. One or more LEDs will flash to indicate the programming
command was successful. Continuous LED flashing indicates that further actions are necessary to complete the programming
command (e.g., for macros and remaps). To exit any active “Program Mode” simply tap the Program Key.

Fig 5. Funcon Key Row (Cherry low-force ML mechanical key switches with tacle ridges)

Note: Actions legended in lower case require only the Program Key to activate, whereas actions legended in CAPS require the
Program Key plus Shift Key to activate.

SmartSet Function key actions

•status (progm+esc): Prints detailed configuration Status Report to the screen.

Important note: The keyboard cursor must be in an active text editing screen
before running Status Report!

•qwert (progm+F3): Enables the QWERTY Layout, with any customizations.

•dvork (progm+F4): Enables the U.S. Dvorak Layout, which is not optimized for

other languages. Kinesis recommends this setting only if you are using English.

•mac (progm+F5): Enables Mac mode for thumb keys. Non-U.S. keyboards are

not legended for Mac mode so testing will be required to understand all key
actions with non-U.S. languages and keyboard drivers.

•pc (progm+F6): PC mode, the default thumb key mode for European models. It

Fig 6. Status Report example (defaults shown for the
firmware used in German & Swedish keyboards)

Model> Advantage2
Firmware> 1.0.431.de (4MB), 11/14/2017
Acve layout file> qwerty.txt
Thumb keys mode> pc
Macro play speed> off=0, slow=1, normal=3, fast=9> 3
Status report play speed> off=0, slow=1, normal=3,
fast=4> 3
Keyclick status> on
Toggle tone status> on
Stored macros> 0
Keys remapped> 2

enables two Ctrl keys and two Alt keys, where the right Alt will perform as “Alt Gr.” If you want a Win key, it can be remapped to your
preferred location from the keypad layer (F1 or F2 with keypad on).

•win (progm+F7): Enables the default Windows Thumb Key Mode where the RAlt key (AltGr) becomes RWin. If you use this mode

with a European keyboard driver, you will not have access to AltGr. Another option is to use PC mode and remap a “Win” action (from
the keypad layer of F1 or F2) to your preferred location.

•click (progm+F8): Turns off/on the default Electronic Key Click feature. This is designed to help you avoid “bottoming out” the key.

•TONE (progm+Shift+F8): Turns off/on the Electronic Tone to alert users that keys for special “toggle” actions (Caps lock, Num lock,

Scroll lock, Insert, Keypad) have been hit. Two tones (double beep) indicates feature is “turned on” and one tone means “turned off.”

•RESET (progm+Shift+F9): Performs a Soft Reset which erases any key remapping, macros, and non-default thumb key mode

setting for the active layout. It does not reset macro speed, click, or tone settings. To perform a Hard Reset which erases all non­default settings in both QWERTY and Dvorak layouts, hold progm+F9 until LEDs start flashing while plugging in keyboard.

•macro speed (progm+F10, then tap number row 1-9 or 0): Sets the global macro playback speed. Setting “0” Disables macro

playback. Playback speed can also be set for individual macros (see User’s Manual).

•progm macro (progm+F11): Enter Program Macro Mode. Step 1: select the trigger key(s). LEDs will flash fast prompting selection

of the trigger. One alphanumeric key alone will suffice but can be combined with one or more modifier keys to serve as the macro
trigger. Step 2: type the desired macro content (LEDs flash slowly while macro contents are being recorded). To stop recording, exit
Program Macro Mode by tapping the Program Key. Note: For detailed macro programming instructions including setting individual

macro playback speed and delays, see User’s Manual.

•progm remap (progm+F12): Enter Program Remap Mode. Step 1: select the source key/action. LEDs will flash fast prompting

selection of the source key. Step 2: select the destination key (LEDs flash slowly awaiting selection of the destination key).

Step 3: Program Remap Mode remains active and will continue to accept key remapping “pairs” until exiting Remap mode by tapping
the Program Key. In Program Remap Mode the keyboard temporarily reverts to the default layout when selecting source actions.

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Print Screen, Scroll Lock & Pause Break

These keys perform standard keyboard functions which will depend on your Operating System and the application.

Fig 7. Volume keys in keypad layer

Multimedia Keys

The multimedia keys reside in the keypad layer and perform Mute, Volume Down, and Volume Up.

Keypad Key & Keypad Layer

The Keypad Key toggles on a second virtual keyboard layer (the “keypad layer”) that can be used to remap
keys and store macros, or access the multimedia keys and the embedded numeric 10-key in the right keywell.

Fig 8. 10-Key in Keypad Layer

Each QWERTY and Dvorak Layout contains its own keypad layer that can be customized (see Fig 8). Keypad
Layer actions are legended on the front of the main keys and in blue on the function keys. PC Note: Num Lock

must to be on for 10-Key actions to register.

Remapping to or from the Keypad Layer

You may remap keys from Keypad Layer to the Top Layer and vice versa. Simply tap the Keypad Key before
or during the remap process to move between the two keyboard layers. For example, to remap from the
Keypad Layer to the Top Layer, press the Keypad Key to enter the Keypad Layer, enter Remap Mode, select
the source action, press the Keypad Key to enter the Top Layer, and then select the destination key.

Optional foot pedal or remapping keypad “Toggle” or “Shift” action to access keypad layer

Frequent Keypad Layer users will benefit from an Advantage foot pedal (purchased separately) which can be used to temporarily
“shift” the Keypad Layer on by pressing and holding the pedal. Other keyboard keys may be assigned to perform either the keypad
“shift” or “toggle” action, using the SmartSet App when available, or via Direct Editing (see User’s Manual).

Palm pads and integrated palm rest

The palm rests are designed to provide comfortable support for your hands while not actively typing, though many users do rest their
palms while typing to relieve strain on the neck and shoulders. For maximum typing speed hold your palms slightly above the palm
rests. Do not expect to reach all of the keys while resting palms on the palm rests. For maximum comfort, install the self-adhesive
palm pads. Replacement pads are available for purchase.

Fig 9. Keyboard LEDs

LED Indicator Lights

The blue LEDs located near the center of the keyboard indicate the status of the keyboard. The LEDs will
illuminate when each of the four basic modes is active (see image at right). These LEDs also flash during
SmartSet programming actions (slow or fast) to indicate the keyboard’s temporary programming status.

Connecting an optional foot pedal

Caps lock Num lock Scroll lock Keypad

Fig 10. Advantage2 triple pedal (FS007TAF)

Plug the foot pedal into the telephone-style (RJ11) connector at the back of the keyboard. The
single foot pedal (and middle pedal on the triple foot pedal) acts as “keypad shift” — press to
activate keypad layer and keypad LED, release to return to top level. It can also be custom­programmed just like any key on the keyboard.

Power User Mode - Advanced features

*or with single pedal (FS007RJ11)

For information on enabling Power User Mode to access Advanced Features, please consult the User’s Manual.

Fig 11. Advanced features

Heavy Duty Macros Macro Playback Speed Adjustment Firmware Updates Hotkey Layouts

View/Share/Backup Layouts Custom Key Actions with Tokens & Hex Codes Direct Editing of Layout .txt les Accessing the V-Drive™

Resources

To download the User’s Manual or the latest version of the Advantage2 firmware, please visit kinesis.com/advantage2-resources.
For further support, please contact Kinesis at [e-mail] or 425-402-8100 (8:30-11:30am & 12:30-4:30pm Pacific Time).

Version January 29, 2018

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