Hotkey to switch input language in Windows 7

Question

I'm using Windows 7 and I'd like to define a custom hotkey to change between different input languages.

I know that I can change them to Ctrl+Shift, Left Alt + Shift or the grave accent, but I don't like either of these. SO is there a way to define something like Ctrl + Space to switch the input language?

Solution 1

I think Windows doesn't natively support changing these keys. Anyway, you can write an AutoIt script to listen for custom key bindings and programmatically send one of the predefined keyboard shortcuts to the system to change the keyboard layout.

;^ = Ctrl
;! = Alt
;# = WinKey (Meta)
;+ = Shift

HotKeySet("^{Space}", "change") ;Registers Control + Space

;Main loop
While 1
    Sleep(100)
WEnd

;Changes Keyboard Layout
Func change()
    Send ("{ALTDOWN}") ;Hold down Alt
    Sleep(100) ;Wait 100 milliseconds
    Send("{LSHIFT}{ALTUP}") ;Press Left-Shift and release Alt
EndFunc

Just download and install AutoIt (use this link to download and install) and create a file with an .au3 extension. Copy and paste the code above and save it. You can place this file into your Startup folder if you want it to be opened when you login.

Solution 2

The script above didn't work for me, but I modified it, and now it does.

#Include <Misc.au3>
;~ #RequireAdmin
;^ = Ctrl
;! = Alt
;# = WinKey (Meta)
;+ = Shift

HotKeySet("^{Space}", "change") ;Registers Contorl + Space
$dll = DllOpen("user32.dll")

ToolTip("Try to use ^Space"&@CRLF&"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!")
Sleep(3000)
ToolTip('')

;Main loop
While 1
    Sleep(100)
WEnd

;Changes Keyboard Layout
Func change()
 While _IsPressed("11",$dll)
  Sleep(10)
 WEnd
 Send ("{ALTDOWN}") ;Hold down Alt
    Sleep(100) ;Wait 100 milliseconds
    Send("{LSHIFT}{ALTUP}") ;Press Left-Shift and release Alt
EndFunc

Solution 3

In Windows 7, under Control Panel\Region & Language\Keyboards & Language, select 'Change Keyboards'. You will get a little pop-out window; there chose 'Advanced Key Settings', which allows you to set combinations to directly get each target keyboard, as well as the general switching key sequence.

Comments

[Henrik Erlandsson]

Problem with this is, it only offers 3 options, one of which is not on the same key on both layouts... The other option is to set a different key for each language, but it requires a modifier combo. Not ideal.