qmk_firmware/feature_grave_esc.md
2020-11-10 15:02:44 +00:00

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# Grave Escape
If you're using a 60% keyboard, or any other layout with no F-row, you will have noticed that there is no dedicated Escape key. Grave Escape is a feature that allows you to share the grave key (<code>&#96;</code> and `~`) with Escape.
## Usage
Replace the `KC_GRAVE` key in your keymap (usually to the left of the `1` key) with `KC_GESC`. Most of the time this key will output `KC_ESC` when pressed. However, when Shift or GUI are held down it will output `KC_GRV` instead.
## What Your OS Sees
If Mary presses GESC on her keyboard, the OS will see an KC_ESC character. Now if Mary holds Shift down and presses GESC it will output `~`, or a shifted backtick. Now if she holds GUI/CMD/WIN, it will output a simple <code>&#96;</code> character.
## Keycodes
|Key |Aliases |Description |
|---------|-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------|
|`KC_GESC`|`GRAVE_ESC`|Escape when pressed, <code>&#96;</code> when Shift or GUI are held|
### Caveats
On macOS, Command+<code>&#96;</code> is by default mapped to "Move focus to next window" so it will not output a backtick. Additionally, Terminal always recognises this shortcut to cycle between windows, even if the shortcut is changed in the Keyboard preferences.
## Configuration
There are several possible key combinations this will break, among them Control+Shift+Escape on Windows and Command+Option+Escape on macOS. To work around this, you can `#define` these options in your `config.h`:
|Define |Description |
|--------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
|`GRAVE_ESC_ALT_OVERRIDE` |Always send Escape if Alt is pressed |
|`GRAVE_ESC_CTRL_OVERRIDE` |Always send Escape if Control is pressed |
|`GRAVE_ESC_GUI_OVERRIDE` |Always send Escape if GUI is pressed |
|`GRAVE_ESC_SHIFT_OVERRIDE`|Always send Escape if Shift is pressed |