You know...

[view]

I agree with the OP to an extent, but not entirely.

I only joined this site 2 days ago (fresh to this stuff aswell - been doing it manually by running two small windows on one screen) up to now - never thought of doing it through automation till I saw Zin's vid on the wow forums and I thought that I have to give it a go!

So to give another persons perspective that is quite similar to the OP;

I'd have said this site has all the information needed. The first thing I saw was AHK or Keyclone (just by looking in the software forum and general) and looking at the big posts. I downloaded AHK first (as it was free) and it seemed to be the better option - but not being able to find a prewritten script was a bit of a turnoff. I then saw keyclone claiming that you literally open it and you're good to go.

Well it worked... but not very well. I pm'd the developer within minutes of downloading it as the program was hanging (having just handed over my $10) and I'm yet to get a reply. This obviously isn't very pleasing. The program works for simply duping all key commands to all windows, but I need more than that. The keymaping scripts fail completely - the program crashes whenever I try to load one to a window or load one to edit it. Again - yet to get a response from the developer about this.

AHK however became a dream. Downloaded it again, had a dig around on the forums and found what I wanted. An example script for the '2' button. Changed it to numpad - but that wasn't working because it was passing each letter in the word "numpad1" not the actual key.

Posted on here asking for help, and within a couple of hours some one posted their script for mapping the numpad keys. Copy+Paste and it worked. It's easy to work from there when you have an example to go from - and being able to safely edit it on the go (edit it, reload - if there's no errors it loads, if not it doesn't and it gives you *very* good debug info) is a godsend.

I agree having a more detailed intro guide for people doing this approach would be amazing - but I also fully understand why there isn't one. This is the kind of thing that if you want to get into, you have to accept it's going to be a long hard route to perfect what you want.

But, the help and support offered here so far is amazing

[Juseffinwork]

To Caldvn:

I'm not your run of the mill "noobfest" person. I have years in the computer world, but I do this stuff for my job, and quite honestly, I don't want to do it for my fun time. If I have to devote my own time, I will - my point is that I didn't have a clear jumping off point, that being said the lack of direction on where to go is also what upsets me, and what caused my posting of this thread. It doesn't help that I've been fighting a migraine all morning, so I apologize if I've come across as crass and naive. I don't expect you guys to hand this over to me, no questions asked. I just want more clear and concise information without having to dive into pages and pages of threads on the subject matter. It's obvious you know what you're doing and you do it well, but for crying out loud, it's a computer game. You don't need to treat me like I just walked into the ER with a tub full of E. Coli.

This site on the outside still looks fairly new, so it's possible that the point of walkthroughs and such haven't been made.

[Mannyman]

Keyclone works fine for what you want it to do, duplicate keystrokes in another window. Make sure the auto add form says World of Warcraft. If you're running off one computer, I can't see what the problem is. As soon as I load 2 Wow's and load up Keyclone(and the 2 wow's are added to the window list), keystrokes are broadcast automatically. And that's right off the bat, no configuration. All of 5 minutes. Yes, the documentation could be more friendly to new users. I had to do a lot of forum browsing to figure out how to get it going with my particular situation. But it was well worth it.

I don't know what your setup is for playing, but I highly recommend you spend time learning how the program you will ultimately use works. There are a lot of issues that come up when you multibox that can be solved quickly if you understand what your program does and doesn't do. Whether that be Keyclone, AHK, Synergy, or whatever you choose. I understand you don't have much time. I work 14-18 hours some days, and I still find time.

I spent about a week thinking about my setup, working out the issues, getting all the Keyclone macros needed for 4 characters in, UI customization, etc. When you actually delve into multiboxing, there are a lot of things that need to be addressed, and everyone does it their own way. How are your characters following you? Do you want them to turn? Are they attacking off assist, focus, etc? How do you handle buffs? Mouse clicks? Quests? Tells? Looting? Crowd control? It's not as simple as showing up and 1 shotting everything.

So in your case, you have a few options.

1. Pay $10 for Keyclone. It broadcasts everything on your keyboard unless you put keys in the do not pass list. I hit N for talents, it comes up in all my windows fine. If you want your secondary characters to cast spells etc, you have to write assist macros, like /assist me, /cast fireball. Like I said, it works right off the bat. Did you activate it through the paypal site? Are you using Xp, vista, etc? A little comment about your setup would be helpful.

2. Synergy, Multibox, AHK, etc are all free and work fine if want to spend a little more time setting things up.

3. Get extra hardware, 1 computer per WoW, and eliminate the need for these programs.

Again, the documentation on Keyclone and maybe some other programs are spread out in the forums. Yes, you have to do a bit of research here to fully understand them. I read Rob's website pages a few times over, and read his threads/replies. Yes, it's time consuming and could be organized better. But you have to consider, he wrote that program in his spare time after work, and we all chip in on the forums for free. You can't expect top shelf quality documentation all the time It's not like we have nothing else to do during the day and we get paid for it. I'm sure it will be sorted out one day.

[HPAVC]

Am I dreaming?

I am not sure what the actual dream is, I understand 1 computer two accounts. But really you can always map the keys for the secondary screen just fine.

I think if you sit down with some paper and design a plan with the existing keyboard you will come out with a viable two-boxing solution.

Even with a 'progmatic-keystroke application' you still need to lay the keys out to fit your play style. You might find working without the application and partitioning a region of the keyboard a good fit.

Many people use the numpad for this, or they use the top row (` to =), or a number function keys for the second accounts keys. Obviously in WoW your going to have the keybindings for the second account interact with these keys and the other computer is not.

So to move the second character forward you might 'CTRL-UPARROW' and 'ALT-UPARROW' on the first account you might have 'UPARROW' and 'ALT-UPARROW'. This would be an example of a keybinding that both accounts would share, but each could do distinctly.

What we are leveraging here is the two keybinding options in wow (and the ability to have spells on multiple action bar numbers).

[caldvn]

I have years in the computer world, but I do this stuff for my job, and quite honestly, I don't want to do it for my fun time.

This is all I need to know to understand what you're thinking... my point is made.

[keyclone]

view..you sent me a PM at 7am this morning.. a SATURDAY morning... and i was not online until tonight.

i am sorry you are having some frustrations... but there is a reason. you see, keyclone requires activation...which is an automated process triggered by paypal issuing a 'transaction complete.' couple that with you using an echeck, and you have a delay in the automated process... thanks to paypal.

and since keyclone will not work until activated, i think we see the problem.

i went ahead and authorized your copy and you should be able to run keyclone, add wow clients, and get going (this goes against my better judgement.. complaining loudly does not work with me.. unless you like getting hit with a stick)

i was also working on a revamp to the website while i was offline. the revamp has a FAQ area and i may add a tutorial area as well. that being said, i'd ask anyone that has any FAQ style questions they would like to see on the page to let me know and i'll pull it all together.

also, i believe a tutorial for the noobies would also be useful. i'll see what i can do about that as well.

[Xzin]

Keyclone - $10 a copy is a LOT of money and all. I expect you to be available 24/7 - 365. Come Christmas morning at 4 AM if I want to buy Keyclone and get support it had better be there. I will be mailing you a promissory note in a foreign currency BUT I DON'T CARE. I want results. If I can't get them then I will go to a competitor! Yeah! Even though there are none I WILL MAKE ONE and complain to them too.

(Can you tell I have dealt with customers before). Here is a secret: You will NEVER EVER satisfy them all. EVER. It is just not possible. No matter WHAT YOU DO.

So you do the best you can and always strive to do better.

A bit of a sercasmrant while I wait for XP to load into a boot prompt for the 30th time today..... *sigh* I even pay for dozens of copies of XP and I still can't get support for it. *grumbles*

[keyclone]

yea.. sometimes i wonder if these guys realize that $10 is nothing. hell, you can't get your yard mowed for $10 these days, and yet paying for software talent is too much? i mean, come on already.

and its not like i'm charging for every upgrade... its a one time fee. geez.

and yes, you cannot satisfy everyone... there'll always be someone that will whine loudly in an effort to get some attention. (these are the adults that were the spoiled babies you see in the super markets)

this is where the big stick comes in...

[Xzin]

I think its great, I would prefer people contribute their talents for free (like I do) but I also realize that we live in a capitalistic driven world economy. If I did not have other sources of income, I would probably charge for my guides or bundle them with some hardware or something like that. I put a TON of time and energy into my setup and I should be compensated for my time. The last company I put as much time into as I have my multiboxing work.... is doing very well. Writing guides and giving them away for free.... nets me absolutely nothing I don't mind giving them out for free of course but keyclone can do what $2000+ worth of hardware can do for $50. I think that's more than worth it - which is why I support your efforts. Just bear in mind that it is only one guy and Keyclone doesn't exactly pay all of the bills for him either (he has a full time job).

Anyway.... now to deal with a lovely nvatabus.sys could not be found error while watching some BBC. I love it

[Scribbler]

Keyclone is probaly going to be the best for you.

You start of with the entire keyboard being cloned, then you just add keys you don't want to be cloned to an exception list.