qmk_firmware/keyboards/handwired/dactyl_manuform/readme.md

Dactyl ManuForm

Pair of Dactyl ManuForm 4x6

Forked from the Dactyl, the Dactyl ManuForm is a parameterized, handwired, split bodied, tented, concave key-well design that incorporates the thumb cluster from the ManuForm.
The Dactyl ManuForm requires two development boards, one per half, which differs from the Dactyl's original implementation of a development board and an I/O expander.

• Keyboard Maintainer: Tom Short
• Hardware Supported: Pro Micro development board
• Hardware Availability: Github

Variants

Dactyl ManuForms are built in variations that cater for different row and column counts; there is no default.

Standard key layout (per half):

• The finger keywell bottom row has 2 keys, 1 each in ring and middle columns
• The thumb cluster has 6 keys, arranged in a staggered 2 columns by 3 rows

Variants are denoted as RowCountxColumnCount(_Alteration)

Row

Count	Description
4	Three rows, typically for alphabet and some puncuation characters, with 2 key (finger keywell) bottom row
5	As 4 row with number row above
6	As 5 row with function row above

Column

Count	Description
5	A column for each finger with additional column for first finger
6	As 5 column with additional pinky finger column
7	As 6 column with additional pinky column

Alteration

Code	Description	Diagram 4x6 example
ex	Extended Bottom Row: Key count on the finger well bottom row is extended outward from the default 2
eic	Extended Inner Column: Each half gains an additional inner column though the bottom key of said column is ommitted
exic	ex and eic combined

Legacy "5x7" variant

Is the 5x6_exic variant.

Case Files Generator

Dactyl Generator, created by rianadon, is a web based file generator that negates having to compose case files using programming languages, which was the matter when using the original Dactyl and Dactyl ManuForm GitHub repos, by instead compiling case files based on options and parameters configured in a web front end.

Readme.md in each variant's directory will detail the required settings to reproduce the variant with the linked Dactyl Generator.

Compile

Make examples for this keyboard (after setting up your build environment):

make handwired/dactyl_manuform/4x6:default
make handwired/dactyl_manuform/4x6_ex:default
make handwired/dactyl_manuform/5x6_eic:default
make handwired/dactyl_manuform/5x6_exic:default

Flashing examples for this keyboard:

make handwired/dactyl_manuform/4x6:default:flash
make handwired/dactyl_manuform/4x6_ex:default:flash
make handwired/dactyl_manuform/5x6_eic:default:flash
make handwired/dactyl_manuform/5x6_exic:default:flash

See the build environment setup and the make instructions for more information. Brand new to QMK? Start with our Complete Newbs Guide.

Bootloader

Enter the bootloader in 3 ways:

• Bootmagic reset: If enabled, hold down the key at (0,0) in the matrix (usually the top left key or Escape) and plug in the keyboard
• Physical reset button: Briefly press the button on the back of the PCB or controller - some may have pads you must short instead
• Keycode in layout: Press the key mapped to QK_BOOT if it is available