I’ve really been enjoying the programmable firmware on the Zeal60 keyboard PCB from ZealPC. It’s definitely not all the bells and whistles, this layout gives you 62 keys in total, though you might need a keycap set that supports all of these keys. I’m currently using the Originative Co  Modern Beige set, though I hear most  (if not all) GMK sets would also  accommodate  this.

Zeal60 layout created with Keyboard Layout Editor – note the Fn button to the right of the shift key, and the backspace and backslash keys swapping spots, with an added tilde.

This layout addresses something I sorely needed: the ` and ~ keys (used with Github,  Bash and Slack on a daily basis).

In order to accomplish this, I need to edit the keymap.c and config.h files, which allowed me to generate a zeal60_rmac.hex  file for use with the QMK flasher tool (Win/Mac/Lin).

In order to follow the Zeal example, I also made a zeal60_keymap_rmac.bat file, which can be used with Windows.

The code is currently submitted to Wilba’s fork of QMK as a pull request, but here’s the code as well, so you can see what it looks like.

keymap.c:

// Rmac split backspace, split  shift layout for Zeal60

#include "zeal60.h"

// [0,13] is either left key of split backspace (e.g. HHKB \| key) or 2U backspace
// [1,13] is either backslash or ISO Enter
// [2,12] is either ANSI Enter or key left of ISO Enter
// [2,13] is right key of split backspace (e.g. HHKB `~ key)
// [3,1] is right key of split left-shift (e.g ISO key)
// [3,13] is right key of split right-shift (e.g. HHKB Fn key)

const uint16_t PROGMEM keymaps[][MATRIX_ROWS][MATRIX_COLS] = {

// Default layer
[0] = {
 {KC_ESC, KC_1, KC_2, KC_3, KC_4, KC_5, KC_6, KC_7, KC_8, KC_9, KC_0, KC_MINS, KC_EQL, KC_BSLS},
 {KC_TAB, KC_Q, KC_W, KC_E, KC_R, KC_T, KC_Y, KC_U, KC_I, KC_O, KC_P, KC_LBRC, KC_RBRC, KC_BSPC},
 {KC_CAPS, KC_A, KC_S, KC_D, KC_F, KC_G, KC_H, KC_J, KC_K, KC_L, KC_SCLN, KC_QUOT, KC_ENT, KC_GRV},
 {KC_LSFT, KC_NO, KC_Z, KC_X, KC_C, KC_V, KC_B, KC_N, KC_M, KC_COMM, KC_DOT, KC_SLSH, KC_RSFT, FN_MO13},
 {KC_LCTL, KC_LGUI, KC_LALT, KC_NO, KC_NO, KC_NO, KC_NO, KC_SPC, KC_NO, KC_NO, KC_RALT, KC_RGUI, FN_MO23, KC_RCTL}
},

// Fn1 Layer
[1] = {
 {KC_GRV, KC_F1, KC_F2, KC_F3, KC_F4, KC_F5, KC_F6, KC_F7, KC_F8, KC_F9, KC_F10, KC_F11, KC_F12, KC_DEL },
 {KC_CAPS, KC_TRNS, KC_UP, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_INS, KC_TRNS, KC_PSCR, KC_SLCK, KC_PAUS, KC_TRNS},
 {KC_TRNS, KC_LEFT, KC_DOWN, KC_RGHT, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_HOME, KC_PGUP, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS},
 {KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_VOLD, KC_VOLU, KC_MUTE, KC_END, KC_PGDN, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS},
 {KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS}
},

// Fn2 Layer
[2] = {
 {KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS},
 {KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS},
 {KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS},
 {KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS},
 {KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS}
},

// Fn3 Layer (zeal60 Configuration)
[3] = {
 {KC_TRNS, EF_DEC, EF_INC, H1_DEC, H1_INC, H2_DEC, H2_INC, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, BR_DEC, BR_INC, KC_TRNS},
 {KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, S1_DEC, S1_INC, S2_DEC, S2_INC, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS},
 {KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS},
 {KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS},
 {KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS, KC_TRNS}
}

};

config.h:

#ifndef CONFIG_USER_H
#define CONFIG_USER_H

#include "../../config.h"

/* enable/disable LEDs based on layout */
#undef USE_SPLIT_BACKSPACE
#define USE_SPLIT_BACKSPACE 1

#undef USE_SPLIT_LEFT_SHIFT
#define USE_SPLIT_LEFT_SHIFT 0

#undef USE_SPLIT_RIGHT_SHIFT
#define USE_SPLIT_RIGHT_SHIFT 1

#undef USE_7U_SPACEBAR
#define USE_7U_SPACEBAR 0

#undef USE_ISO_ENTER
#define USE_ISO_ENTER 0

#endif //CONFIG_USER_H

And as promised, zeal60_keymap_rmac.bat:

@echo off

zeal60 backlight_config_set_values ^
 use_split_backspace=1 ^
 use_split_left_shift=0 ^
 use_split_right_shift=1 ^
 use_7u_spacebar=1 ^
 use_iso_enter=0 ^
 disable_when_usb_suspended=1 ^
 disable_after_timeout=10

zeal60 backlight_config_set_alphas_mods ^
 MOD ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA MOD ^
 MOD ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA MOD ^
 MOD ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA MOD MOD ^
 MOD ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA MOD MOD ^
 MOD MOD MOD MOD MOD MOD MOD MOD MOD MOD MOD MOD MOD MOD

zeal60 keymap 0 ^
 KC_ESC KC_1 KC_2 KC_3 KC_4 KC_5 KC_6 KC_7 KC_8 KC_9 KC_0 KC_MINS KC_EQL KC_BSLS ^
 KC_TAB KC_Q KC_W KC_E KC_R KC_T KC_Y KC_U KC_I KC_O KC_P KC_LBRC KC_RBRC KC_BSPC ^
 KC_CAPS KC_A KC_S KC_D KC_F KC_G KC_H KC_J KC_K KC_L KC_SCLN KC_QUOT KC_ENT KC_GRV ^
 KC_LSFT KC_NO KC_Z KC_X KC_C KC_V KC_B KC_N KC_M KC_COMM KC_DOT KC_SLSH KC_RSFT FN_MO13 ^
 KC_LCTL KC_LGUI KC_LALT KC_NO KC_NO KC_NO KC_NO KC_SPC KC_NO KC_NO KC_NO KC_RALT FN_MO23 KC_RCTL

zeal60 keymap 1 ^
 KC_GRV KC_F1 KC_F2 KC_F3 KC_F4 KC_F5 KC_F6 KC_F7 KC_F8 KC_F9 KC_F10 KC_F11 KC_F12 KC_DEL ^
 KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_UP KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_UP KC_TRNS KC_TRNS ^
 KC_TRNS KC_LEFT KC_DOWN KC_RGHT KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_LEFT KC_RGHT KC_TRNS KC_TRNS ^
 KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_DOWN KC_TRNS KC_TRNS ^
 KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS

zeal60 keymap 2 ^
 KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS ^
 KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS ^
 KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS ^
 KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS ^
 KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS

zeal60 keymap 3 ^
 KC_TRNS EF_DEC EF_INC H1_DEC H1_INC H2_DEC H2_INC KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS BR_DEC BR_INC KC_TRNS ^
 KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS S1_DEC S1_INC S2_DEC S2_INC KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS ^
 KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS ^
 KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS TG_NKRO KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS ^
 KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS KC_TRNS

pause

Here’s a link to all three files with the compiled `zeal60_rmac.hex`.

Hope you enjoy this! It took a bit of doing, but was well worth it 🙂

Note that the files in question do a good job of walking you through the mods, making it rather easy. The one caveat was the tilde key being on a different row, as there’s only 13 spots per row, but that’s covered in the comments anyway.

As for the batch file for windows,  you can see that it’s really a combination of the config.h  and keymap.c files, to a certain extent, so copying and pasting the modified bits did the trick.

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3 Comments

  1. Dude! You are absolutely the best! I just soldered/bridged my Zeal60 for this exact layout and was just about to set out to compile this! You saved me some work! I can’t ever thank you enough!

  2. would this work on a dz60? im new to building and this is the layout i was looking for so it would be great if it worked for that pcb also.

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