Hal file digital input to function key in Axis

I'm using a Mesa board with the Axis interface.

MesaCT allows input signals to trigger actions in Axis for example jog x etc.

Is it possible to trigger other "buttons" in Axis that have shortcut keys?

For example if I wanted say input 5 to emulate a F3 keyboard press can you do that and if so what would be the correct syntax in the hal file?

From a previous google search I found someone used a combination of an Arduino linked to a Python script, if it could be done more directly using the mesa inputs and hal that would be a really great feature.

linuxcnc.org/docs/stable/html/man/man1/sendkeys.1.html

Might need some help from Andy for details.

forum.linuxcnc.org/24-hal-components/415...s-and-panels?start=0

cornholio wrote:

linuxcnc.org/docs/stable/html/man/man1/sendkeys.1.html

Might need some help from Andy for details.
 

This looks exactly like what I was hoping for.

    This component is intended as a partner component to matrix_kb or the hostmot2 7i73 driver.

A few questions, perhaps I should be asking Andy.....

Will this work with a 7i96t board?

 I read the SENDKEYS explanation and some aspects are a little fuzzy so I will need to play with it a bit to get a good enough understanding to actually use it. My fuzzy understanding is:

1) the S command allows you to define a keyboard matrix using some of the I/O pins of a Mesa board?
2) Once the matrix is defined, pressing the keys will activate key codes that can be viewed using hal show?
3) The key codes can then be assigned to either send the keycode to LinuxCNC as if they were typed from an actual keyboard, or activate and output pin on the Mesa board?
 

If you read thru the second link there is a lot of stuff covered.

A 7i73 isn't needed the docs show how a PP could be used.