Appendix F: Using VIA

The A+ Trackball's keymap can be customized using a web application called "VIA". This allows for easy and portable customization of the A+'s buttons.

Currently, a bit of additional work is necessary to get VIA to work, but it should only take about thirty seconds.

Begin by copying and pasting the following into a text file, saving it as aplus.json:

{
  "name": "Ploopy A+ Trackball",
  "vendorId": "0x5043",
  "productId": "0x81DB",
  "matrix": {
    "rows": 1,
    "cols": 8
  },
  "customKeycodes": [
    {
      "name": "DPI Config",
      "title": "DPI Config",
      "shortName": "DPI"
    },
    {
      "name": "Drag Scroll",
      "title": "Drag Scroll",
      "shortName": "DragScl"
    }
  ],
  "layouts": {
    "keymap": [
      [
        {
          "h": 2
        },
        "0,1",
        {
          "x": 0.25,
          "h": 1.25
        },
        "0,2",
        {
          "x": 0.25,
          "h": 1.25
        },
        "0,3",
        {
          "x": 0.25,
          "h": 2
        },
        "0,4"
      ],
      [
        {
          "y": 1.25,
          "w": 1.75,
          "h": 2
        },
        "0,0",
        {
          "x": 1.25,
          "w": 1.75,
          "h": 2
        },
        "0,5"
      ],
      [
        {
          "x": 0.5,
          "y": 1.25,
          "w": 1.5,
          "h": 1.5
        },
        "0,7",
        {
          "x": 0.75,
          "w": 1.5,
          "h": 1.5
        },
        "0,6"
      ]
    ]
  }
}

• Next, navigate to the VIA web app, using Microsoft Edge, Chrome, or Opera. Any other browser that supports WebHID will work, too.
• Look at the top toolbar of the web application, and click the tab called DESIGN.
• Uncheck Use V2 definitions (deprecated).
• Click Load and upload the aplus.json file that you saved on your computer.
• Plug in the A+ if it wasn't plugged in already.
• Look at the top toolbar of the web application, and click the tab called CONFIGURE.
• Click Authorize Device. A modal window should pop up, and you should see the Ploopy A+ Trackball as an option to connect. Do so now.

You should now see a representation of the buttons of the A+ in the web app. You are now free to modify the button's functionality.