View the complete layer reference.
This repository contains a reusable Vial layout backup for a 40-key ortholinear keyboard with four rows of ten keys.
The default typing layer is QWERTY, with Colemak available as an alternative. Dedicated layers provide numbers and symbols, function and numpad keys, media and navigation controls, programming symbols, and extended function keys for host-defined shortcuts.
The bottom row stays consistent across the typing layers:
GUI Alt Shift Control Space / Layer 6 | Backspace Enter Esc / Layer 4 Tab Delete
Tapping Esc / Layer 4 sends Escape. Holding it activates the layer
selector. Tapping Space sends a normal space; holding it activates layer 6.
| Layer | Purpose | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | QWERTY | Standard QWERTY letters and punctuation |
| 1 | Numbers and symbols | Digits, shifted symbols, brackets, braces, backtick, tilde, slash, and backslash |
| 2 | Function and numpad | F1-F12, numpad keys, Insert, and Print Screen |
| 3 | Media and navigation | Mute, volume, brightness, Home, End, Insert, Delete, Page Up, Page Down, Print Screen, Scroll Lock, and programming symbols tuned for a Latin American host layout |
| 4 | Layer selector | Selects layers 0-5 with DF(0) through DF(5) |
| 5 | Colemak | Standard Colemak letters with the same punctuation and bottom row as QWERTY |
| 6 | Extended function keys | F13–F24 arranged as a left-hand 3×4 block for host-defined shortcuts |
| 7-15 | Unused | Reserved layers |
The two typing layouts are:
QWERTY Colemak
Q W E R T Y U I O P Q W F P G J L U Y ;
A S D F G H J K L ; A R S T D H N E I O
Z X C V B N M , . / Z X C V B K M , . /
Hold the eighth key on the bottom row, Esc / Layer 4, then press one of the
first three keys on the left:
Top row: Layer 0 Layer 1 Layer 2
Home row: Layer 3 Layer 4 Layer 5
The same selectors are repeated on the final three keys of those rows.
Selecting a layer with DF(n) makes it the active default layer. Use the same
sequence to switch again.
Hold Space / Layer 6 to access the extended function keys:
F13 F14 F15 F16 → host shortcuts 1–4
F17 F18 F19 F20 → host shortcuts 5–8
F21 F22 F23 F24 → host shortcuts 9–12
On the configured desktop host, these shortcuts select virtual desktops 1–12.
The complete Vial backup is stored in keymap.vil.
- Connect a keyboard running compatible Vial firmware.
- Open Vial.
- Select File > Load saved layout and choose
keymap.vil.
Vial applies key changes directly to the keyboard. Use File > Save current layout to create a new backup after making changes.
The backup is tied to the keyboard definition and Vial UID used when it was exported. It does not contain firmware and cannot configure unrelated hardware.