Changing Menu Layouts Between Numbers and Letters

Some Windows Mobile devices are configured to show the menu items prefixed with a number, while other devices will use a letter of the alphabet. Sometimes the letter is in front of the menu item, while other times they underscore a letter in the menu item. Typically, devices with a front facing keyboard are using the letter option. While candy-bar phone are displaying the number option.

On the original BlackJack, Samsung used the number option. This made for quick and easy menu selections when combined with an oversized region for the number keys. On the BlackJack II, Samsung changed the number layout to 1 number to 1 key and switched the menu to the letter format. While I’m pretty good with the alphabet and QWERTY layout, I still find it faster and easier to navigate the menu’s using numbers and not letters. Thankfully, there’s a way to switch the layout to reflect your preference.

Break out your registry editor of choice and follow along!

1. Browse to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Shell
2. You should see a Value by the name of HasKeyboard. If you don’t see this, switch from KEYS to VALUES and it should display.
3. Change the value data in HasKeyboard to reflect your preference. Setting it to 1 will show letters and setting it to 0 will show numbers.
4. Save your changes and your done. No rebooting required.

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