Keypad

Greetings

I was hoping I could get some advice on a keypad to use with LINDA. I would like to be able to assign functions to a keyboard (overhead, main panel, etc).

I realize I can assign keystrokes, but that opens up the possibility of clashes with other key combinations. Furthermore, it is a rather cumbersome process. Is anyone using a device that is seen as a game controller in Windows and thus can be programmed with LINDA?

I have looked at X-Keys and it appears to have hardware based emulation so it can be used as a joystick. The keys are also relegendable, but that requires pulling keys when changing aircraft.

I also looked at Enterpad from Centeq. It is a flat panel keyboard with 'key zones' and so could have overlays printed for different applications. I don't know if it can be modified to be seen as a joystick in Windows. Is there any software out there that can trick windows into seeing a keyboard as a game controller?

So....any advice on this would be much apprecitated. Please forgive the rambling. I am sort of thinking out loud.

Thanks for reading this. Thanks for your help,

Graham