Wha wha what? Developer Yurij Bakunin (aka JBAK) has created two apps that can be used in tandem to give you pencil key functionality. Check it…
Download this archive. It contains two apps (KeyCode by JBAK and ThePencil by JBAK) and one file (ThePencil.ini).
KeyCode is self-signed but ThePencil is unsigned. Sign it.
Install and launch KeyCode. When running, this app will give you code data as you press each key. Press the key that you would like to replace as the pencil key and note the ScanCode.
Now open ThePencil.ini in Notepad on your PC. Simply change xxx to the scan code that you determined with KeyCode, then save and close.
Install your signed copy of ThePencil.
Place your edited copy of ThePencil.ini in the following directory on your handset: C:\System\Data (overwrite the existing file). Note that you’ll need to copy it to an accessible directory on your handset’s C: or E: drive, then copy it over with a file manager.
Reboot
Now the key you chose will always be replaced by a pencil key in terms of functionality.
You can also powerboot ThePencil if it doesn’t already autostart. Note that if you want the old functionality of the key back, kill ThePencil with any decent task manager (I use the process section of ActiveFile). To stop it permanently, uninstall ThePencil. I’m thinking that this post will become a lot more relevant to people in a few months once the E71 comes around… Maybe I should have waited.