Serious Shortcuts Issue

Hi Everyone,

Ok, so since I got my new iMac, I have had some major issues with the shortcuts.

If I go into system preferences > keyboard and mouse > keyboard shortcuts, I get a list some of the keyboard shortcuts.

On this list, it states clearly that the "Dashboard" is allocated to shortcut key "F12". Simple enough really...well no its not, because it doesn't work..at all. What actually happens when I press f12, is that it bring up the volume control. Not really the dashboard now is it apple? There is an image dictating volume on this key on my keyboard however, so I am guessing that this is somehow hardwired into the OS? Its not so much the dashboard in particular, as I can get to it by pressing F4 (why there are two keys set to do the exact same thing as the machine comes from the factory is beyond me), its more getting it to work in general. I have also been able to assign shortcuts to the blank keys on my keyboard, like F5, F6, F16 etc.

In the keyboard shortcuts list, does anyone know why there is not a complete list of shortcuts in there? I know there are a good few shortcuts they have left out..for whatever reason, god only knows. For example I'm pretty sure there is a shortcut to open the applications folder directly..isnt this a keyboard shortcut? If so, wouldn't it make sense to have it in keyboard shortcuts!?

I would be particularly interested in being able to assign a shortcut key that would allow me to open my web browser. So I would press say f-16, and firefox would pop open. Or if I could re-assign existing shortcuts, like press f-17 and the finder pop open. None of these are in the shortcuts list so any help here would be appreciated.

Thanks for your help in advance ;D

just to add,

I'm running the latest version of Leopard. Other tech specs shouldn't really matter here.

Thanks.

slinki said:

just to add,

I'm running the latest version of Leopard. Other tech specs shouldn't really matter here.

Click to expand...

Might, if you have a laptop and a function key. Try the function key and F12. (Just a guess, because I have never used a laptop.)

if you are using a notebook F4 is the key to activate dashboard

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Brown Study said:

Might, if you have a laptop and a function key. Try the function key and F12. (Just a guess, because I have never used a laptop.)

Click to expand...

As I stated in the very first line of my query, I have an iMac. Can you get a laptop called an iMac? I've never seen one if you can! Anywho, thanks for the tip! I'l remember it if I ever get an apple laptop ;D

The Vindicat3d said:

if you are using a notebook F4 is the key to activate dashboard

Click to expand...

lol...didnt really read my post did ya?

I neither have a notebook (seems like "iMac" looks like "notebook" in this thread), nor do I want to activate the dashboard. In fact I have even written in MY post that F4 activates the dashboard! lol!

Looking forward to your replies

Ok now that I have actually read your post I see what's going on... if your using an apple keyboard which i assume you are you can see that the F_ keys have little pictures on them, such as the F4 key which has a picture of the Dashboard logo on it and so thats what it is set to do, if you want them to do what they say in keyboard shortcuts and not what's painted on them go to system preferences>keyboard and mouse>keyboard and check off the box that says "Use all F1 F2 etc. keys as standard function keys"

The Vindicat3d said:

Ok now that I have actually read your post I see what's going on... if your using an apple keyboard which i assume you are you can see that the F_ keys have little pictures on them, such as the F4 key which has a picture of the Dashboard logo on it and so thats what it is set to do, if you want them to do what they say in keyboard shortcuts and not what's painted on them go to system preferences>keyboard and mouse>keyboard and check off the box that says "Use all F1 F2 etc. keys as standard function keys"

Click to expand...

Excellent, thanks! This answers one of my questions perfectly. Seems really obvious, can't believe I didn't notice that check box by myself

Thanks

When you use the shortcuts, do you have any programs open? If so minimize your programs and click on the background twice. Than use the shortcut you would like. It will then work. (It took me a while to figure this one out. When I first got my apple.)

kc0ngg said:

When you use the shortcuts, do you have any programs open? If so minimize your programs and click on the background twice. Than use the shortcut you would like. It will then work. (It took me a while to figure this one out. When I first got my apple.)

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Hey,

Na I tried this straight away but thanks.

Oh and if you want the F_ keys to do what the logo says and maybe just sometimes use the F_ keys and standard function keys you can always press and hold the fn key and then press a function key.

To explanation as to why that happened. All new Mac's are shipped with the new keyboard, with these pictures on and as part of the hardware it automatically takes over the f1 to f12 keys, as you have found out you can turn that off. The older apple keyboards didn't have any such pictures let alone function keys up to 19.
So apple have left the default shortcuts in the shortcuts panel for the older keyboard, as well as move advanced users being able to turn off there current ones.

oh and to add an app to a key, just scroll to the bottom of the list, click on applications, then on the + just to the left, choose your app and your shortcut, and off you go pressing keys.

slinki said:

Hi Everyone,

Ok, so since I got my new iMac, I have had some major issues with the shortcuts.

If I go into system preferences > keyboard and mouse > keyboard shortcuts, I get a list some of the keyboard shortcuts.

On this list, it states clearly that the "Dashboard" is allocated to shortcut key "F12". Simple enough really...well no its not, because it doesn't work..at all. What actually happens when I press f12, is that it bring up the volume control.

Click to expand...

Go to SYSTEM PREFERENCES>EXPOSE AND SPACES (if you have 10.5) and you will have the option to change the function key that brings up Dashboard.

For what it's worth, if you look to the top of that preference window, you will see that they give you the option to program HOT CORNERS. I personally have set Dashboard to the bottom left corner and ALL WINDOWS to the top right corner. Throw your mouse pointer in the desired direction etc..

Try it, and give it some time.. works well for me

How do i set a key to open an application?

The Vindicat3d said:

Oh and if you want the F_ keys to do what the logo says and maybe just sometimes use the F_ keys and standard function keys you can always press and hold the fn key and then press a function key.

Click to expand...

I don't have an FN key on my keyboard though

Gaz said:

To explanation as to why that happened. All new Mac's are shipped with the new keyboard, with these pictures on and as part of the hardware it automatically takes over the f1 to f12 keys, as you have found out you can turn that off. The older apple keyboards didn't have any such pictures let alone function keys up to 19.
So apple have left the default shortcuts in the shortcuts panel for the older keyboard, as well as move advanced users being able to turn off there current ones.

Click to expand...

Cheers for the info Gaz, very helpful to know! ;D

Gaz said:

oh and to add an app to a key, just scroll to the bottom of the list, click on applications, then on the + just to the left, choose your app and your shortcut, and off you go pressing keys.

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I tried this...but I'm not quite sure how it works. Whats the "menu title" bit all about? This seems to be adding shortcuts within the program, rather than having a shortcut launch the program

Rimmer said:

Go to SYSTEM PREFERENCES>EXPOSE AND SPACES (if you have 10.5) and you will have the option to change the function key that brings up Dashboard.

For what it's worth, if you look to the top of that preference window, you will see that they give you the option to program HOT CORNERS. I personally have set Dashboard to the bottom left corner and ALL WINDOWS to the top right corner. Throw your mouse pointer in the desired direction etc..

Try it, and give it some time.. works well for me

Click to expand...

Hey, yeah thats not a prob anymore, the dashboard was only really an example I gave. I'm already using the hot corners also, and I agree they are great! I'm always moving the mouse into the corner when I go back on my windows laptop!

The Vindicat3d said:

How do i set a key to open an application?

Click to expand...

Exactly one of the things I'm trying to find out!!