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Modify Safari's keyboard tab switching keys Web Browsers
Note: this hint involves editing a Nib file... if you don't know what that is, this hint may not be for you. You'll also need the Developer Tools / XCode installed.

In most Mac apps, Command-Shift and one of the arrow keys is used to highlight the text to the left (or right) of the cursor in a text field. However, Apple (for some reason) decided to override this in Safari, binding it to shifting between tabs. Personally, I would prefer that Command-Option and the arrow keys were used for that task. So I decided to try to edit the Nib file for Safari to make this work.

Quit Safari first, then open this Nib file in Interface Builder: /Applications -> Safari.app (control-click and select Show Package Contents) -> Contents -> Resources -> English.lproj -> MainMenu.nib. You may want to make a backup of it first.

Now simply click on Window, then double-click on the glyphs to the right of Select Next Tab. Do whatever key combination you want (I used Command-Option-Right Arrow); do likewise for Select Previous Tab (Command-Option-Left Arrow). Save the Nib, and close Interface Builder. The next time you open Safari, your change should be made, and text areas in it will act as they should.

[robg adds: Keep in mind that any future Safari updates may override these changes if they include a new Nib file...]
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Modify Safari's keyboard tab switching keys | 9 comments | Create New Account
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Modify Safari's keyboard tab switching keys
Authored by: Kylector on Nov 30, '04 10:52:50AM

I did this exact same thing with Camino because its tab switching keys were _not_ like Safari's and it bugged me.



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Modify Safari's keyboard tab switching keys
Authored by: stats on Nov 30, '04 09:19:19PM

It bugs me that I can't seem to find Firefox's tab switching keyboard shortcuts. Surely they exist, right? Or is there perhaps an extension for this?



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Modify Safari's keyboard tab switching keys
Authored by: thelamecamel on Nov 30, '04 10:40:52PM

You can find them in the help.

ctrl-pg down for next tab
ctrl-pg up for previous.



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Modify Safari's keyboard tab switching keys
Authored by: TigerPRO on Nov 30, '04 01:29:08PM

Thank you. I'm an intense keyboard shortcut user, and I always tried to use the shift-command-arrow keys to select text in the address bar. So this has irritated me for ages. Thanks.



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Modify Safari's keyboard tab switching keys
Authored by: kadis on Nov 30, '04 03:01:39PM

Your Welcome...
I just realized that it may be easier.... and more permanent if you do this via the keyboard shortcuts pref pane.
To use that instead.... go to System Preferences > Keyboard & Mouse > Keyboard Shortcuts > The "+" button:
Use the following:
Application: Safari
**Menu Title: Select Previous Tab
Keyboard shortcut: <Your Shortcut Here>
Follow the same procedure for Next tab:
Application: Safari
**Menu Title: Select Next Tab
Keyboard shortcut: <Your Shortcut Here>

** = Must be typed EXACTLY!

This should work for all new versions (assuming they don't change the name of it)
Enjoy...



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Modify Safari's keyboard tab switching keys
Authored by: BarracksSi on Nov 30, '04 06:53:13PM

But there's the option-shift-arrow method of selecting text one word at a time, too. And, shift-arrow will still select text.

That's how I do it. What am I missing out on?



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Modify Safari's keyboard tab switching keys
Authored by: starwxrwx on Nov 30, '04 10:39:44PM

and if you type "CMD-L" it selects the entire address field anyway

also, "CMD-SHIFT-DOWN[up]ARROW" selects text to the end[start] of line in the address field

but i agree that most apple apps are inconsistent with highlighting/navigating



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too complicated !
Authored by: mag on Nov 30, '04 08:20:07PM

This is too complicated if you're using Panther.
You should just open System Preferences -> Keyboard and Mouse, then in the "Keyboard shortcuts" tab, add a new shortcut, select Safari as the Application, type "Select Next Tab" (without quotes) and choose your new shortcut (I use Option+right arrow because I use tabs a lot and don't like having to use 3 keys at a time). Then redo the same for "Select Previous Tab" and you're done.



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Control-Shift-Arrow is fine
Authored by: MJCube on Dec 01, '04 12:07:04AM
I was satisfied with the workaround in this hint from a year ago. There's nothing to modify, just a new keystroke to get used to, which is applicable elsewhere. Once in a while I will accidentally switch tabs when I meant to select to the start of a line. No harm done: I just switch back and use the Control keystroke to select.

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