Assign Command-Tab to a device's buttons

May 28, '05 09:43:00AM

Contributed by: ever

I've wanted to assign an application switcher button to my Contour ShuttlePro for some time, and hoped that the functionality might be included someday in a new driver, the way it is for Logitech mice. Well, I finally got tired of waiting and decided to try to fix it myself.

I found that the only thing preventing me from assigning command-tab in Contour's setup utility was the system-wide application switcher itself. So using information from hints (here and here), I came up with a step-by-step guide that should allow you to set these commands without having to restart your computer.

You could also follow this procedure to enter command-tab in any utility that depends on "sensing" your keystrokes to set its shortcuts.

  1. Launch Contour Shuttle Utility

  2. Launch Activity Monitor

  3. Launch Terminal

  4. Copy these lines to Terminal (don't copy the $):
    $ cd /System/Library/CoreServices/
    $ sudo mv Dock.app Dock.app.deactivated
  5. Hit return, type your system admin password, hit return again

  6. Select "Dock" in Activity Monitor

  7. Click "Quit Process" and confirm quit

  8. Switch to Contour Shuttle Utility

  9. Set all of your preferred buttons for command-tab, command-shift-tab, etc.

  10. Switch back to Terminal and copy this line:
    sudo mv Dock.app.deactivated Dock.app
  11. Restart the dock (by clicking on its application icon or by logging out)
[robg adds: I haven't tested this one...]

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