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Quickfix for keys you can't edit in the GUI interface
Authored by: alec kinnear on Mar 22, '04 02:11:07PM

there seem to be a lot of rules about what keys combinations you can and cannot edit in the Keyboard preference pane.

there is a simple way around these limitations however.

open up the ~/Library/Preferences/.GlobalPreferences.plist with Property List Editor.

find and open up NSUserKeyEquivalents. edit away as many keyboard shorcuts as you like without apple sitting on your shoulder and telling you which you can and cannot use.

the modifier symbols: command is @
shifts is $
control is ^
option is ~

more info available here: http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20010415090359962

what i have used this hint for is to stop my browsers from quitting on command-quit (they are now all set to command-control quit) as i use the command-tab to flip between html editor and browsers all day long and tired of accidentally hitting command-q and losing all my open files or web pages.

you do have to replace the command-quit shortcut on an application by application basis. doesn't take long to duplicate the command and paste.

you can create dummy keys for each application in the GUI Keyboard Preference pane which makes the Property List Edit go faster.

no need to work on each applications own plist files. all menus fixable in globalpreferences.plist (had some trouble with Adobe applications though).

don't forget to quit and relaunch applications to see their new keyboard commands show up (visible in the menu).

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