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Speaking of keyboardshortcuts...
Authored by: TvE on May 06, '04 02:25:20AM

I am really missing one feature from Windows - the feature that enables me to target *a specific* menu via one shortcut, eg ALT-F for the File menu.

In the Mac I can "only" (after some very good improvements from Apple!!!) target the Apple menu (for me by hitting CTRL-M), the I have to arrow my way to other menus.

So it takes me another 9 "clicks" to go to the Help menu in Safari...
- I do like that I can type my way to a specific line in the menu, eg "O" to get to the Open File... in the File menu...


WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO FIND:
An application that - generally - let me use eg. ALT-F to activate the File menu, ALT-B for Bookmarks etc.

It should somehow be customisable since there might be more menuitems beginning with the same letter (eg File & Font in BBEdit).

If it does'nt exist (Idoubt) the maybe I should begin to learn how to use my XCode ;-)



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Might save you some clicks
Authored by: araka5i on May 06, '04 09:36:03AM

Ctrl-F1 will turn on systemwide keyboard shortcuts, and, once they're on, Ctrl-F2 will 'focus' on the Menu. From there, arrows and first-letters (of menu commands) will navigate you around any application's menus using keyboard only. It's not the same ease of access as the Windows way, but it's better than mouse-only. For more keyboard shortcuts, see "Keyboard Shortcuts" in the Keyboard & Mouse System Preference.



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you misread my post
Authored by: TvE on May 06, '04 09:51:45AM

I *AM* (and have been for a LONG time) using all of those features* - actually since CTRL-M and CTRL-D was "predefined sets" (they're more logical for me than F1, F2 etc.) 10.2 I think?

What I am searching for is MORE than that :)

* a long with LaunchBar (that has replaced QuicKeys :) and LiteSwitch - so my mouseusage is down to a bare minimum...



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try iKey
Authored by: alec kinnear on May 06, '04 11:39:48AM

iKey is great. i don't know if it will let you do exactly what it is you want to do with the menus but it will let you target any menu item or window or whatever - even in sequences, with the keyboard shortcut of your choice.

it is the most stable power utility i have ever used. an amazing creation. philipe hupé is the creator. la brillance française.

i've used it to designate a key for switching the finder window views to column view with no shortcuts window and toolbar (OS 9) and the standard OS X finder view. have your cake and eat it too.

and the best part is you can make it do whatever you want in whatever application you want.

don't like the user interface - fix it. in minutes, not hours. apologies for the superlatives but iKey is that good.

and it's priced right at $20.

http://scriptsoftware.com/ikey/

another small but important use is a keyboard shortcut (cross application) for any boilerplate text you use.



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Well - no :(
Authored by: TvE on May 07, '04 05:27:51AM

iKey looks as a great application - something that could have been inspired by Quickeys (that I used a lot in the pre-OS X days :)

Unfortunately I am not able to create a shortcut to the Menu itself - only to an item in the menu or an item in a submenu.

If I delete the name of the menuitem (to try to convince the app to only show the menu not the menuitem) the result is a crash of iKey, so I guess there is room for some validation of the "objects" one creates ;-)

The app does look to have great potential so I'll send the programmer an e-mail with my featurerequest and - off course - also a link to this thread...



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Correction
Authored by: TvE on May 09, '04 08:36:20AM

Due to a user error - they DO happen once in a while here end there - I did'nt notice the "Display only menu" - THAT make it do what I want it to do(!)

The developer was so kind as to inform me about that issue within 24 hours - great, I am gonna love that app!



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