[megasad]

I would like to allocate keyboard shortcuts to Function keys beyond F12, so I did some investigating. At the moment, in the approprite preference pane, you can only go up to F12. Trying to input a higher F key results in an alert sound.

So, I allocated F1 - F12 keyboard shortcuts to TextEdit. Opening the appropriate preference file in Property List Editor told me the Japanese(?) symbols for F1 - F12. Copying said characters into Word and then saving as a HTML file told me the ASCII codes.

F1 =  = 

F2 =  = 

F3 =  = 

F4 =  = 

F5 =  = 

F6 =  = 

F7 =  = 

F8 =  = 

F9 =  = 

F10 =  = 

F11 =  = 

F12 =  = 

Since each character seemed to be a simple iteration of the previous one, I generated the next four Japanese characters that I hoped would represent F13 - F16.

F13 =  =  ?

F14 =  =  ?

F15 =  =  ?

F16 =  =  ?

Copying and pasting these characters into new keyboard shortcuts in Property List Editor did not, unfortunately, have the desired effect; instead of showing up as F13 - F16 in System Preferences, they appeared as the actual Japanese characters.

Dang.

So, what I'd like to know, is does anyone know how to allocate keyboard shortcuts to F13 - F16? F14 and F15 are contrast (this is on an eMac), which is fine, but I'd really like to use F16 for capturing the screen to the clipboard (Print Screen).

[Amorya]

Erm... there isn't an F16. Look on your keyboard. Unless you have an aftermarket addon, it goes up to F15.

[Laurence]

This G5 I'm sitting in front of right now has an F16 key on it! On the other hand, I can't use F13 through F16 for shortcuts either.

[monkeybrain]

The new G5's get an extra button! Now I got to get one!

My keyboard doesn't have F16, and I can't use F14 or F15. In fact they do nothing at all. I have been able to set F13 though.

[Apfhex]

I don't even have above F12 on my Logitech Elite... (it does have 3 useless keys in the spot where F13-15 would be, though)

[megasad]

Originally posted by Amorya:
Erm... there isn't an F16. Look on your keyboard. Unless you have an aftermarket addon, it goes up to F15.

My iBook goes from F1 to F12 (F12 is also eject), the 12" PowerBook has a kind of F13 (the eject key), my old Apple Pro Keyboard has F1 to F15, and this here current Apple Keyboard, that I got with my 1.25GHz eMac this past May has F1 through F16.

Now that that's settled, does anyone know how to use F13 to F16 for keyboard shortcuts? Do any third-party applications allow it?

[megasad]

Originally posted by monkeybrain:
My keyboard doesn't have F16, and I can't use F14 or F15. In fact they do nothing at all. I have been able to set F13 though.

I can set F13 to do Exposé functions, but that's through a pull-down menu. Anyone know where Exposé keyboard shortcuts are stored?

[megasad]

Originally posted by Laurence:
This G5 I'm sitting in front of right now has an F16 key on it! On the other hand, I can't use F13 through F16 for shortcuts either.

After a bit more Googling, I came across this hint. Using it, I have allocated F14-F16 to Exposé, freeing up F1 to F13 for... absolutely nothing. Anyone know how to use the Escape key in keyboard shortcuts? I'd really like Control-Escape for Focus on Menu Keyboard Navigation...

[monkeybrain]

Well there must be a way, since option (or 'alt' as it is on my keyboard) escape activates autocomplete in textedit. Could try looking at texedit's plist. (I tried to look myself but my Finder just totally stopped working, beachball forever, time to investigate)

[megasad]

Originally posted by megasad:
Since each character seemed to be a simple iteration of the previous one, I generated the next four Japanese characters that I hoped would represent F13 - F16.

F13 =  =  ?

F14 =  =  ?

F15 =  =  ?

F16 =  =  ?

Copying and pasting these characters into new keyboard shortcuts in Property List Editor did not, unfortunately, have the desired effect; instead of showing up as F13 - F16 in System Preferences, they appeared as the actual Japanese characters.

Right, so maybe if I'd been a bit more thorough earlier, I'd have known that those Japanese characters for F13, F14 and F15 do indeed work. So, if you'd like to apply keyboard shortcuts to those keys, you can do so using said characters above. Unfortunately, on my eMac, F14 and F15 are used for the Contrast settings. So, whilst I can allocate something to Command-F15, a plain F15 will be ignored in favour of upping the contrast. I can still use F14 and F15 (along with F16) for Exposé, as I detailed a few posts ago, but not for anything else. I can do anything I want with F13. And, unfortunately, that last character, which I had hoped might be F16, is still in fact not. Also, the shortcuts will show the Japanese characters in the preference pane, but will show the correct Function key in the menu, and more importantly work as expected, in the modified application.

So, I am close. But still no way to use Control-Escape to activate the Apple menu (currently using Control-A) or F16 for Print Screen. Oh well. If anyone finds the characters for those two keys, please let me know.

[megasad]

Originally posted by megasad:
...I am close. But still no way to use Control-Escape to activate the Apple menu (currently using Control-A) or F16 for Print Screen. Oh well. If anyone finds the characters for those two keys, please let me know.

A couple of break-throughs in this field that no-one else actually seems to give a toss about, but I do, dagnammit, I do...

Right, so, to make Control-Escape activate the Apple menu, (like on a PC when you're using a keyboard without a Windows key and you want to activate the Start menu without using the mouse...), open com.apple.universalaccess.plist, to be found in ~/Library/Preferences and either modify the existing entry or simply copy and paste so that the following appears somewhere:

Code:
<dict>
    <key>enabled</key>
    <integer>1</integer>
    <key>key</key>
    <integer>53</integer>
    <key>modifier</key>
    <integer>262144</integer>
    <key>sybmolichotkey</key>
    <integer>7</integer>
</dict>

The important bits are 7, which is what identifies this as the "Focus on Menu" shortcut, 262144, which is the Control key, and 53, which is what the Escape key is in this bizarro world of crazy numbers that have NO bobdamn online reference anywhere, ever, and require you to infer the whole damn thing from pieced together scraps of Google cached information...

Anyway, to make F13 do what Print Screen does on a Windows PC (ie - copy the screen to the clipboard), copy and paste the following to the same file as above:

Code:
<dict>
    <key>enabled</key>
    <integer>1</integer>
    <key>key</key>
    <integer>105</integer>
    <key>modifier</key>
    <integer>0</integer>
    <key>sybmolichotkey</key>
    <integer>29</integer>
</dict>

29 is "Capture screen to clipboard," 105 is F13. I use F13 now instead of F16 because I have gone back to using my old white Apple Pro Keyboard, on account of it being far superior to the current Apple Keyboard.

So, I have 15 Function keys now, not 16. F14 and F15 are screen contrast controls, F13 is Print Screen (AKA "Capture screen to clipboard") and I actually have Command-Escape set to activate the Apple Menu, not Control-Escape, as I find it much easier for my fingers to bend that way. If you find that too, just change the 262144 in that first bit of code to 1048576, which is what Command is.

Hell, whilst I'm being crazy weird about this, I might as well also let you know that using variations on the above, I have Shift-F13 set to "Capture selection to clipboard," Option-F13 set to "Capture screen to file," and Option-Shift-F13 set to "Capture selection to file." F7 "Zooms out," F8 "Zooms in," and the rest are as default or switched off. F11 Exposés "All windows," F10 "Application windows" and F12 the "Desktop."

Have fun.


[bibliography]
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.p...31216101103267
http://greg.vario.us/cornerclick/general/expose.html
http://www.logicuser.net/group/contr.../keycodes.html
[/bibliography]

[drive-thru]

Sorry if this has been explained throughout this blog/thread but I want to know if I can do the following:

On my new style Apple keyboard, the F14, F15 and F16 keys are set apart from te others. So, it makes sense to use these keys for Expose rather than having to find where F9 etc are. As you said already, in the Sys Prefs you can only select up to F13.

I want to set the F14-16 keys for Expose, but then when I unplug my monitor & keyboard from my iBook I want to be able to change back to F9-11 easily.

Any ideas?
Or how do I just set F14-16 for Expose without worrying about changing back?

[megasad]

Originally posted by drive-thru:
I want to set the F14-16 keys for Expose, but then when I unplug my monitor & keyboard from my iBook I want to be able to change back to F9-11 easily.

Any ideas?
Or how do I just set F14-16 for Expose without worrying about changing back?

I know that uControl can apply differet modifier key changes to different keyboards. ie - on my iBook, the Enter key is now another Option key, but when I plug an external keyboard into it, the Enter key behaves just like an Enter key. Unfortunately, I don't know how it does that, but you might try writing to the people involved.

[pendragon]

MaxMenus allows one to easily assingn apps/functions (even Expose) to the F keys.

Shareware http://www.proteron.com/maxmenus/

FWIW, I have used it since it was first released (on a PB G4 and DP 800) and have never had a problem with it. For me, it's been great.

[megasad]

Originally posted by pendragon:
MaxMenus allows one to easily assingn apps/functions (even Expose) to the F keys.

Shareware http://www.proteron.com/maxmenus/

FWIW, I have used it since it was first released (on a PB G4 and DP 800) and have never had a problem with it. For me, it's been great.

I just downloaded it, have had a quick look. It accepts the Escape key, even that useless Help key, for shortcuts. Hot dog! I shall make Help actually open... wait for it... Help Viewer!

So, I can see how to make keyboard shortcuts open applications and scripts, but how to reassign existing system options? Could you tell me how to assign things like "Focus on Menu" and "Capture screen to clipboard"?

[pendragon]

So, I can see how to make keyboard shortcuts open applications and scripts, but how to reassign existing system options? Could you tell me how to assign things like "Focus on Menu" and "Capture screen to clipboard"?

Sorry, I too am at a loss. But perhaps a note to Proteron will provide the answer.