I'm switching from a PC to a Mac. I have a PC utility called "My Function Keys" that allows me to "program" the function keys to do a combination of keystrokes. For example, I can set up F9 to do a copy and F10 to do a paste, so I don't have to do the Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V, or I can set up F2 to type my address, etc. Is there a similar utility for the Mac? I did find some information at this link: [URL]. Which states: iBook: How Programmable Function Keys Work. This article describes the programmable function key operation for iBook and the PowerBook (FireWire) computers. The programmable function keys were created to help simplify common, everyday tasks performed on the computer.
You can use these keys to open a browser, an email application, or any other frequently used application or server by pressing a single key. To set up a programmable function key, open the Keyboard control panel. Or, if the keys have not been programmed yet, simply pressing one of them brings up a dialog box that leads you to the Keyboard control panel. Apple has preprogrammed F1 through F6 with such common control functions as screen brightness, speaker volume, and so on. F7 through F12 can be programmed for your personal choices. To help you identify what the function keys were programmed to do, Apple includes with iBook a variety of durable stickers with preselected icons. Once the keys are programmed, you can select the stickers that will best remind you of the assigned functions.
Note: The stickers should not be placed on the keycap itself, rather above them on the iBook case. To remove the sticker, use a fingernail or other non-abrasive tool to remove them and avoid scratching the plastics. The function keys F1 through F12 can be easily reset to have primary functionality. Simply open the Keyboard control panel and select Options. Then check the box that says Use F1 through F12 as Function keys. Note: Programmable function keys are not a feature of Mac OS X 10.0. So, it appears the iBook will do what I'm looking for, but not the iMac!
How would i go about remapping the volume function keys on my old white apple keyboard to match the sequence order of the macbook's volume keys?
what i mean is how can i remap the volume keys above the numpad so they are used in this order: mute, volume down, volume up like on the macbooks for F17, F18, F19 respectively instead of volume down, volume up, mute like on the old white apple keyboards for F17, F18, F19 respectively. if it is possible i would then just switch the volume keycaps around to match the mapping.
i found this article about modifying the com.apple.symbolichotkeys.plist to change the expos� and dashboard keys link. it says near the bottom that it may be possible to remap the volume keys but the author did not know the values... damn so close! does anyone know the values for the volume keys or know of any other way to change them?
Does anyone know how to use the function keys while in Fusion? I'm using Autocad and need functionality of them while using it within Fusion, but they activate OS X functions. This, and enabling "pan" with the middle mouse button, rather than dashboard, seem to be the last two hurdles before I can fully use the Mac for my work.
I have a new 15.4 2.53. I have a question, by default. When you press the key 2nd in on the top right, which is also volume up and f12, when you press it on its own, is it supposed to control the volume or control the f12 assigned in expose for example. Mine was working normally it was controlling volume as I expect it. Now all my top fn keys control fn if you press them on their own.. to control volume I have to press fn?
I recently upgraded to Snow Leopard on my Macbook Pro (early 2008) and now my function keys are mixed up. My volume keys are now F3 and F4 for example.
I have already unchecked, �Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys� as standard function keys� in System Preferences and it didn�t fix the problem. Also, under the keyboard shortcuts tab I have clicked the �Restore Defaults� button. This also didn�t fix my problem.
all the normal keys on my mac keyboard worked fine on friday when at work and i come in today and they are all messed up. how do i get them back to there defaults? Example, f12 now goes to the desktop instead of actually increasing the volume and f11 is the dashboard instead of decreasing the volume, etc. I am not sure if an update or something got installed or what. I have tried going into keyboard under system preferences and restoring defaults but that didn't work. I also tried powering the keyboard off and on and still a no go. I am using the bluetooth keyboard and running snow leapord.
I have a Mac os x with the Windows vista partition. I downloaded Realplayer to view some videos on both the windows and mac side. When I did the latter I realized that this was the problem; all my function keys stopped working, I cannot control volume, eject, brightness, anything. I have uninstalled Realplayer from the Windows partition and the problem persists. I have tried to look into the systems folder and drivers, but I really don't know what I am doing and I don't want to make it worse.
I just bought a new wireless keyboard to use with my iMac. My function keys at the top of the keyboard are not working and when I try and fix them in system preferences, I am unable to. There is no option to get the rewind, play/pause, fastforward, mute, volume down or volume up to work.
I don't know how but it looks like my function keys are disabled. How do i turn them back on? This is for a mac computer i have at work, i don't know if it's tiger, leopard or snow leopard.
I'm wondering if there is any way to remap the Itunes fuction keys (Play/Pause, Volume, Prev, Next, etc). I'm not using an apple keyboard and the way OSX has re-maped the functions is really screwy, so I'd like to set them myself. Can it be done through iTunes or does anyone know of any application that will allow this?
My arrow keys do not function any more, when you press the down arrow key the whole page scrolls up, left arrow scrolls everything to the right and right arrow scroll everything to the left, and the up arrow doesn't do anything.
I've done a complete reinstall. I've downloaded the x64 drivers. I've tried everything, and yet my function keys (sound, brightness, eject key, etc) just won't work! They did work when I just used the original disc that came with my MBP. They all worked except the eject key when I only used said Leopard disc. So, when I tried the x64 disc, everything went kaput, including my sound. I have since got that working, but now neither my function keys, or eject key, are working. Can someone give me a step-by-step of what they might have done to get around this, with links?
Today I received a bluetooth Razr mouse in the mail today and went to connect the device as I would any other. Well when I was playing music in iTunes, the function keys to skip, pause, and every other function key does not work. The volume keys move my windows and pull up widgets. I dont know if the mouse has anything to do with it, but I imagine it doesn't because I disconnected it and the problem remains.
I bought a new MacBook Pro i5 yesterday to replace my MBP LED (2.2Ghz). The function keys on the new MBP kinda suck. I really want the one that does "Show Desktop". If you go to keyboard layout, it says that F11, F12, etc., are assigned, but seems it completely ignores them. What the F? Even if I could change the expose button to show desktop, I'd be very happy. I know you can use the 4 finger swipe, but that doesn't help while trying to drag something from the desktop into mail.
When I wake my Mac up from sleep, and attempt to change the brightness using the function keys, I see the brightness "image" pop-up on the screen, but when I try to lower it, the brightness doesn't change. The boxes quickly go down, but instantly go right back up to the original brightness. Running Mac OS X 10.6.4
I just got a macbook pro 15.4 with 10.6.4 or updated OS. The ctrl+F2 (move focus to top drop down menus such as file, edt, etc) doesn't work. History: Loaded everything, updated software and then noticed it didn't work. Called mac, went back and forth, in the end they said do a reinstall.
I have a PowerPC G5, OSX 10.4.11 with a wired numeric keyboard. I enter a lot of numbers. How can I assign one of the function keys on the right side of the keyboard, above the number pad, F16, F17, F18, or F19 to be a "TAB" key so I can move around fields when entering numeric data?
The volume and other function keys aren't working as they used to. The brightness key doesn't do anything and the volume key isn't working either. I've tried to fix it on system preferences but it didn't work. They're not set to be used like normal function keys. I don't know what is happening they were working fine.
I was listening to music one day and went to pause the music using the Play/Pause (F8) key. I pressed the key and nothing happened. The forward skip and back skip keys also do not work with iTunes or any other program. I've tried resetting the key settings and restoring my Macbook Pro to a time when i remembered them working.
Info: MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2012), OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)
The top row of keys on my keyboard are not working i.e. sound buttons do not adjust sound, same with brightness etc. They make a sound when pushed but the functions arent working. I have booted in safe mode and reset sound cache, I have check all settings in the keyboard section of system preferences.
I just bought a 2.4 MBP model a1260. When I got home i noticed the volume keys were not working, and then i noticed none of the function keys were working properly. (example, f12 shows an eject CD symbol). So, the keys are working but not doing the standard functions such as volume and brightness. I have check and unchecked (and restarted) the "use all f1, f2 as standard function keys" to no result.Some other wierd things that seem to be related are:
1. In the SOUND window in SYS PREFS all sound effects are greyed out. Under OUTPUT and INPUT it says no devices found.
2. When i go to the itunes store in itunes and i double click on a song, it wont play. Not only is there no volume, but song wont play. Its the same with my own music from my cds.
3. When i insert a DVD no volume control shows up.
And the last superwierd thing (haha) is that I reloaded leopard and when the computer restarted up after install there was no OSX music that normally plays as the video flys thru the starfield.
I'd love to be able to do something more useful with some of my function keys than the default set-ups of brightening the screen, the keyboard backlight etc.For instance what I'd like would be for F5 and F6 (the keyboard backlight keys) to change the lighting only if combined with shift or the cmd key.And then remap the keys so that, for instance, by pressing F5 I could switch to/open my Mail app [rather than clicking on it in the dock]. Or that simply pressing F6 might open a new compose message window in Mail.I'd happily pay for software that lets me do this kind of thing, if necessary.
I upgraded yesterday, and since then my key commands no longer work. If I restart, they will work for a little while, then suddenly stop working. I cannot take screen shots, or get Expose to work with F10, F12, etc. Apple-Tab doesn't bring up the applications currently open, etc. I've searched all over for this issue, but not finding anything. On a Macbook Pro, upgraded from Tiger.
