Keyboard hacks (part 1)
Posted by JohnnyAppleseed | Under Hardware, Software Saturday Apr 12, 2008- Keyboard hacks (part 1)
- Keyboard hacks (part 2)
One thing that seems to be a matter of personal preference for many people is the way in which the keyboard operates. Not only do you want to be able to easily type your native language, but you may want certain keys to do certain things.
Apple decided to be different by coming out with their own keyboards, which have a slightly different key layout than the typical PC keyboard. Nevertheless it is quite possible to use a standard PC keyboard with a Mac provided you can get the hardware part right - for example, if you want to use one of those keyboards you got free after rebate a few years ago (that is still collecting dust in your closet) and you own a Mac Mini, you’ll probably need a PS2 to USB adapter. These are often available as a relatively inexpensive item on eBay - some of them will only convert a keyboard, but for only a small amount more you may find ones that will convert a keyboard and a mouse.
Whether you have a genuine Apple keyboard or a PC keyboard that has been pressed into service, you might wish that certain keys behaved differently. So, here’s a brief roundup of the most common ways to modify keyboard behavior.
First, to switch languages, go to System Preferences, International and then click on the Input Menu tab. There you can select among many different keyboard layouts, input methods, and palettes. If you are a native English speaker than probably all you want to do is make sure the correct country is selected for the keyboard input type, but it’s nice to know that the other options are available in case you ever decide to learn another language, or host a visitor that speaks another tongue.
But there’s another reason you might want to go to this particular preference pane. At the bottom there is a checkbox labeled “Show input menu in menu bar.” If this is checked, it shows a small national flag or symbol in the menu bar, representing the currently selected keyboard layout. It’s automatically selected if you select two or more different keyboard layouts, because this is what gives you the ability to change keyboard layouts easily from the menu bar - so you can, for example, change from English to Canadian English with a couple of mouse clicks. Yes, I am confused also - I thought that Canadian English was the same as American English except for a few minor spelling variations. Maybe when you press the letter “a”, it prints the character string “eh?” (Sorry, bad joke - I really have no idea what the difference is!).
If you keep “Show input menu in menu bar” checked, even if you only have one language selected, it will give you ready access to the Keyboard Viewer.
And what is the Keyboard Viewer, I hear you ask? Well, it has a couple of functions. For one thing, it shows a real Apple keyboard layout and when you press a key on your keyboard, it shows you what key it thinks was pressed on the Apple keyboard layout. This can help you learn the differences between your PC keyboard and the Apple layout, and it can also show you some interesting options (for example, try holding down the ALT key (if you have a PC-style keyboard) or the Option key (if you have a genuine Apple keyboard) and you’ll see an entire selection of extra symbols that can be entered. Want to say you have something on sale for 99¢, or that you need a 600Ω resistor, or that something you’ve written is ©2008? Those special symbols and many more are available by holding down the ALT key or Option key.
And, you can try other combinations of modifier keys for even more symbols (try SHIFT+ALT or SHIFT+Option, for example).
Also, you can click on the Keyboard Viewer with the mouse to directly enter keystrokes. This can be a lifesaver if you ever find yourself in a situation where the keyboard is non-responsive and you really need to enter a few characters. Not only can you enter regular keystrokes, but you can use the dropdown to change the font mapping to “Webdings”, or any of three sets of “Wingdings.”
But, maybe you want even more power over your keyboard. We’ll cover that in Part 2. Stay tuned…
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