Keyboard Shortcut for "Unlock" ?

Keith · 03-25-2012, 08:33 AM

This new "unlock" dialog box that appears when you try to edit a file in Preview and other iCloud-ready programs is driving me crazy. Anyone know a keyboard command for activating the "unlock" button in the dialog box? I can't find one anyplace. Thanks.

NaOH · 03-25-2012, 01:26 PM

If there's a colored ring around the Unlock button, skip the rest of this paragraph. If not, keep reading. It sounds like you don't have full keyboard access enabled. Use the Apple menu to open System Preferences. When that opens, select Keyboard, then be sure to go to the Keyboard Shortcuts section. Near the bottom of the window, select the option for All Controls. You can close System Preferences.

Having done that, when the dialog comes up allowing you to unlock a document, you'll notice that the Unlock button has a colored ring around it. Press the Space Bar and that button will be selected.

Additional Tips

Having enabled All Controls, you can now navigate among buttons and such in dialogs. When a dialog appears, the default button has a solid color. Pressing Return will select that button. Whichever button has the colored ring around it can be selected using the Space Bar. Tab will move through what can be selected.
Similarly, most buttons in dialogs can be selected with keyboard shortcuts. Usually, the choices are Save, Cancel, and Don't Save. The Save button is usually colored, meaning it can be selected by pressing Return. Cancel can be selected by pressing Escape or by pressing Command-. [period], and Don't Save can be selected by pressing Command-Delete.
The automatic locking of documents can be adjusted. You can globally change the timeframe for when locking occurs or you can disable documents from ever locking. Again, go to System Preferences, then select Time Machine. Select Options, then use the pop-up menu regarding when to lock documents to set a specific time. Uncheck the box next to Lock Documents to prevent any document from locking itself.

Keith · 03-26-2012, 12:37 PM

Interesting tip. I didn't have full keyboard access set to "all controls," just to "Text boxes and lists only." Thanks so much.

NaOH · 03-26-2012, 05:34 PM

I should clarify something I wrote, that Command-Delete will select the Don't Save button. The problem is that Apple is making a transition, and the company's software is not all up to date, nor is all software from others. So apps which are updated for Lion use that command, while applications which haven't been updated have dialogs which respond to Command-D instead.

There is often an easy way to know which will work. When a system has been set to allow keyboard navigation of All Controls (as discussed in posts 2 and 3 above), then the Don't Save button may have the colored ring around it. This appears to be the case with Apple applications which use the old shortcut (for example, Mail and AppleScript Editor). But this might not be the case with third-party applications (for example, Microsoft Office applications).

Broadly, just remember that if Command-Delete doesn't work in a Save dialog, Command-D probably will.

03-25-2012, 08:33 AM	#1
Keith Prospect Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 2	Keyboard Shortcut for "Unlock" ? This new "unlock" dialog box that appears when you try to edit a file in Preview and other iCloud-ready programs is driving me crazy. Anyone know a keyboard command for activating the "unlock" button in the dialog box? I can't find one anyplace. Thanks.

03-25-2012, 01:26 PM	#2
NaOH Hall of Famer Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 3,642	If there's a colored ring around the Unlock button, skip the rest of this paragraph. If not, keep reading. It sounds like you don't have full keyboard access enabled. Use the Apple menu to open System Preferences. When that opens, select Keyboard, then be sure to go to the Keyboard Shortcuts section. Near the bottom of the window, select the option for All Controls. You can close System Preferences. Having done that, when the dialog comes up allowing you to unlock a document, you'll notice that the Unlock button has a colored ring around it. Press the Space Bar and that button will be selected. Additional Tips Having enabled All Controls, you can now navigate among buttons and such in dialogs. When a dialog appears, the default button has a solid color. Pressing Return will select that button. Whichever button has the colored ring around it can be selected using the Space Bar. Tab will move through what can be selected. Similarly, most buttons in dialogs can be selected with keyboard shortcuts. Usually, the choices are Save, Cancel, and Don't Save. The Save button is usually colored, meaning it can be selected by pressing Return. Cancel can be selected by pressing Escape or by pressing Command-. [period], and Don't Save can be selected by pressing Command-Delete. The automatic locking of documents can be adjusted. You can globally change the timeframe for when locking occurs or you can disable documents from ever locking. Again, go to System Preferences, then select Time Machine. Select Options, then use the pop-up menu regarding when to lock documents to set a specific time. Uncheck the box next to Lock Documents to prevent any document from locking itself.

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03-26-2012, 12:37 PM	#3
Keith Prospect Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 2	Interesting tip. I didn't have full keyboard access set to "all controls," just to "Text boxes and lists only." Thanks so much.

03-26-2012, 05:34 PM	#4
NaOH Hall of Famer Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 3,642	I should clarify something I wrote, that Command-Delete will select the Don't Save button. The problem is that Apple is making a transition, and the company's software is not all up to date, nor is all software from others. So apps which are updated for Lion use that command, while applications which haven't been updated have dialogs which respond to Command-D instead. There is often an easy way to know which will work. When a system has been set to allow keyboard navigation of All Controls (as discussed in posts 2 and 3 above), then the Don't Save button may have the colored ring around it. This appears to be the case with Apple applications which use the old shortcut (for example, Mail and AppleScript Editor). But this might not be the case with third-party applications (for example, Microsoft Office applications). Broadly, just remember that if Command-Delete doesn't work in a Save dialog, Command-D probably will.