Keyboard GUI control

osxpez · 07-27-2002, 10:35 AM

I like almost every aspect where OS X differs from Windows. But Windows really has got one thing right. Keyboard control is awesome. Most dialogues, menus and what have you allows you to work with them with the keyboard. I'd love this in Aqua. I think the Windows implementation is perfect so a carbon copy of that one would do.

saint.duo · 07-27-2002, 06:24 PM

IIRC, you can enable full keyboard access for the system (including the dock) in the system preferences. I personally have mine set to ctrl+d for the dock, ctrl+m for the menu bar, and so forth.

You can even set it to allow control of all elements in windows and dialogs, not just text fields and such.

it's the keyboard pref in system preferences.

osxpez · 07-29-2002, 04:35 PM

Yes! That really makes my keyboard life easier. Thanks! But my wish item for Windows-like keyboard GUI control still stands. This keyboard prefs thingy only makes it possible to control most things from the keyboard. It doesn't make it as smooth as it is on Windows. Like shortcut keys (the underlined character in widget texts) and the fact that arrow keys often can move you directly to the widget you want and such things.

hayne · 07-29-2002, 06:13 PM

The upcoming release of OS X 10.2 "Jaguar" is supposed to have many improvements in keyboard support - including the inter-widget navigation you seem to be asking for.

07-27-2002, 10:35 AM	#1
osxpez Major Leaguer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 282	Keyboard GUI control I like almost every aspect where OS X differs from Windows. But Windows really has got one thing right. Keyboard control is awesome. Most dialogues, menus and what have you allows you to work with them with the keyboard. I'd love this in Aqua. I think the Windows implementation is perfect so a carbon copy of that one would do. __________________ /PEZ

07-29-2002, 04:35 PM	#3
osxpez Major Leaguer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 282	Yes! That really makes my keyboard life easier. Thanks! But my wish item for Windows-like keyboard GUI control still stands. This keyboard prefs thingy only makes it possible to control most things from the keyboard. It doesn't make it as smooth as it is on Windows. Like shortcut keys (the underlined character in widget texts) and the fact that arrow keys often can move you directly to the widget you want and such things. __________________ /PEZ

07-29-2002, 06:13 PM	#4
hayne Site Admin Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Montreal Posts: 31,939	improvements coming in Jaguar The upcoming release of OS X 10.2 "Jaguar" is supposed to have many improvements in keyboard support - including the inter-widget navigation you seem to be asking for.

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07-27-2002, 06:24 PM	#2
saint.duo MVP Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,077	IIRC, you can enable full keyboard access for the system (including the dock) in the system preferences. I personally have mine set to ctrl+d for the dock, ctrl+m for the menu bar, and so forth. You can even set it to allow control of all elements in windows and dialogs, not just text fields and such. it's the keyboard pref in system preferences.