Artur M.
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: "Alt + 2" and "Alt + 3" to make € and # respectively on British Apple keyboard stopped working!

Hi there,

 

When I was using Snow Leopard, I used the "alt + numbers" to switch between spaces. Since in Lion this can now be achieved with gestures, I removed the shortcut, but for some bizzare reason, I didn't get the functionality of typing € and # back?

 

I checked (and reset to defaults) the keyboard shortcuts, which didn't help. To make matters stranger, even if I open the Keyboard Viewer I can't click on the respective symbols to write them. I can see them in the right place when I press alt, but they are not active when I click them (unike the other symbols which are just fine!)

 

BTW before the upgrade to Lion, they worked fine - I was occasionally switching from the spaces functionality and it was OK. Nothing odd at all.

 

Thanks for you help!

Art

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Jan 10, 2012 11:40 AM

by rmw60,Solvedanswer
rmw60 rmw60
Level 1 (10 points)
A:

Option/Alt, we know it's the same key and normally called option but the original poster called it Alt. The option Key is also used to input secondary symbols, as Option 2 does the € key on the UK keyboard.

 

The first post was about Lion and not SL and I tried different fonts because other messages suggested a particular font might not have the € sign. As you can see, I've now got the function back having spent 3 hours searchin forums here and there and found a post form June 2011 which I will copy here for others to use as it works, as you can see from my insertion of the € symbol which I am again able to do with the Option+2 keys.

 

Recently purchased a new Air with Lion and wasn't long till I stumbled upon the good ol' # key problem.

 

The problem is when you press ALT + 3 on Lion it switches you to Desktop 3 in Mission Control. Or if you don't have Desktop 3 in Mission Control, it does nothing.

 

Viewing the keyboard viewer though you can still see the # key mapped to ALT + 3.

 

The trick is to open Mission Control and make 4 Desktops, even if you don't want to use them I'm sorry but you'll need to leave them open.

 

Then go to System Preferences -> Keyboard -> Keyboard Shortcuts

 

Select Mission Control and then untick Mission Control in the right hand side. You can leave 'Move left/right a space' with Option plus <-/-> arrows, but I've just taken it off completely, might as well swipe with the trackpad.

 

Now with Switch to Desktop ALT/1234 unticked close System Preferences. Next time you press ALT + ¡€#¢ you'll get those symbols in their place.

 

If you don't have 4 Desktops open in Mission Control, you will not see the option to untick all the keyboard shortcuts and only the first 2 will work.

 

I tried searching but couldn't see anyone else who solved this so apologies for duplicating.

Posted on Mar 14, 2012 2:41 PM

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Artur M.

Q: "Alt + 2" and "Alt + 3" to make € and # respectively on British Apple keyboard stopped working!

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  • Helpful answers

  • by rmw60,

    rmw60 rmw60 Mar 14, 2012 11:34 AM in response to Artur M.
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Mar 14, 2012 11:34 AM in response to Artur M.

    I can't help because I have exactly the same problem. Tried changing fonts and everything. All I can say is that I'm glad it's not just me, not that it gets us out of the predicament we're in :-(

  • by rmw60,

    rmw60 rmw60 Mar 14, 2012 12:24 PM in response to Artur M.
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Mar 14, 2012 12:24 PM in response to Artur M.

    Just to add, I've just switched to my guest account and they both work there so it's now a matter of finding what is stopping them working with my main account.

  • by fane_j,

    fane_j fane_j Mar 14, 2012 2:23 PM in response to rmw60
    Level 4 (3,677 points)
    Mar 14, 2012 2:23 PM in response to rmw60

    (1) There is no Alt key on a Mac keyboard. The Option key, which may be labelled with the symbol ⌥, sometimes bears the secondary label "Alt". That's to help when accessing (eg, via a terminal or emulator) non-Mac software.

     

    See

     

    Switch 101: On Windows, I used to...

    <http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2514>

     

    Symbols used in shortcuts

    <http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.7/en/cpmh0011.html>

     

    Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts

    <http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1343>

    (2) Default shortcuts for Spaces in SL do not use the Option key. If you did use it for Spaces, then you installed some third-party shortcut manager. It must be still active, which would explain this behaviour. Check Login Items and the LaunchAgents folders.

     

    (3) Nothing to do with fonts.

  • by rmw60,Solvedanswer

    rmw60 rmw60 Mar 14, 2012 2:41 PM in response to fane_j
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Mar 14, 2012 2:41 PM in response to fane_j

    Option/Alt, we know it's the same key and normally called option but the original poster called it Alt. The option Key is also used to input secondary symbols, as Option 2 does the € key on the UK keyboard.

     

    The first post was about Lion and not SL and I tried different fonts because other messages suggested a particular font might not have the € sign. As you can see, I've now got the function back having spent 3 hours searchin forums here and there and found a post form June 2011 which I will copy here for others to use as it works, as you can see from my insertion of the € symbol which I am again able to do with the Option+2 keys.

     

    Recently purchased a new Air with Lion and wasn't long till I stumbled upon the good ol' # key problem.

     

    The problem is when you press ALT + 3 on Lion it switches you to Desktop 3 in Mission Control. Or if you don't have Desktop 3 in Mission Control, it does nothing.

     

    Viewing the keyboard viewer though you can still see the # key mapped to ALT + 3.

     

    The trick is to open Mission Control and make 4 Desktops, even if you don't want to use them I'm sorry but you'll need to leave them open.

     

    Then go to System Preferences -> Keyboard -> Keyboard Shortcuts

     

    Select Mission Control and then untick Mission Control in the right hand side. You can leave 'Move left/right a space' with Option plus <-/-> arrows, but I've just taken it off completely, might as well swipe with the trackpad.

     

    Now with Switch to Desktop ALT/1234 unticked close System Preferences. Next time you press ALT + ¡€#¢ you'll get those symbols in their place.

     

    If you don't have 4 Desktops open in Mission Control, you will not see the option to untick all the keyboard shortcuts and only the first 2 will work.

     

    I tried searching but couldn't see anyone else who solved this so apologies for duplicating.

  • by Artur M.,

    Artur M. Artur M. Mar 14, 2012 2:51 PM in response to rmw60
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 14, 2012 2:51 PM in response to rmw60

    Oh man! Thanks so much - this is an unbelievably convoluted thing Apple have done, but great job finding the answer! Seriously, tweeting just got fun again

  • by fane_j,

    fane_j fane_j Mar 14, 2012 2:58 PM in response to rmw60
    Level 4 (3,677 points)
    Mar 14, 2012 2:58 PM in response to rmw60

    rmw60 wrote:

     

    The first post was about Lion and not SL

     

    This is what the OP wrote:

    When I was using Snow Leopard, I used the "alt + numbers" to switch between spaces. […]

    This is what you wrote:

    […] I have exactly the same problem […]

    This is what I wrote:

    […] Default shortcuts for Spaces in SL do not use the Option key […]

  • by rmw60,

    rmw60 rmw60 Mar 14, 2012 3:00 PM in response to Artur M.
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Mar 14, 2012 3:00 PM in response to Artur M.

    I finally found it in the MacRumours Forum, posted on July 27 last year. I wasn't going to give up finding the solution as I'm sure someone would have found it - and they did! :-)

  • by noondaywitch,

    noondaywitch noondaywitch Mar 14, 2012 3:30 PM in response to fane_j
    Level 6 (8,147 points)
    Mar 14, 2012 3:30 PM in response to fane_j

    Just for your information, fane - there is no option key on the UK keyboard - it's alt / ⌥

  • by fane_j,

    fane_j fane_j Mar 14, 2012 4:02 PM in response to noondaywitch
    Level 4 (3,677 points)
    Mar 14, 2012 4:02 PM in response to noondaywitch

    noondaywitch wrote:

     

    there is no option key on the UK keyboard - it's alt / ⌥

    Thank you for the information. And for your information, I wrote above, "The Option key, which may be labelled with the symbol ⌥, sometimes bears the secondary label 'Alt'". You will find this information here

     

    Symbols used in shortcuts

    <http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.7/en/cpmh0011.html>

     

    (a document I referred to above). Equally, in this document

     

    Switch 101: On Windows, I used to...

    <http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2514>

     

    you will find the following

     

    In Windows, I used to…On a Mac, I can…
    ⋮⋮
    Use these keys as shortcuts:Use these keys as alternatives:
    ⋮⋮
    Alt key⌥ Option key

     

    The Option key on Mac keyboards (British or otherwise) goes back almost to the dawn of the Mac. You may consult Wikipedia or FOLDOC; but a more detailed account may be found here

     

    <http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2007/08/11/how-apple-keyboards-lost-a-logo-and-win dows-pcs-gained-one/>

  • by ameweb,

    ameweb ameweb Jul 27, 2012 8:30 AM in response to Artur M.
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 27, 2012 8:30 AM in response to Artur M.

    Great!!!! Thank you for this it helped me to find the solution !