HT201236: Mac keyboard shortcuts

Learn about Mac keyboard shortcuts
7Shamrocks

Q: Why doesn't command-P work in Pages?

Hello,

 

The command-P shortcut to print a document doesn't always work in Pages. Sometimes command-P will bring up the print dialog box, but other times it gives me the error sound. Why doesn't it always work?

 

Any suggestions?

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2012), OS X El Capitan (10.11.4)

Posted on May 8, 2016 11:38 AM

Close

Q: Why doesn't command-P work in Pages?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by VikingOSX,

    VikingOSX VikingOSX May 8, 2016 1:25 PM in response to 7Shamrocks
    Level 7 (20,618 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 8, 2016 1:25 PM in response to 7Shamrocks

    The command+P sequence will fail 100 percent of the time when you have Finder pointer or keyboard focus, and have not clicked in your Pages document to make Pages the front most application. The preceding keystroke works 100 percent of the time for me, across several documents, when the active application is Pages.

     

    Tested: Pages v5.6.1, and Pages '09 v4.3 on OS X 10.11.4.

  • by 7Shamrocks,

    7Shamrocks 7Shamrocks May 8, 2016 2:25 PM in response to VikingOSX
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iWork
    May 8, 2016 2:25 PM in response to VikingOSX

    Just tested this again. I clicked on the document, typed in the document, and then immediately pressed command-P and I got the same error message.

     

    Edit: I will also add that the keyboard shortcut does not appear in the menu bar next to "Print" as the other keyboard shortcuts do.

  • by VikingOSX,

    VikingOSX VikingOSX May 9, 2016 4:23 AM in response to 7Shamrocks
    Level 7 (20,618 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 9, 2016 4:23 AM in response to 7Shamrocks

    What same error message? You didn't share that before. If you are in an active Pages document, and the Print command on the file menu does not show an adjacent ⌘P shortcut, then something is amiss beyond Pages.

  • by 7Shamrocks,

    7Shamrocks 7Shamrocks May 9, 2016 5:16 AM in response to VikingOSX
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iWork
    May 9, 2016 5:16 AM in response to VikingOSX

    Sorry, I should have said "error tone." so how do I restore that system size shortcut for pages? It usually works in other applications.

  • by VikingOSX,

    VikingOSX VikingOSX May 9, 2016 5:34 AM in response to 7Shamrocks
    Level 7 (20,618 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 9, 2016 5:34 AM in response to 7Shamrocks

    The ⌘P shortcut is present on every Cocoa application File menu as part of the default menu bar's File menu during application development. I have never seen shortcuts simply disappear from a Cocoa applicatio's File menu in all the years I have been using OS X.

     

    That said, yours appears to be missing, and that is a problem. Are you knowingly running any anti-virus, third-party security products, or so-called Mac cleaner applications? I saw a post yesterday  in another community where a Mac was purchased from Best Buy and the store installed the Webroot anti-virus software on it. That caused sporadic keystroke issues until it was removed, but no report of missing menu items.

     

    Paragraph 2 is important because those products can interfere with, or damage the operating system and applications. I would suggest that you attempt a Safe Boot mode process. This will clear out System caches, rebuild selected System databases (Fonts, Launch Services, etc.), and verify your boot drive. Because Safe Boot is not loading certain System kernel extensions, it will be slower to boot, and the screen may flash a few times. Perfectly normal.

     

    Safe Boot

    1. Shutdown (not reboot) your Mac
    2. On power, press and hold the shift key until you observe the horizontal boot progress bar
    3. A full screen login box will appear, and in the upper right corner of the screen, you will see Safe Boot.
    4. After you enter your password, press and hold the shift key, and then click the right arrow to log in.
    5. Continue to press the shift key until your Desktop icons appear.
    6. Launch Pages with the same document.
      1. Does the File menu : Print… ⌘P shortcut now appear, and work?
    7. Reboot normally.
    8. Step 6 again, to confirm shortcut is now present for the Print menu item.
  • by 7Shamrocks,

    7Shamrocks 7Shamrocks May 11, 2016 9:44 AM in response to VikingOSX
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iWork
    May 11, 2016 9:44 AM in response to VikingOSX

    I'm not running any third-party software in the categories you mentioned. I switched over to Chrome and pressed Cmd-P; it worked. Switched to Numbers; worked. Switched back to Pages with a different document; it worked and Cmd-P was back in the menu. I'm not sure what caused it to be removed? This was also before I tried a boot in safe mode.

  • by VikingOSX,

    VikingOSX VikingOSX May 11, 2016 9:56 AM in response to 7Shamrocks
    Level 7 (20,618 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 11, 2016 9:56 AM in response to 7Shamrocks

    Is the problem of the missing ⌘P in Pages now resolved?