Keyboard shortcut for 'Show Character Viewer'

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Keyboard shortcut for 'Show Character Viewer'

Does anyone know how to assign a keyboard shortcut for 'Show Character Viewer'? (used to be called the character palette). Assigning one under System Preferences doesn't seem to take.

If I had a script that made the viewer display, I could assign a shortcut to that script, which might be a useful workaround..anyone know of such a script?

macbook, Mac OS X (10.5.8), intel processor

Posted on Nov 10, 2009 9:53 AM

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Answer 1

V.K.

Level 9

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Nov 10, 2009 10:23 AM in response to spiff101

I don't believe there is any nice way to do that. the only way I can think of is by making a script that uses GUI scripting. it would simulate going to the menu bar and selecting 'Show Character Viewer' from the input menu. you can then assign a shortcut to such script. this will work but it's quite ugly. maybe somebody else has a better idea...

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Answer 2

Nov 10, 2009 10:28 AM in response to spiff101

Command-Option-T brings up the character Viewer in many applications. It's in the "Edit" menu as "Special Characters".

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Answer 3

spiff101 Author

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Nov 10, 2009 11:17 AM in response to Malcolm Rayfield

cmd-opt-T is great but doesn't work in iWork applications unfortunately, which is where I really need it.

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Answer 4

V.K.

Level 9

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Nov 10, 2009 11:22 AM in response to Malcolm Rayfield

Malcolm Rayfield wrote:
Command-Option-T brings up the character Viewer in many applications. It's in the "Edit" menu as "Special Characters".

now I feel sheepish. 😉 that of course is the right thing to do.
to original poster: Malcom's method will work in iwork apps too. that command is present in all iwork apps in the Edit menu. you just need to bind a keyboard shortcut to it in system preferences->keyboard->keyboard shortcuts->applications.

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Answer 5

spiff101 Author

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Nov 10, 2009 11:26 AM in response to spiff101

Ah, but wait, the fact that it's in the Edit menu means I can assign another shortcut to it through System Preferences. Not consistent across apps but definitely better than nothing. Thanks guys.

(edit: yep, had the same thought V.K. Cheers.)

Message was edited by: self-propelled

Message was edited by: self-propelled

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