How do I re-map individual keyboard keys?

Question

Level 1

10 points

How do I re-map individual keyboard keys?

1) I'd like to remap the pointless key below the Escape key (±/§) to be an enter key.

2) I'd like to remap the regular return key to be an enter key.

I do tasks that require a proper enter key and using the cursor instead of the keyboard is starting to get on my nerves now! FN-return doesn't work - I think that might be for different models to mine. I also mainly use my left hand when typing so using the return key on the right side of the keyboard is a pain anyway - having a proper enter key on both sides of the keyboard would be ideal.

Is it possible to just remap the two individual keys in question to do what I want them to do? Thanks in advance.

Macbook, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on May 20, 2010 6:08 AM

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Answer 1

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,252 points

Jun 4, 2010 3:20 PM in response to ryanferrell

The two keys left and right of the space bar present an opportunity to instantly pull up two languages by toggling one key or selecting input options between each. At any rate, if you have a solution, please help us.

I am thinking maybe you could change the standard keyboard shortcuts for changing input keyboards via the system for creating new keyboard shortcuts. See this

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/8564.html

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Answer 2

May 20, 2010 6:43 AM in response to jw84

Try Ukelele keyboard layout editor and DoubleCommand. I use both, however to make some more typical changes (set Return key to be Option key with DoubleCommand, make comma instead of dot on numeric keyboard). Don't know if you can make Enter out of any key...

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Answer 3

jw84 Author

Level 1

10 points

May 20, 2010 8:21 AM in response to Witold Oleksiak

Sadly neither of these do what I want. DoubleCommand has a list of options to choose from and none of them are what I want. Ukelele says it doesn't deal with modifier keys at all. I'm surprised by how hard this is to do. An answer must be out there somewhere...

At this stage I would just settle for turning the Pointless key into a return key so that I can use my keyboard lefthandedly without having to stretch across myself every few seconds!

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Answer 4

jw84 Author

Level 1

10 points

May 21, 2010 5:17 AM in response to Fortuny

I've already tried installing this a while ago. I've got the sneaking suspicion it isn't capable of doing quite what I want anyway, but I thought I'd try it - thing is, I installed it and couldn't find it anywhere on my Macbook. I tried installing it three times and the same thing happened every time. I can't see any reason why it wouldn't be, but it just doesn't seem to be compatible with my Macbook. Unless it installed itself in some really bizarre location I didn't think to look in? But even when I searched my whole laptop I couldn't find it, so I gave up.

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Answer 5

Fortuny

Level 7

21,461 points

May 21, 2010 5:59 AM in response to jw84

Hi jw84,

it's a System Prefences Pane, have you looked there ?
http://pqrs.org/macosx/keyremap4macbook/document.html

Also the latest version seems to be Sbow Leopard only.
For Leopard there is another version http://pqrs.org/macosx/keyremap4macbook/

Stefan

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Answer 6

Fortuny

Level 7

21,461 points

May 28, 2010 4:15 AM in response to Fortuny

Fortuny wrote:
Argh darn.

Sorry to hear.
But I am not sadly not aware of any other similar tool.

Stefan

One 'not' to much 😉
Should have been "But I am sadly not aware of any other similar tool."

(Just to avoid misunderstandings...)

Stefan

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Answer 7

iyacyas

Level 4

1,536 points

May 28, 2010 7:25 AM in response to jw84

One might need to be aware that the "ESC-key", as it may seem useless, may at some point in your Mac lifespan proof to be a very valuable key. There are some programs, a few in OSX that require the "ESC-key" to exit the current task or function. Without the "ESC-key" it may be a little trying to get out of the current application, state or function.

Just my 3-pennies...

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Answer 8

Jun 4, 2010 11:32 AM in response to jw84

Those programs also didn't work for me—or I don't know how to use them to do my own changes.

I happen to have a Japanese keyboard on my MacBook. I would like the two Full/Half Width switch keys to the left and right of the keyboard (English keyboards lack them) to switch between input languages. Those, for me, wouldn't be Japanese in English, but Chinese and English.

Anyone with suggestions?

Thanks!
Ryan

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Answer 9

Jun 4, 2010 2:34 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

Mm, well that's not an answer to our thread here. 😉

The two keys left and right of the space bar present an opportunity to instantly pull up two languages by toggling one key or selecting input options between each. At any rate, if you have a solution, please help us.

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Answer 10

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,252 points

Jun 4, 2010 4:55 PM in response to ryanferrell

I wish! I tried that first, but pressing that key isn't detected/allowed.

Then my guess would be there is no way to do what you want.

The app Nisus Writer has preferences settings that let you set up shortcuts for any keyboard layout, but I suppose it would also not recognize those keys if the OS does not.

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Answer 11

jw84 Author

Level 1

10 points

Aug 16, 2010 8:46 AM in response to iyacyas

As I said in my original post, it wasn't the escape key I wanted to change, it was the completely useless key underneath it with the weird symbols on! I don't even know what they mean or do and have never used them.

Anyway, it seems there is no resolution to this question after much research, so I'm going to give up and close it.

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Answer 12

Fortuny

Level 7

21,461 points

May 20, 2010 9:08 PM in response to jw84

Hi,

might be worth having a look at this one http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/25141/keyremap4macbook

Hope it helps

Stefan

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Answer 13

jw84 Author

Level 1

10 points

May 27, 2010 6:41 AM in response to Fortuny

I tried installing it again today and it's worked fine. I don't know if I was being thick and installed the wrong version last time. It doesn't do what I wanted, so I'll concede defeat on this one!

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