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Mapping F19 etc key to a Service (automator workflow)

I am trying to assign a Service (automator work flow) to either function key F18 or F19.


I can map ‘Apple/Shut Down’ menu item to F19 using:


System Preference/Keyboard/Shorcuts/App Shortcuts


If I assign the Service to F19 using


System Preference/Keyboard/Shorcuts/Service/General


When selected F19 it just highlights an icon on the desktop.


If though I select Finder/Services menu, not selecting anything

more, then go back to desktop, press F19 the service is run. This

continues to work while that User is logged in but if I log out of the User I

go back to F19 highlighting an icon on the desktop. It is not unique to F19 as F18 does the same.

 

I have tried this also using


System Preference/Keyboard/Shorcuts/App Shortcuts.


to no avail.


So the service (workflow) is ok, I can get F19 etc to activate it but only if I select Finder/Services menu first.


 [System Preference/Keyboard: “use F1, F2……” is selected and makes no difference if it not}


 I have tried on another Imac running High Sierra with the same result.


(MacOS Mojave)

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Dec 15, 2024 12:25 AM

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8 replies
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Dec 20, 2024 3:47 PM in response to BDAqua

I had a look at both keyboardmaestro and makeuseof but could not find a solution at either place.


So for the time being I will use a no-cost ‘solution’ while I continue to search for a more elegant MacOS solution.


As previously pointed out I can assign F19 etc to a Service but it only works if I select Finder/Services

menu item first.


So I have written an Automator App (Applescript) that selects the menu item: Finder/Services.

I then put this app in User/Login Items.


This app then runs when I boot up and if I log out of my main User account and log back in, it runs this menu selection app again (in a flash).


From there onwards when I allocated a Service to an F13-19 (at least) it works when I press the key.


I am still intrigued that merely selecting a menu, it changes something (???) to make F19 etc work. This ‘something’ has yet to be discovered?

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Dec 17, 2024 3:09 PM in response to Need_help_give_help

P.S.

Although I am having difficult getting a function key to run the service, it works with key combination eg Shift-Option-Z.


 I’d just like to be able to use one key stroke and curious at least why I can’t get it to work for function key.

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Mapping F19 etc key to a Service (automator workflow)

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