Keyboard shortcut for Menu items with duplicate names?

Question

Keyboard shortcut for Menu items with duplicate names?

Hi,

I see this has been asked in the past with no answer; I'll try again. I want to create a keyboard shortcut in Pages for the "Use Default" menu item, under the Baseline submenu. Problem is that the keyboard shortcut panel in System Preferences has you type the name of the menu item, and there is at least one other "Use Default" in Pages, in the Ligature submenu. What can I do? What I hoped I'd find was a syntax for specifying the full path, like "Format > Font > Baseline > Use Default".

thanks,
Rob

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Sep 8, 2010 3:53 AM

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Answer 1

A.Carlo

Level 2

270 points

Sep 8, 2010 5:11 AM in response to Robert Nikander

I don't think there's a resolution for this at the moment. Apple might be relying on UI designers to never duplicate a menu item for clarity in usability. Of course, that doesn't happen all the time (any browser with page/text "zoom" will encounter conflicts with window "zoom" if you ever try to assign a keyboard shortcut to either menu item; hello, Firefox!).

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Answer 2

Dec 4, 2010 11:42 AM in response to A.Carlo

If Apple is relying on UI designers to never duplicate a menu item, this fact does not even seem to have been communicated to their own Mail.app UI designers.

I'm trying to set keyboard shortcuts for Mail's Format / Quote Level / Increase (and Decrease) menu items. Unfortunately, the menu items Format / Indentation / Increase (and Decrease) come first, so the keyboard shortcuts show up there.

Is there really no way to somehow specify the specific submenu that you want to set the keyboard shortcut in?

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Answer 3

REVBCO

Level 1

0 points

Dec 22, 2010 11:02 AM in response to Robert Nikander

You dont need to specify a submenu when making a shortcut.

Just type the name of the submenu exactly as it appears.

System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > hit the + sign > Application: (Pick your application) > Menu Title: (enter the exact name of the menu item you are creation a shortcut for) > Keyboard Shortcut: (Type your keyboard shortcut) > click Add

Worked for me in iTunes to create a shortcut for ratings. (had to use the star symbol)

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Answer 4

Jan 13, 2011 3:06 PM in response to REVBCO

Right but in Mail you have a duplicate submenu names that have a different function

Message > Move to > MyFolder

Message > Copy to > MyFolder

So if you create a shortcut as "MyFolder" for Mail, then it executes the second in the list, not the first.

I think however most people - like me- would like to be able to assign a short cut to the former, but to do this you'd need to be able to tell the command to apply to "Move to > MyFolder" and that does not seem to work.

Anyone?

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Answer 5

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Jan 13, 2011 5:14 PM in response to Robert Nikander

Not doable. If you want to report this issue to Apple's engineering, send a bug report or an enhancement request via its Bug Reporter system. To do this, join the Mac Developer Program—it's free and available for all Mac users and gets you a look at some development software. Since you already have an Apple username/ID, use that. Once a member, go to Apple BugReporter and file your bug report or enhancement request. The nice thing with this procedure is that you get a response and a follow-up number; thus, starting a dialog with engineering.

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Answer 6

Jan 14, 2011 6:55 AM in response to baltwo

Thanks baltwo.

For anyone interested in a Mail-specific option, check out:

http://www.indev.ca/MailActOn.html

It's a bit pricy but it's useful.

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Answer 7

abqgram

Level 1

8 points

Feb 6, 2011 7:24 PM in response to Robert Nikander

Duplicate items showed up in Apple menu, along with a black outline on "chosen" sections instead of the usual yellow highlight.
Having read some others with similar problems it made me try to think back when it started (for me) and I believe it came from typing in the security code provided/required either by craig's list or ebay correspondence. One time I could not read the code and chose to have it read to me - which was also not understandable. Is this clue of any help to anyone? I see the black outline box is on craigslist, I think.

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Answer 8

Sep 7, 2011 2:03 PM in response to Robert Nikander

IN LION: You've already ALMOST got it: Format > Font > Baseline > Use Default

But leave out the spaces: Format>Font>Baseline>Use Default

Otherwise, it won't work. That's the secret (I guess).

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Answer 9

Dec 20, 2011 5:31 AM in response to LaraCroft_NYC

Thank you sooo much for this!

It's also important that one writes the whole path; in my case it was Format>Font>Ligature>Use None

Thank you again, that saved my day!

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Answer 10

joohaeng

Level 1

0 points

Jan 18, 2012 5:43 PM in response to LaraCroft_NYC

It is a very helpful tip.

I could assign Control-Command-B for default baseline.

However, if you hit the shortcut once again, you can go back to the default baseline.

For example, in the superscript mode, hit Control-Command-+ to get back to the default baseline.

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Answer 11

Aug 14, 2012 1:26 AM in response to LaraCroft_NYC

I can't manage to make it work.

I have to reach this menu item under Lightroom:

...which is Located under "Library -> Plug-in Extras".

I created a keyboard shortcut this way:

Library>Plug-in Extras>Extended Search…

It doesn't work.

Could it be because of those grey titles? I tried to put them in the menu structure as penultimate level, but still can't manage to make it work.

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Answer 12

T2YUKI

Level 1

89 points

Aug 25, 2012 9:16 PM in response to LaraCroft_NYC

It doesn't seem to work in Mountin Lion. How can I fix this?

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Answer 13

TysonKan

Level 1

0 points

Oct 19, 2012 10:01 AM in response to PaoloAvezzano

I don't have Lightroom, so I can't test this, but I know that sometimes instead of three periods, you need to use an elipsis - A totally separate character, but visually identical. Just hit Option-; instead of the period key 3 times.

On the off chance you were using an ellipsis, try three periods. 🙂

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Answer 14

Nov 24, 2012 12:16 PM in response to T2YUKI

As I didn't want to bother what terminology to search for, I just tried a few different things and had it working again in Mountain Lion.

Intead of ">", I used "->".

Example (tried with success in Adium) : Display->Delete

Regards

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Answer 15

T2YUKI

Level 1

89 points

Nov 24, 2012 2:11 PM in response to macNtouch

Thanks you very much, macNtouch! It worked in Mountain Lion. It's very useful and you are very nice.

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