Control-F2 “Move Focus to Menu Bar” only works occasionally

I too prefer to use the keyboard over mouse/trackpad. Being a switcher from Windows the default keyboard shortcut to "Move focus to the menu bar" of ^F2 (ctrl+F2) was just too awkward a combination for me, and so I redefined the shortcut to be ⌘-space (cmd+space) which is much closer to what I'd been used to in Windows (Alt+space).

This has worked most of the time, from OSX 10.3 in 2004 right up to this weekend in 2011, using 10.6 whereas it now fails most of the time.

What has happened to cause this turnaround? In trying to discover what I'd done "wrong", I noticed that for the first time this weekend I'd run Voice Over (the OS X app). And probably by no coincidence, now, I can only successfully execute my keyboard shortcut to "Move focus to the menu bar" during the introductory announcement of Voice Over: "Welcome to Voice Over. Voice Over speaks descriptions of items on the screen and can be used to control the computer using only your keyboard. If you already know how to use Voice Over press the V key now. If you want to learn how to use Voice Over press the space key now". Hence, I have about twenty seconds of available time to use my ⌘-space (cmd+space) shortcut.

I can achieve a working shortcut by reverting away from my ⌘-space (cmd+space) shortcut, and restoring the default ^F2 (ctrl+F2), or some other different shortcut such as ⌘-, (cmd+comma).

So, I wonder, if my experience adds anything to the [already slightly stale] discussion?

I'm not sure why it stops working, but ctrl-F1 turns the whole system on and off. So, when it stops working, try toggling it off then on with ctrl-F1.

It also comes to mind that maybe you're accidentally hitting ctrl-F1 when you meant F2.

command (⌘)-space bar is reserved for Spotlight shortcut. This maybe hard to override.

So great was my desire to use command (⌘)-spacebar to "Move focus to the menu bar" (to assist my migration from Windows) that I ignored Spotlight by disabling its shortcut for what could have been years. That was until I discovered what a great time saver it is without obviously consuming what used to be precious resources.

Spotlight for me is now ⌘-. (cmd+period/cmd+fullstop). Spotlight shortcut modified using System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts.

Try CNTL-FN-F2

Regards,

Captfred

Spotlight for me is now ⌘-. (cmd+period/cmd+fullstop). Spotlight shortcut modified using System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts.

And now you've co-opted the decades old, system-wide shortcut to stop the current process.

Of course, I haven't used it in ages and don't even know if it still works.

I use ctrl+opt-M for menu, D for Dock and S for Status Menu area. However, I don't use them that often, so I need the mnemonic to remember them.

When ⌃ F2 stops focusing on the Menu I fix it by focusing on the Dock with ⌃ F3, then try ⌃ F2 to focus on the menu again.

Good luck!

Thank you soooooo much! John M.

To Seabeethree, Thank you soooooo much! John M.