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Keyboard shortcuts for emoticons in Messages

Mavericks' iMessages automatically converts keyboard shortcuts for emoticons to the actual emoticons. But I don't see how I can get the shortcut for a particular emoticon. Do I miss something? If not, is there a list?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Oct 30, 2013 3:31 PM

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3 replies

Nov 3, 2013 1:08 PM in response to artnaz

Hi,


I would term this as being messed up.


In iChat and previous versions of Messages there was a plist that listed all the permutations that would work as a Smiley.

The Smiley seen in the Choosing panel at the right hand end on the Text Entry field would show you the most popular for any Smiley and you could learn them.


In Messages 8 (Mavericks) the Smileys are supplied from the Emoji Font.

Although you can get to see these by the panel/drop down at the end of the text field you do not get the keystrokes involved.

This is because they only apply to Emoji and in some cases the pics/icons are two characters in size


However when you type a common Smiley keystroke combo such as colon, dash, close parentheses you do get to see what the app will substitute and have the option then of not displaying it.



User uploaded file
9:08 pm Sunday; November 3, 2013


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad

Nov 7, 2013 7:54 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Thanks for the info! So in summary:


1) Smileys are merged with Emoji

2) For smiley's, there are keystrokes/shortcuts that work


The question then is, there are no shortcuts for Emoji? And what about the smiley shortcuts, I use the shortcuts I used in MSN 10 years ago, I assume the shortcuts are changed and/or new ones are added.

Nov 7, 2013 1:43 PM in response to artnaz

Hi,


Emoji are pics set in a Font setting (at a very basic view).


If you display the Character Viewer you discover there are 5 "Pages" of variants within Emoji.

1 Page

User uploaded file


Many are made up of two characters worth of Data so a keystroke could be RH but realistically does not translate as a workable keystroke to use.


It seems that similar to the way iChat and Messages 7.x.x calls a pic from within the App when using Keystrokes the current Vers 8 calls the Emoji Smileys instead.


The grey Smiley in the right hand end of the text entry field does expand to show you more of the more Plain Smileys and the pallet can be changed.

User uploaded file




User uploaded file
9:43 pm Thursday; November 7, 2013


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad

Keyboard shortcuts for emoticons in Messages

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