Charles Belov
Level 1 (123 points)
Audio

Q: How to navigate character viewer using only the keyboard

I'm looking at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1343 and it doesn't seem to help and some of the shortcuts seem to be missing, e.g., how to open the character viewer, or what Control-F6 does (so that I can print it out without having to open system preferences)

 

My immediate concern is How do I navigate the character viewer using only the keyboard?

 

A link to an article or video explaining how to do all this via the keyboard would be a sufficient answer.

 

1) How do I open it by shortcut?

2) Once I'm there, how do I move the focus between the search, the list of character sets, the characters themselves, the Add to Favorites button, and related characters panes?

3) What about between sub-panes; e.g., for Unicode, between the list of Unicode code sections and the characters themselves; or within Han Characters - All from 1 stroke Line to the characters themselves?

4) Once I have the focus on a particular pane, will I be able to use the arrow keys to navigate within, the same way I can do within a pane in System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts, or is there some other method I need to use?

5) If I am in Han Characters - All, how would I expand 2 strokes?

 

Thank you for your assistance.

Mac mini, OS X Mavericks (10.9.3), 4 GB RAM

Posted on May 17, 2014 5:26 PM

by Tom Gewecke,Solvedanswer
Tom Gewecke Tom Gewecke
Level 9 (79,371 points)
A:

Charles Belov wrote:

 

Unfortunately, the Apple Note for character viewer assumes I am using a mouse. I was seeking instructions for using it via keyboard.

 

Apple unfortunately has never provided keyboard access to the main Character Viewer.  The arrow keys can be used in a limited way with the little version you get by clicking on the icon in the top right corner of the big one.

 

Have a look at the app Ultra Character Map.  I think it may have more shortcuts but I am now sure how much you can do.

Posted on May 17, 2014 8:00 PM

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Charles Belov

Q: How to navigate character viewer using only the keyboard

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  • by Tom Gewecke,

    Tom Gewecke Tom Gewecke May 17, 2014 6:06 PM in response to Charles Belov
    Level 9 (79,371 points)
    May 17, 2014 6:06 PM in response to Charles Belov

    The Apple note for Character Viewer is at

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/PH13867

     

    The shortcut is what you see in any app at Edit > Special Characters

     

    Regarding 5) is this what you mean?

     

    Screen Shot 2014-05-17 at 6.05.37 PM.png

  • by Charles Belov,

    Charles Belov Charles Belov May 17, 2014 6:28 PM in response to Tom Gewecke
    Level 1 (123 points)
    Audio
    May 17, 2014 6:28 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

    Thanks, Tom, yes your image is what I'm talking about in question 5.

     

    Unfortunately, the Apple Note for character viewer assumes I am using a mouse. I was seeking instructions for using it via keyboard.

  • by Tom Gewecke,Solvedanswer

    Tom Gewecke Tom Gewecke May 17, 2014 8:00 PM in response to Charles Belov
    Level 9 (79,371 points)
    May 17, 2014 8:00 PM in response to Charles Belov

    Charles Belov wrote:

     

    Unfortunately, the Apple Note for character viewer assumes I am using a mouse. I was seeking instructions for using it via keyboard.

     

    Apple unfortunately has never provided keyboard access to the main Character Viewer.  The arrow keys can be used in a limited way with the little version you get by clicking on the icon in the top right corner of the big one.

     

    Have a look at the app Ultra Character Map.  I think it may have more shortcuts but I am now sure how much you can do.

  • by Charles Belov,

    Charles Belov Charles Belov May 17, 2014 10:58 PM in response to Tom Gewecke
    Level 1 (123 points)
    Audio
    May 17, 2014 10:58 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

    Thanks, Tom. I've filed feedback with them.

  • by JMichaelTX,

    JMichaelTX JMichaelTX Dec 11, 2015 3:20 PM in response to Tom Gewecke
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 11, 2015 3:20 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

    Tom Gewecke wrote:

     

    Apple unfortunately has never provided keyboard access to the main Character Viewer.  The arrow keys can be used in a limited way with the little version you get by clicking on the icon in the top right corner of the big one

     

    Actually, they have.

     

    Try:  CMD-CTRL-SPACE

  • by Tom Gewecke,

    Tom Gewecke Tom Gewecke Dec 11, 2015 5:45 PM in response to JMichaelTX
    Level 9 (79,371 points)
    Dec 11, 2015 5:45 PM in response to JMichaelTX

    JMichael11 wrote:

     

    Tom Gewecke wrote:

     

    Apple unfortunately has never provided keyboard access to the main Character Viewer.  The arrow keys can be used in a limited way with the little version you get by clicking on the icon in the top right corner of the big one

     

    Actually, they have.

     

    Try:  CMD-CTRL-SPACE

     

    That's fine for making the Character Viewer appear.  But Charles Belov wanted to know how to Navigate within the large version without using the mouse.  It's not possible in Mavericks, and that is what I was referring to.