Keyboard & Mouse
The Keyboard & Mouse preferences pane enables you to customize the way the keyboard and mouse (or trackpad) work. Options can be set in three panes: Keyboard (Figure 62 ), Mouse (Figure 65 ), and Keyboard Shortcuts (Figure 66 ).
Figure 62. The Keyboard pane of the Keyboard & Mouse preferences pane.

Figure 65. The Mouse pane of the Keyboard & Mouse preferences pane.

Figure 66. The Keyboard Shortcuts pane of the Keyboard & Mouse preferences pane.

- If you have a wireless keyboard or mouse attached, you may see an additional button labeled Bluetooth. Click this button to configure your input device.
To set keyboard options
1. | In the Keyboard & Mouse preferences pane, click the Keyboard button (Figure 62 ). |
2. | Set options as desired:
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3. | Test your settings by typing in the test field at the bottom of the pane. If necessary, repeat step 2 to fine-tune your settings for the way you type.Figure 64. This pop-up menu enables you to make a modifier key work like a different modifier key.![]() |
4. | To change the behavior of modifier keys such as ![]() ![]() ![]() Figure 63. Use this dialog to change the behavior of modifier keys.![]() |
- Key Repeat settings are especially useful for heavy-handed typists.Why you'd want to change the behavior of modifier keys is beyond me. It would make a good April Fools joke, though.
To set mouse speeds
1. | In the Keyboard & Mouse preferences pane, click the Mouse button (Figure 65 ). |
2. | Set options as desired:
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- If you're just learning to use a mouse, try setting the tracking and double-click speeds to slower than the default settings.
To customize keyboard shortcuts
1. | In the Keyboard & Mouse preferences pane, click the Keyboard Shortcuts button (Figure 66 ). |
2. | To enable or disable a specific keyboard shortcut, toggle the On check box beside it. |
3. | To change a keyboard shortcut, double-click the shortcut to select it, then hold down the new keys to change it. |
4. | To access an item with the keyboard (as well as the mouse), turn on the check box in the On column beside the item. |
- You can add custom shortcut keys for applications. Click the + button at the bottom of the list to get started.With full keyboard access enabled, you can use the shortcut keys in Table 1 to activate onscreen items. Then use






To do this | Press these keys |
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Turn full keyboard access on or off | ![]() |
Highlight the menu bar | ![]() |
Highlight the Dock | ![]() |
Highlight the active window or thewindow behind it | ![]() |
Highlight the toolbar | ![]() |
Highlight a tool palette, then eachpalette in order | ![]() |
Access all controls in thecurrent dialog | ![]() |