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 ).
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.
1. | In the Keyboard & Mouse preferences pane, click the Keyboard button (Figure 62 ). |
2. | Set options as desired: Key Repeat Rate sets how fast a key repeats when held down. Delay Until Repeat sets how long a key must be pressed before it starts to repeat. |
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.
1. | In the Keyboard & Mouse preferences pane, click the Mouse button (Figure 65 ). |
2. | Set options as desired: Tracking Speed enables you to set the speed of the mouse movement on your screen. Double-Click Speed enables you to set the amount of time between each click of a double-click. You can test the double-click speed by double-clicking in the test area; make changes as necessary to fine-tune the speed. |
If you're just learning to use a mouse, try setting the tracking and double-click speeds to slower than the default settings.
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 |
---|---|
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 |