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Q&A for power users of Apple hardware and software
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0
votes
4
answers
166
views
Rearrange keycaps on '09 MBP?
I'm kinda interested in using the Dvorak layout (if nothing else, people won't want to steal my machine as much), but it drives me insane that tapping a key types a different character than is written on the key. Is there a way to remove & rearrange the keycaps on an 09 MacBook Pro? What do I need t...
I'm kinda interested in using the Dvorak layout (if nothing else, people won't want to steal my machine as much), but it drives me insane that tapping a key types a different character than is written on the key. Is there a way to remove & rearrange the keycaps on an 09 MacBook Pro? What do I need to watch out for?
user44427
Nov 21, 2013, 10:13 PM
• Last activity: Jun 2, 2025, 04:07 AM
10
votes
2
answers
1845
views
Dvorak on iPad?
Is there any way to enable Dvorak on iPad for apps like Pages or Notes?
Is there any way to enable Dvorak on iPad for apps like Pages or Notes?
Moshe
(8801 rep)
Sep 12, 2010, 05:50 PM
• Last activity: Feb 10, 2025, 12:39 PM
0
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1
answers
116
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Shortcuts stopped to work when Dvorak + macOS BigSur 11.4
I upgraded my macOS and after it the shortcuts stopped to work, on all apps! It's like the Command + N is not respecting the current selected keyboard layout, it's using the QWERTY layout for the shortcuts. I have been using Dvorak layout more than 8 years, and it's the first time that this is happe...
I upgraded my macOS and after it the shortcuts stopped to work, on all apps!
It's like the Command + N is not respecting the current selected keyboard layout, it's using the QWERTY layout for the shortcuts.
I have been using Dvorak layout more than 8 years, and it's the first time that this is happening. I am not sure if it was because of the update or not.
Anyone know how could I fix it?
John John
(513 rep)
Jun 6, 2021, 04:12 PM
• Last activity: Feb 27, 2023, 12:05 PM
0
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1
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183
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Remapping keyboard shortcuts to use with international keyboards?
I have been using the french version of a DVORAK keyboard layout, called BÉPO, for several years. However I’m increasingly facing an annoying problem: with the multiplication of Electron apps among other things, where you can’t customize the keyboard shortcuts through the `Keyboard` pane in mac...
I have been using the french version of a DVORAK keyboard layout, called BÉPO, for several years. However I’m increasingly facing an annoying problem: with the multiplication of Electron apps among other things, where you can’t customize the keyboard shortcuts through the
Keyboard pane in macOS, there’s several shortcuts I can’t use.
**Two recent examples:**
- in Zotero you press numbers to assign tags to an item, but in the BÉPO layout to type 1 you have to press SHIFT-1, which in Zotero doesn’t trigger anything.
- in the Notion electron ("native") app, you press CMD-[number] to switch between workspaces, and for the same reason as with Zotero this keyboard shortcut doesn’t work.
**What I’ve tried and didn’t work:**
- trying to "re-map" shortcuts with [BetterTouchTools](https://folivora.ai)
- trying to do the same with [Karabiner-Elements](https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org)
I must surely not be the same one facing this issue, since I’ve read many international keyboard layouts are similarly configured (i.e., pressing SHIFT for numbers, etc.) It also happens that some shortcuts that do not even use numbers won’t work for some apps.
Is there any way to re-map keys with another application or by any other way, ideally on a per-app basis? Or any way to do it with the aforementioned apps?
tb87
(252 rep)
Oct 9, 2022, 10:35 PM
• Last activity: Oct 10, 2022, 12:40 AM
1
votes
0
answers
114
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How to use a specific keyboard layout upon boot?
I've installed [DosDude's patches][1] to get Catalina running on my Mac Pro 4,1. However, I'm a Dvorak typist, and now I find I'm booting Catalina in "Canadian English" layout instead of Dvorak. So I have to struggle to type in my password! After I log in, I do have the Dvorak layout. I thought this...
I've installed DosDude's patches to get Catalina running on my Mac Pro 4,1.
However, I'm a Dvorak typist, and now I find I'm booting Catalina in "Canadian English" layout instead of Dvorak. So I have to struggle to type in my password! After I log in, I do have the Dvorak layout.
I thought this was in NVRAM, but the only interesting output from "nvram -p" is "prev-lang:kbd" which is set to "en:16300", which is exactly what you'd want for Dvorak .
So, how can I boot Catalina and have it come up in Dvorak layout?
Jan Steinman
(663 rep)
Apr 4, 2022, 06:51 PM
1
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0
answers
35
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Focus menu bar Help menu Search field in different keyboard layouts
In the default U.S. QWERTY keyboard layout, pressing ⌘ ⇧ / (aka ⌘ ? ) opens the Help menu item and focuses the Search field. Pressing the keyboard shortcut and then typing allows you to easily search through the many menu bar commands. [![QWERTY menu][1]][1] However, in the Dvorak keyboard layout, p...
In the default U.S. QWERTY keyboard layout, pressing ⌘⇧/ (aka ⌘?) opens the Help menu item and focuses the Search field.
Pressing the keyboard shortcut and then typing allows you to easily search through the many menu bar commands.
However, in the Dvorak keyboard layout, pressing the same keyboard shortcut instead directly opens the "App Help" user guide in a new window. This is indicated by the "⌘?" keyboard shortcut appearing in the submenu item for the user guide.
In Dvorak, I am *not* given a chance to type. Pressing the keyboard shortcut only opens the mostly-useless help documents in a new window. The Search field is not focused. I can't search the menu bar items.
---
This setting seems to be controlled by:
In Dvorak, this setting seemingly has no effect. Both toggle states open the Help window.
Do any other keyboard layouts have this problem?
Is there any way to set a keyboard shortcut to focus the Help menu's Search bar in Dvorak?
However, in the Dvorak keyboard layout, pressing the same keyboard shortcut instead directly opens the "App Help" user guide in a new window. This is indicated by the "⌘?" keyboard shortcut appearing in the submenu item for the user guide.
In Dvorak, I am *not* given a chance to type. Pressing the keyboard shortcut only opens the mostly-useless help documents in a new window. The Search field is not focused. I can't search the menu bar items.
---
This setting seems to be controlled by:
System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts > App Shortcuts > All Applications > Show Help menu
In QWERTY, the Search field is focused when this setting is toggled on; the Help window is opened when toggled off. The keyboard shortcut is hidden or shown in the menu respectively.
In Dvorak, this setting seemingly has no effect. Both toggle states open the Help window.
Do any other keyboard layouts have this problem?
Is there any way to set a keyboard shortcut to focus the Help menu's Search bar in Dvorak?
pkamb
(9620 rep)
Aug 7, 2020, 06:28 PM
2
votes
1
answers
1591
views
Can the new iPad Pro magic keyboard used on Dvorak?
I wonder if it is possible to use Dvorak layout on the new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro. It would be even better if I can use it without installing any third-party keyboard applications. Also, on Mac I swapped some keys (; and ') but can I also swap the keys at my will?
I wonder if it is possible to use Dvorak layout on the new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro. It would be even better if I can use it without installing any third-party keyboard applications.
Also, on Mac I swapped some keys (; and ') but can I also swap the keys at my will?
Blaszard
(3903 rep)
May 1, 2020, 09:44 PM
• Last activity: May 2, 2020, 02:25 AM
0
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1
answers
346
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How to type in Chinese pinyin tones on Dvorak keyboard on macOS?
I want to type in Chinese pinyin and found [a website](http://pinpinchinese.com/blog/how-to-type-pinyin-tone-marks-mac-os-x-yosemite/), but it only works for second (é) and fourth (è) tones. The first and third tones don't work on Dvorak, as Option + a and Option + k input å and ˚, re...
I want to type in Chinese pinyin and found [a website](http://pinpinchinese.com/blog/how-to-type-pinyin-tone-marks-mac-os-x-yosemite/) , but it only works for second (é) and fourth (è) tones. The first and third tones don't work on Dvorak, as Option + a and Option + k input å and ˚, respectively.
In Dvorak, how can I type in these remaining Chinese tones?
Blaszard
(3903 rep)
Mar 17, 2018, 04:35 AM
• Last activity: May 3, 2018, 05:18 PM
3
votes
1
answers
885
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Can I use the Dvorak layout on Japanese keyboard on macOS?
Recently I switched to Dvorak, but found out that although my Chinese layout also switched to Dvorak, the Japanese layout didn't. I deleted the Japanese layout from the list on the System Preferences, but got no luck. Why is the Japanese keyboard doesn't switch to Dvorak layout as well, and how can...
Recently I switched to Dvorak, but found out that although my Chinese layout also switched to Dvorak, the Japanese layout didn't.
I deleted the Japanese layout from the list on the System Preferences, but got no luck.
Why is the Japanese keyboard doesn't switch to Dvorak layout as well, and how can I, if possible?
I use High Sierra.
Blaszard
(3903 rep)
Dec 13, 2017, 02:06 AM
• Last activity: Dec 14, 2017, 03:50 PM
2
votes
3
answers
7710
views
Can I easily replace keys in the new 2016 MacBook Pro?
I am using the Dvorak keyboard map on my Mac, I used to just switch keys from the keyboard to have a nice Dvorak keyboard. Does any one know if there is a simple way to replace keys on the new Mac Book Pro released this last fall?
I am using the Dvorak keyboard map on my Mac, I used to just switch keys from the keyboard to have a nice Dvorak keyboard.
Does any one know if there is a simple way to replace keys on the new Mac Book Pro released this last fall?
user1084028
(21 rep)
Dec 13, 2016, 11:26 PM
• Last activity: Mar 20, 2017, 11:56 PM
10
votes
4
answers
1332
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Some dvorak shortcuts aren't working. 10.8.2
I just got a new Macbook Air, and was all excited to code: but then wham. For example I cannot do command + / Which is pretty valuable when coding. It treats it as Command + { I'm trying to use standard dvorak, not the Dvorak-Qwerty (not that I want to either) though it has the exact same issue. It...
I just got a new Macbook Air, and was all excited to code: but then wham.
For example I cannot do command + / Which is pretty valuable when coding. It treats it as Command + {
I'm trying to use standard dvorak, not the Dvorak-Qwerty (not that I want to either) though it has the exact same issue.
It happens in both Netbeans and PHPStorm which leads to believe that this may be a mac issue and not an IDE issue. It's pretty frustrating trying to code when some keyboard shortcuts aren't working. While some like Command + C,V,Z work just fine.
How do I get these keyboard shortcuts to work as they do in any other operating system?
Serhiy
(153 rep)
Mar 5, 2013, 05:55 PM
• Last activity: Feb 10, 2017, 01:39 PM
2
votes
1
answers
366
views
Esperanto and Dvorak keyboard?
So, I'm fully aware on how to type characters with various accents (å, à, ø, á, ä and â) but one thing I don't understand is how to type those accents when typing in Esperanto. The circumflex, for instance, will only work with vowels (â, ê, î, ô, ...
So, I'm fully aware on how to type characters with various accents (å, à, ø, á, ä and â) but one thing I don't understand is how to type those accents when typing in Esperanto. The circumflex, for instance, will only work with vowels (â, ê, î, ô, û) but Esperanto uses a different set of special characters. These would be ĉ, ĝ, ĥ, ĵ, ŝ and ŭ (which can be described as c, g, h, j and s circumflex and u breve) and apart from copying them from other pages on the web or popping open the Emoji and Symbols panel, I am at a loss on how to type these in Dvorak and since I have near exclusively typed in the Dvorak for the last two years, I'm not really too enthused to switch back and forth to Qwerty just to type one character every so often. It, like popping open the "Emoji and Symbols" panel, is simply unrealistic and really breaks my flow.
So, any suggestions on a work around that is actually much simpler?
Just in case you may need to know, I'm running OS X 10.11.1 on a late 2013 15" Retina MacBook Pro.
Véronique Bellamy
(133 rep)
Nov 25, 2015, 05:06 AM
• Last activity: Nov 25, 2015, 01:13 PM
1
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1
answers
1126
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Spanish Dvorak Keyboard
Actually i am learning to write with the Dvorak Keyboard. In the system configuration for Language and Text i have three Dvorak options (Left, Right and Querty) but none for spanish (with 'ñ' and accents). There are a way to configure Dvorak for spanish ?
Actually i am learning to write with the Dvorak Keyboard. In the system configuration for Language and Text i have three Dvorak options (Left, Right and Querty) but none for spanish (with 'ñ' and accents).
There are a way to configure Dvorak for spanish ?
Arnaldo Gaspar V
(111 rep)
Jan 3, 2014, 01:17 AM
• Last activity: Sep 3, 2015, 04:05 PM
4
votes
0
answers
618
views
"Dvorak - Qwerty ⌘" doesn't work for some applications
I recently switched to Dvorak, and I'm using the Dvorak - Qwerty ⌘ layout. It works in most situations, except some applications don't honor the Qwerty shortcuts. That is, if I were to press what would be command+c on a qwerty keyboard, some applications recognize it as command+j, which is the equiv...
I recently switched to Dvorak, and I'm using the Dvorak - Qwerty ⌘ layout. It works in most situations, except some applications don't honor the Qwerty shortcuts. That is, if I were to press what would be command+c on a qwerty keyboard, some applications recognize it as command+j, which is the equivalent key in Dvorak. The applications I've noticed this in are Eclipse and Android Studio, both IDEs, and Terminal.
I'm not sure how to deal with this problem. I would like to find a way to make my keyboard interpret all ⌘+{character} commands as Qwerty commands, but type in Dvorak otherwise. I'd prefer that the solution be extendable to things like ctrl+{character}, for Terminal shortcuts, and be extendable to other layouts, since I'm hoping to make the jump to Programmer Dvorak soon.
Related: https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/84350/some-dvorak-shortcuts-arent-working-10-8-2 (is about Dvorak, not Dvorak - Qwerty ⌘)
https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/13871/keyboard-shortcuts-with-dvorak-keymapping (does not address the issue of keybindings not working)
Tablesalt
(141 rep)
Oct 27, 2014, 04:09 AM
1
votes
2
answers
1210
views
Is it possible to set a keyboard layout per app?
I use Dvorak for my day-to-day work, however I find that Microsoft's Remote Desktop application doesn't play very nicely with this: if I connect to an existing session it will use whatever keymap was in place before (usually US), *but if I connect and it logs in a new session, it will set the keymap...
I use Dvorak for my day-to-day work, however I find that Microsoft's Remote Desktop application doesn't play very nicely with this: if I connect to an existing session it will use whatever keymap was in place before (usually US), *but if I connect and it logs in a new session, it will set the keymap to dvorak which affects other users if they log in*!
It would be nice if Microsoft could make it not break, but I don't see that happening any time soon. Meanwhile, is it possible to set a keymap for a particular application? I've tried the option **Automatically switch to a document's input source**, but this doesn't seem to have any noticeable effect.
alt
(516 rep)
Nov 10, 2013, 08:22 PM
• Last activity: Aug 25, 2014, 10:00 AM
3
votes
2
answers
1397
views
How to create diacritical characters with the Dvorak keyboard on Mac?
I configured the Dvorak keyboard and its almost working. I need to write chars like 'á' typing two keys, but when I type the first the ' char already shows. How to fix this?
I configured the Dvorak keyboard and its almost working. I need to write chars like 'á' typing two keys, but when I type the first the ' char already shows. How to fix this?
John John
(513 rep)
Mar 4, 2014, 10:35 PM
• Last activity: Mar 4, 2014, 11:55 PM
3
votes
2
answers
511
views
To stop a process in Matlab with Dvorak keyboard
The keybing **CMD-C** and **CMD-point** work in Qwerty keybinding in OSX's Matlab, but not with Dvorak keybinding in OSX's Matlab. There must be a bug in Matlab, which is causing this. The problem is that when I push press play button for an algorithm in while loop. Many times, I want to stop it bef...
The keybing **CMD-C** and **CMD-point** work in Qwerty keybinding in OSX's Matlab, but not with Dvorak keybinding in OSX's Matlab.
There must be a bug in Matlab, which is causing this.
The problem is that when I push press play button for an algorithm in while loop.
Many times, I want to stop it before the while-loop end.
The code below is not a low-level code since it can be stopped with Qwerty keyboard layout.
> **How can you stop process in OSX Matlab with Dvorak keyboard layout?**
**Example of the function that I am trying to stop**
while 1;
3
end
Léo Léopold Hertz 준영
(6614 rep)
Dec 7, 2013, 08:55 AM
• Last activity: Dec 16, 2013, 09:49 AM
1
votes
1
answers
357
views
Configure 1 of 2 keyboards for Dvorak
I have 2 keyboards on my MacBook Pro running OS X 10.8.5. I am trying to configure it so that typing on one keyboard will always use the Qwerty layout while typing on the other will always use the Dvorak layout. What would it take to configure or develop something that accomplished this?
I have 2 keyboards on my MacBook Pro running OS X 10.8.5. I am trying to configure it so that typing on one keyboard will always use the Qwerty layout while typing on the other will always use the Dvorak layout. What would it take to configure or develop something that accomplished this?
CitizenForAnAwesomeTomorrow
(111 rep)
Sep 27, 2013, 04:52 PM
• Last activity: Sep 27, 2013, 05:35 PM
4
votes
1
answers
1472
views
Control not working in iTerm 2 when using Programmer Dvorak keyboard layout
I'm using the Programmer Dvorak keyboard layout and found that the Control key does not work in iTerm 2. Emacs is unusable as a result, and I can't interrupt processes with Ctrl-C. Interestingly, the only thing I have found control to do is that Ctrl-Z still sends SIGTSTP. I've swapped the Ctrl and...
I'm using the Programmer Dvorak keyboard layout and found that the Control key does not work in iTerm 2. Emacs is unusable as a result, and I can't interrupt processes with Ctrl-C. Interestingly, the only thing I have found control to do is that Ctrl-Z still sends SIGTSTP.
I've swapped the Ctrl and Caps-Lock keys at the Mac level, but undoing that has no effect. I use zsh, but running bash doesn't help. Everything works fine in Terminal.
How can I get a working control key?
PS: Reverting back to QWERTY does fix this, but that's not really an option.
James Koppel
(143 rep)
Dec 17, 2012, 08:48 AM
• Last activity: May 22, 2013, 03:17 AM
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