Stupd n00b Q: How to get to the menus using the keyboard only?

[alistair]

Heheh... I think this is stupid because it really reflects my Windoze background and lack of experience on the Mac.

In Windoze, I could easily get to the application's main menu bar commands without lifting a finger off the keyboard simply by pressing Alt + the 'hot key' of the particular menu item. For example, to get to the File menu I'd simply press Alt + F. File -> Save became Alt + F + S.

So. Is there any way to do the same on the Mac?

TIA!

[hannibal]

meet the keyboard shortcuts

[alistair]

Thanks! I guess I didn't make myself clear enough. If it's pre-defined keyboard shortcuts, yeah, I can easily learn them from the menu itself.

I was kinda looking for a way to access the menu itself (and any command therein, not just the ones that have pre-defined shortcuts) using the keyboard only.

I followed another link from that one, though, that talks about Mac OS X: Shortcuts for Activating Full Keyboard Access.

Only thing though, while that document talks about pressing, say, Control + F2 to highlight the menu bar under OS X, doing the same on my iBook simply increases brightness. =\

Anybody else got a clue?

[Edited on 2-14-2005 by aisrael]

[mgd]

For the iBook you'll have to press fn+ctrl+f2. If this is too cumbersome (3 buttons), try defining a new keystroke in System Preference - Keyboard & Mouse - Keyboard Shortcuts.

Originally posted by aisrael

Only thing though, while that document talks about pressing, say, Control + F2 to highlight the menu bar under OS X, doing the same on my iBook simply increases brightness. =

Anybody else got a clue?

[Edited on 2-14-2005 by aisrael]

[alistair]

Ahah! Enlightenment.

Salamat sa lahat nang sumagot.

[PatrickGaerlan]

Originally posted by aisrael
Only thing though, while that document talks about pressing, say, Control + F2 to highlight the menu bar under OS X, doing the same on my iBook simply increases brightness.
[Edited on 2-14-2005 by aisrael]

If you use the function keys to perform custom actions more than you use them to perform default functions (like adjusting screen brightness, volume, activating Expose), might as well go to System Preferences -> Keyboard & Mouse -> Keyboard and activate Use the F1-F12 keys for custom actions. Then you'll have to hold down fn key if you want to perform any of the default actions (fn + F1/F2 to adjust screen brightness, fn + F9 to activate Expose (all windows), fn + F11 to activate Expose (show desktop), etc.).

[Edited on 2-14-2005 by PatrickGaerlan]

[annie_mae]

i just love the search function!! haha i thought there was something wrong with my fn key, yun pala you have to press it with the command.

newbieness...:P

[Macmon]

Wow, nice to know something new.
I am ashamed not to know that after quite sometime.
Thanks.