Gurus! I want to swap my function button for my command key!

[ReflexReact]

Guys,

This evening I joined the camp... I bought a MBP and LOVE it! So impressed, have been on it all evening and still have 3 hours battery remaining

However, there is one thing REALLY bugging me. I've searched for over an hour and not got the answer I need...

I want to swap the command and function buttons around... I am a web developer, and continuously use keyboard shortcuts such as copy and paste on my numerous devices. I want to be able to press function + c for copy, function + v for paste, function + t for new tab in safari etc. Basically, I want the function key to perform as the command key does!

Now, i've got as far as using keyboard "modifier keys" in preferences to switch around command and control - which is just ONE button off function However, it doesn't let me switch the function of.. function

Please help!

Yours,

RR

 

[Corndog5595]

Function, at least in Windows (probably the same in OS X) cannot be remapped.

Do you want to do this because the FN key is very close to where CTRL on a Windows keyboard is? If so, you will - very quickly - get used to it.

 

[flopticalcube]

DoubleCommand?

 

[ReflexReact]

DoubleCommand?

I tried DoubleCommand. After swapping the command button with the control button, i then used DoubleCommand to make the function button act like the control button - however it just didn't work properly, or at all in most apps

As for "getting used to it", this is an option, but not an idea one as I will continue to use many devices and it's a bit of a pain to have to use my brain to forcefully THINK about something as simple as this continuously!

 

[Corndog5595]

As far as I know, your only solution is to get used to it. Sorry, but it’s (most likely) the truth.

 

[ReflexReact]

Rargh, well, thanks for the confirmation!

Any idea if I can swap " and @ ??

 

[Corndog5595]

If you can find a simple remapping tool, sure. The FN key (in Windows, probably the same in OS X) doesn’t have a key code that it sends to the OS. so, the OS doesn’t even know it’s there unless you have the special drivers that the OEM will ship on the computer. I don’t even want to ask why you need to switch those keys though. I really don’t...

 

[ITlover73]

Swap fn key with command key

Here is one possible solution:
1) Buy a mac compatible keyboard with the control key in the "right place" (bottom left, same as for most PC keyboards), and then
2) Use DoubleCommand to make the command key and the control key switch places, by toggling the "Use Command key as Control Key" and "Use Control Key as Command Key" options.

I think perhaps this is the best solution so far?


Regards

 

[iThinkergoiMac]

2) Use DoubleCommand to make the command key and the control key switch places, by toggling the "Use Command key as Control Key" and "Use Control Key as Command Key" options.

I think perhaps this is the best solution so far?

Just use the Keyboard pref pane to do that. I have a Windows keyboard and have switched the Alt and Windows (which registers as Command under OS X) keys in the Keyboard pref pane.

As to having to constantly think about which OS you're in... after a while, it becomes instinct. I instinctively use the Ctrl key under Windows and Cmd key under OS X. Just takes some time to get used to it.

 

[Corndog5595]

Just use the Keyboard pref pane to do that. I have a Windows keyboard and have switched the Alt and Windows (which registers as Command under OS X) keys in the Keyboard pref pane.

As to having to constantly think about which OS you're in... after a while, it becomes instinct. I instinctively use the Ctrl key under Windows and Cmd key under OS X. Just takes some time to get used to it.

Thanks for making me feel like an idiot. I never realized you could change them from there.