Need help with Function Keys

[PartridgePear]

Using Mac Book Pro & Adobe Flash. I can't get the F6, F7, F5 etc buttons to work as short cuts they just do volume control etc. Probably a totally stupid question

 

[EndlessMac]

The F keys do double duty on your MacBook Pro and also on the new Apple external keyboards. As default they are set to do the functions labels on top of the F numbers as you have found out yourself. In order to actually use the F numbers like F5, F6, F7, etc you have to hold down the FN key in the lower left corner of your keyboard in addition to the F numbers. It like using the Shift key to capitalize a letter only once. The FN key also exists on PCs so it's kind of universally understood if you use laptops.

If you want to permanently make the F numbers work without holding down the FN key then go to System Preferences and in the Keyboard section choose to use all F numbers. Now it will be the reverse. You have hold the FN key to do the special functions like volume control.