Reassign alt (option) keys

[mpt-matthew]

On my old windows PC, in word i used to be able to type symbols just as if i was typing letters.
Not randomly, i custom assigned each symbol i used allot to each letter.

I type a lot of symbols in my scientific notes.

If i clicked control shift:
ABD where alpha beta delta, 1-9 was subscript 1-9 (for chemical formulas), and i had a load more.
I used the so often i could touch type them just like any other letter.

I want to do the same thing on my mac, so i can type the symbols.
I have noticed that the alt key does bring up the symbols, but they are very strange and not very useful. I dont need to type a "grave" symbol very often, but alpha all the time (but there is no alpha). And they aren't assigned to my logical letter (beta to B).
How do i reassign the alt keys to my symbol, SURELY there is an easy way, but i have looked and not found one, HELP ME PLEASE!


Thanks

 

[balamw]

Many ways to skin that cat.

You could create your own custom keyboard layout http://scripts.sil.org/cms/scripts/page.php?site_id=nrsi&item_id=ukelele

You could use DoubleCommand http://doublecommand.sourceforge.net/ to remap keys

...

EDIT: Question: How were you implementing the subscripts? Isn't that a function of the particular editor you are using? in TeX it would be something like _{1} while in Word you'd have to use the Format -> Font -> Subscript...

B

 

[mpt-matthew]

EDIT: Question: How were you implementing the subscripts? Isn't that a function of the particular editor you are using? in TeX it would be something like _{1} while in Word you'd have to use the Format -> Font -> Subscript...
B

Thanks
Im not to bothered about the subscript, i used that more when doing chemistry, no i mainly do biology.
With MS word for Windows, there was a selection of subscript and superscript numbers 0-9 in the symbols section, so i assigned a shortcut key to them just like any other symbol.

 

[mpt-matthew]

Many ways to skin that cat.

You could create your own custom keyboard layout http://scripts.sil.org/cms/scripts/page.php?site_id=nrsi&item_id=ukelele

You could use DoubleCommand http://doublecommand.sourceforge.net/ to remap keys


B

Both of these look quite confusing, is there no easier way!

 

[mpt-matthew]

Many ways to skin that cat.

You could create your own custom keyboard layout http://scripts.sil.org/cms/scripts/page.php?site_id=nrsi&item_id=ukelele

You could use DoubleCommand http://doublecommand.sourceforge.net/ to remap keys

...

EDIT: Question: How were you implementing the subscripts? Isn't that a function of the particular editor you are using? in TeX it would be something like _{1} while in Word you'd have to use the Format -> Font -> Subscript...

B

Thanks
Its even better than windows because it works system wide αβλΔ
Aand i have subscript and superscript numbers (i used wikipedia to find the symbols).
Then i added auto correct so that if i type say 1.34 E3 it will make it 14.34 ×10³ .
Very happy

 

[balamw]

Very happy

Awesome! Which tool(s) did you end up using?

B