I am in a bit of a pickle. I am using a Dell keyboard with Mac OS X, and I would like access to my function keys while I'm using Terminal. A friend of mine has a new Mac keyboard which has a Fn key right on it, but when I press the same location on my keyboard my cursor simply turns into a question mark, apparently this is treated as the 'help' key from older model mac keyboards.
Using The Function Keys On A Microsoft Keyboard For Mac
I know that I can change my function keys to work properly using an option from the Keyboard preference pane, but I don't want to do that because the ONLY time I need my function keys is when I'm in terminal, other times I am fine with things like volume adjustment etc. so I'd rather have a Fn key. I have also looked in "Modifier Keys . . .", and it allows you to redefine the caps lock, ctrl, alt and shift keys, but not assign anything to Fn (which is a shame, I use Caps Lock as my Ctrl and the 'real' Ctrl would be a perfect Fn key)
Just tested over here with a Dell keyboard, and I was not able to turn off the F-keys from being the "function" key (eg. Expose, etc). That option seems only to be available with Apple branded keyboards....
In your microsoft keyboard simply press what ever key you intend to press. For example, on my Mac If I need to suspend Java script on a page, I need to press Fn + F8 key combo. Now a microsoft windows logitech key board attached to the mac, which is working fine, all I need to type is a single key F8 alone. It is working like that for me.
When you use a Windows (PC) keyboard on a Macintosh computer, the keyboard shortcuts that you use map to different keys. In particular, the primary key that is used in keyboard shortcuts in combination with other keys is frequently different. The following are the primary key substitutions on the Windows keyboard, and their Macintosh equivalents.
Regarding 2., the mapping for the keys that create characters, you probably need a Windows software keyboard layout that matches Apple's unique "British" hardware keyboard. See if this one works right for you.
Use this: -keyboard/help/keyboard-layoutsDON'T install the main program from their website that's a paid for app - this just installs the right keyboard layout for British Apple Keyboards. You then go into Windows 10 keyboard settings and add United Kingdom (Magic Utilities) as the default input method and voila ALL the keys work like they do on a mac! The only thing that doesn't seem to work is the brightness/volume buttons up the top (but I think bootcamp drivers can fix that if you must).No need to install any third party drivers for any of this just plug in, install the keyboard map and go!
Although Windows and Mac keyboards feature most of the same keys, there are a few that differ. When using a Windows keyboard on a Mac, the Windows key is used instead of the Command key, and the Alt key is used in place of the Option key. For example, the Undo shortcut would use Windows+Z instead of Command+Z. It's also worth noting that their positions are reversed on the two types of keyboards.
If you've recently switched keyboards, using shortcuts can be frustrating. Some modifier keys are arranged differently, which can be difficult to get used to. For example, if you're used to pressing Command+Z, this same typing movement would be Alt+Z on a Windows keyboard.
Luckily, Macs allow you to remap your keys. This means you can change the function of the keys so when you press one key, it's actually performing the action of another. For example, you can set it so that the Alt key will act like the Command key when pressed. To learn how to remap your keys, read this article from 9to5Mac.
Many users find that using an external keyboard with keyboard shortcuts for Excel helps them work more efficiently. For users with mobility or vision disabilities, keyboard shortcuts can be easier than using the touchscreen and are an essential alternative to using a mouse.
In Office 2013 and Office 2010, most of the old Alt key menu shortcuts still work, too. However, you need to know the full shortcut. For example, press Alt, and then press one of the old menu keys, for example, E (Edit), V (View), I (Insert), and so on. A notification pops up saying you're using an access key from an earlier version of Microsoft 365. If you know the entire key sequence, go ahead, and use it. If you don't know the sequence, press Esc and use Key Tips instead.
Excel for Mac uses the function keys for common commands, including Copy and Paste. For quick access to these shortcuts, you can change your Apple system preferences, so you don't have to press the Fn key every time you use a function key shortcut.
Ah finally, someone else who has shared my pain! Have been using PC and gaming keyboards on my Mac or MacBooks for years, and constantly change them because to date, no one has made the perfect keyboard, although the forthcoming Logitech G610 (monochrome & Cherry Brown key equipped version of their high end G810) looks like a good contender, being backlit, professional in design, and with nicely laid out media controls.
The last time I tried to do this kind of modification, I discovered that F11 and F12 could not be mapped correctly. They serve an OS function? Anyway, did the Windows keyboard allow use of all Function keys, including F11 and F12? Thanks..
I use a WASD Code keyboard with Cherry MX Blue (tactile click) keys and Red O-Ring sound dampeners. Perfect keyboard!!! Some rudimentary hardware remapping for Macs possible via the keyboard DIP switches. Extensive software remapping on a Mac with Karabiner.
Microsoft's use of open standards such as USB means that its peripherals will work with products from almost all computer manufacturers, including Apple. However, Apple's own keyboards and Mac OS X operating system use a slightly different layout than standard PC keyboards, with some altered key locations and some additional keys. Knowing how to use a PC keyboard with a Mac could help your business save money on the cost of a brand new Apple keyboard.
The principal different between Mac and Windows keyboards is the addition of the "Command" key. The "Command" keys are located in between the "Alt" keys and the spacebar on the standard Mac keyboard, in similar locations to the "Windows" keys on Windows machines. The "Command" key is important because it, rather than the "Control" key, is generally the key used to trigger keyboard shortcuts on OS X computers. In addition, Apple keyboards do not have a "Menu" key, and replace "Num Lock" with the "Clear" key.
It might seem strange, but the likely cause of your "Control" key seemingly not working on a Mac is that it is actually acting as "Control," rather than a "Command" key. As "Control" has few functions in Mac OS X, this could result in the key appearing to be faulty. By default, the "Command" key is either mapped to the "Control" or "Windows" keys on a Microsoft keyboard. As such, you should be able to trigger keyboard shortcuts by substituting the "Windows" key for the "Control" key.
In addition to the altered role of the "Command" key, Apple refers to some standard keys by different names. This could cause confusion for users who are not familiar with Apple's terminology. For example, the "Alt" key is usually referred to in OS X circles as the "Option" key. However, it is still fundamentally the same key, with identical locations and functions on both Windows and OS X systems. The same is true for the "Backspace" key, which is known as "Delete" in OS X.
Do you have a MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016 and later) or a MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports and later)? If so, your physical function keys are replaced by the Touch Bar, which changes automatically based on the apps you're using.
Open the Apple menu and select System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard > Modifier Keys. Choose a function key and use the pop-up menu to designate an action for it. If you ever want to change the function keys back to what they were originally, select Restore Defaults.
On most Mac keyboards, the Fn key is in the lower-left corner. The exception is the full-size Apple desktop keyboard (the one with a numeric keypad); there, the Fn key is in the little block of keys between the letter keys and the number pad.
As the previous section makes clear, the F-keys at the top of modern Mac keyboards come with predefined functions. They control screen brightness, keyboard brightness, speaker volume, music playback, and so on.
Of course, there are a lot of other reasons to use a Windows keyboard. You may be coming to the Mac from a Windows environment and already have a favorite keyboard. Or you may like some of the more advanced Windows keyboards that offer more ergonomic choices, such as the Matias Tactile Pro, specialized keys, or unique keyboard layouts.
Making the Change to Windows KeyboardsActually making the switch to Windows-based keyboards is surprisingly easy. Apple has supported USB-based keyboards since it abandoned the ADB (Apple Desktop Bus) interface as the primary means of connecting keyboards and mice. Once the USB interface had rolled out to all of the Mac models, users were free to pick just about any USB-based keyboard and use it with their Macs. No special drivers or software were required, although some keyboard manufacturers did make special software for assigning keys to specific Mac functions (more on that a bit later).
Some keyboard makers changed the images on the special keys to match the ones Apple used, while others provided a software-based solution that would remap the special Window modifier keys, such as Start, Alt, and Menu/Applications to their corresponding Mac versions. Some keyboard software became pretty sophisticated, able to remap keys globally as well as on a per application basis, which is very handy for remapping game controller settings on your favorite keyboard. 2ff7e9595c
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