Hi Chris, The custom keyboard commands are stored in the property list files for each application. This is going to be in a folder named: ~/Library/Preferences where the tilde at the beginning means that the folder is under your user account. Plist files have names like com.apple.mail.plist that identify both the source organization and the application. The way I would back these up is by opening a Finder window pointed to the Library/Preferences folder in your user account in list view mode (Command 2 if you're not already set to this view). This shows the file name with the second column being the date modified. If you navigate (VO-Right arrow) to the Date Modified column and use the sort command (VO-Shift-backslash where backslash is the key at the right end of your keyboard above return and below delete on an English input keyboard; or you can use the commands menu VO-H twice, which also works for non-English input keyboards and find the "Sort" command). Sort on the modified date so that the most recently modified files show up first. (Applying the sort command again inverts the sort order between ascending and descending).
Once you have assigned your keyboard shortcut, switch back to your Finder window with Command-tab. You'll be able to see the most recently modified files, and just select and copy them. (Hold down the shift key while you arrow down from the top to select a bunch of these). Copy with Command-C and paste them into some backup folder to hold your preferences, maybe one that you create on your Desktop (as long as you don't clutter up your Desktop). This is the only way that I've been able to find out the names of some preference files. For example, when I set up shortcuts to switch languages I think that shows up in something called "com.apple.HIToolbox.plist" which turns out to stand for Human Interface toolbox -- something I wouldn't have guessed off the bat. Of course, any Time Machine backups will copy these files, but it's convenient to keep a local copy around since they're small. HTH. Cheers, Esther Chris Polk wrote: > > one more question? > Do you know if the custom keyboard commands are kept anywhere so i can > back them up? > > On Sep 10, 2009, at 11:44 AM, Esther wrote: > >> >> Hi Chris, >> >> A great VoiceOver shortcut to learn is VO-Shift-C for "Last phrase >> copied to pasteboard". You can move over a menu item and, just after >> VoiceOver has announced it, press VO-Shift-C. If you open a TextEdit >> window or are in Mail, etc., pasting with Command-V will give you the >> exact phrase that was spoken. You may need to delete extraneous >> words >> or blank spaces at the end from the pasted phrase, which is why using >> an intermediate TextEdit window to work with the phrase can be a good >> idea. Then, when you want to assign a keyboard shortcut, you can >> select your phrase, copy it with Command-C, and paste it in with >> Command-V in the field for typing in the Menu command. >> >> This is also a great shortcut to use when you're communicating with >> someone who is trying to troubleshoot your error messages -- you can >> get an exact copy of that obscure sounding message and paste it >> into a >> mail message. >> >> HTH >> >> Cheers, >> >> Esther >> >> >> Chris Polk wrote: >> >>> >>> Hi: >>> I'm hoping I am just missing something here. >>> I am trying to creat shortcut keys in some programs like adium. I >>> have >>> one working that jumps right to set facebook status, but only >>> because >>> a friend told me how the menu item was written exactly. >>> I am unable to read letter by letter in a menu so I can set these. >>> Setting up things like this will make things quicker, example, >>> answer >>> a call in skype, or anything that requires you to go through a menu >>> that doesn't have a hotkey allready. >>> >>> Any help would be appreciated! >>> >>> Chris >>> >>> >>>> >> >> >>> > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
