ARCHIVED: In Mac OS applications, how do I assign keystrokes to menu commands that don't already have them?

Note: For information on how to do this in Mac OS X, see In Mac OS X, how do I assign keystrokes to menu commands that don't already have them?

In Mac OS, you can issue many commands from the keyboard without the aid of a mouse. These commands are often standardized. For example, simultaneously pressing the Cmd key (the Apple key) and  q  almost always quits the application. In some cases, applications allow you to change which key combinations issue commands to the computer. Check the program's manual or Help menu for information about this option.

If there is no key combination for a certain command that appears in a menu, you can add one using ResEdit. ResEdit is a freeware program for editing and manipulating Mac OS system resources, as well as resources contained in other applications. ResEdit is available from Apple's Older Software Downloads page; use your browser's Find function (usually on the Edit menu) to search on resedit .

Using ResEdit

Note: Since you can inadvertently damage important system files with ResEdit, you should always work on a copy of a file.

To add a new keystroke command to an application with ResEdit:

1. Open the application in ResEdit by dragging it onto the ResEdit icon. ResEdit will launch and open a window with numerous icons inside it. These represent various pieces of the program you are modifying.
   
   
2. Double-click the MENU icon. Another window will appear, and inside it will be all the program's menus. Because menus sometimes change, there may be more than one description of each menu.
   
   
3. Locate the menu that has the command for which you want to create a keystroke, and then double-click it. A box will open with a graphical description of the menu.
   
   
4. Click the menu item you are editing, and then click the field next to "Cmd-Key:". Type the letter that you want to use to activate the command. ResEdit will only let you assign keystroke combinations in the form of Cmd-character, where character is the letter of the key that you assign to activate the command. Consequently, a keystroke like Cmd-Ctrl-s would not be available, but Cmd-s would be.

If the command to which you want to assign a keystroke appears in multiple variations of a menu, you will have to assign a keystroke in each variation. You must also be sure that the letter you use for a Cmd-character keystroke isn't already in use by another command. When you have made your changes, save the file and exit ResEdit.

Also see:

• What is a forked file structure?
• In Mac OS or Mac OS X, how can I switch between applications without using the mouse?