Re: Some ideas regarding keyboard shortcuts

>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>Hello

>I read through this devel-list's archive from May 2nd to this date, and 
>wanted to think aloud.  I am currently linux only, but have used Mac and 
>Windows too.

>I do not use keyboard shortcuts in KDE, Gnome, wmaker, XFCE-4 or Windows, 
>because I'm scared.  I do not know what they do, and don't want to take 
>time to learn everything from the ground up.  It was so different with 
>Apple's System 6 and 7, old Mac Plus and Mac LC.

>I am not sure anymore what all the keys are called, but I think this is how 
>they correspond:
>PC has alt, Macs have command (the 2-pitched fork).  PC has ctrl, and Mac 
>has the option key (with the four-looped symbol, can't remember its name 
>now).  Time passed and Mac got a ctrl key for compatibility.  Time passed 
>and PC got the Windows keys.  I have gleefully removed them from 2 
>keyboards (and many do because accidentally hitting one in Windows is a 
>good way to screw up a fullscreen game by displaying the Start menu) and 
>own one keyboard that doesn't have them at all.

>I think we should do at least two things:

>1. Define a guideline so that using Y wouldn't require Windows keys.  This 
>is also good for multi-platform.

>2. Define a guideline so that we won't conflict with software we intend to 
>use or be compatible with, i.e. what are the ideas of KDE or GNOME for 
>certain tasks.

>This may be right or wrong, but I see a threefold division between power 
>keys: a) system, b) windowmanager and c) application.  Maybe just twofold: 
>system and application.  All power keys fall into the following categories 
>(incomplete):

>Pure FKEYS (F1-help, F10-menus)

F11 and F12 are MacOS X reserved keys (kde theme for exposé and the other 
thingy)

>Alt+FKEYS
>Ctrl+FKEYS
>Shift+FKEYS
>Ctrl+Shift+FKEYS
>Alt+Ctrl+FKEYS -- virtual console switching in linux
>Alt+Shift+FKEYS

>Alt+numkeys -- change virtual desktops in wmaker
>Ctrl+numkeys
>Shift+numkeys -- These are the !"#¤%&/()= and I just checked if anyone 
>would notice
>Alt+Ctrl+numkeys -- Can't remember these being used anywhere
>Alt+Shift+numkeys -- Same
>Shift+Ctrl+numkeys -- Same

> > Alt+numpad -- Maybe the return of once-seen input method: Alt+92 for 
>ASCII 92.

> > Alt+TAB -- Application switching, a standard whether we like it or not
> > Ctrl+TAB -- Switching between document windows or subwindows.  Any other 
> > possibilities?
> > Alt+Ctrl+TAB -- maybe a useless combination?

Put focus on URL on IE 5
or same as CTRL-TAB

> > Shift+TAB -- Changes here between typing and document bar (Gnome editor)
> > 	  -- Also "previous widget" when TAB is "next widget"
> > 	  -- Maybe "exit widget" if it happens to be a multiline input field

> > Alt+Shift+TAB -- Same as Alt+TAB, and I think it is good that way

Alt+Tab (backward)

> > Ctrl-Shift+TAB -- This feels like an useless combination

Ctrl+Tab (backward)


> > Alt+Enter -- Maybe application-specific
> > Ctrl+Enter -- Same
> > Shift+Enter
> > Alt+Ctrl+Enter -- Same

> > Alt+Arrowkeys

no usage?

> > Ctrl+Arrowkeys

Ctrl+Arrowkeys (word skipping arrow keys, where arrow keys are letter 
skipping)


Ctrl+ESC = Same as Windows Start key

Alt+ESC       = same as Alt+TAB (backward) but with the application focused 
instead of small app switch menu
                [goto previous app restore mode]

Alt+Shift+ESC = same as Alt+TAB (forward)  but with the application focused 
instead of small app switch menu
                [goto next app restore mode]

By default: (except for vi,emacs,pico,nano...)

Ctrl-Delete = Word deletion
Ctrl-C or Ctrl-Insert = Copy
Ctrl-X or Shift-Delete = Cut
Ctrl-V or Shift-Insert = Paste

F3 or Ctrl-F = Find
Ctrl-Z = Undo
Ctrl-Y = Redo
Ctrl-U = Underline
Ctrl-B = Bold
Ctrl-I = Italic
Ctrl-O = Open
Ctrl-P = Print
Ctrl-N = New
Ctrl-A = Select All
Ctrl-S = Save

Ctrl-Home = goto head of document
Ctrl-End  = goto tail of document

Ctrl-Page up   = goto head of current visible page
Ctrl-Page down = goto tail of current visible page

Shift-Page up   = select from current to one page up
Shift-Page down = select from current to one page down

Alt-F4  = close current window
Ctrl-F4 = close current sub-window

Ctrl-W is specific (could be find, close window, etc)

Ctrl-R or Ctrl-H or Ctrl-F,R = Replace




> > Alt+Ctrl+Arrowkeys -- Can't imagine any use for these.  Maybe "send to 
>back", > "bring to front" or moving windows using the keyboard.

> > Where Enter is a good shortcut for "accept" or "OK", Esc is good for 
>"Cancel".  > This was mentioned here already, but is it widely used?  And, 
>if the dialog > says "You are about to do something dangerous", and the 
>default action (a > button with BOLD edges, this we learned from the 
>Macintosh) is "Cancel", then > there ought to be no easy shortcut for 
>"Destroy", for example.  Maybe alt+d, > or just tabbing until the "Destroy" 
>button is highlighted.  Enter = always > the default action.  Esc = always 
>"Cancel".

> > A twofond division cropped up: We have a) combinations that are made to 
>be > used with mouse, and b) combinations that suppose a user that entirely 
>avoids > mouse and prefers keyboard.

> > One "powerkeybase", maybe Ctrl+letters could be user-assignable.  I.e. 
>the > user has "Close" selected with his mouse, and he presses Ctrl-h, and 
>the > shortcut for "Close" changes to Ctrl-h.  With Ctrl+letters we can 
>only make > recommendations, but I loved the way these worked with early 
>Macintoshes.  W > was always "close", s for save, q for quit, x, c and v we 
>all know.  I was > really puzzled when someone (Microsoft?) used somewhere 
>Shift-insert, > Ctrl-insert, Ctrl-delete and the like.

> > What about Ctrl+letters and Alt+letters?  Do these mix?  If these are 
>mixed > somewhere, I expect the experiences to have been sour.  People use 
>keyboard > shortcuts if they are sure they intuitively know what happens, 
>and this is > not the case when deciding between Alt+s and Ctrl+s.

> > And when a shortcut is used, for example, Ctrl+s for "File -> Save", the 
>menu > title ought to flash briefly, or for the duration of the operation, 
>whichever > is longer.

> > We need to decide on a key combination for switching virtual desktops.  
> > Ctrl+Alt+numkeys?  Or Ctrl+FKEYS?  Or virtual desktop cycling with 
>arrowkeys?

> > I hope these could be first discussed, then defined, then clearly stated 
> > somewhere (in the WIKI for example).

> > -Kimmo Sundqvist


Fred

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