TITLE
    System 7.5: Command-Option-Spacebar Application Conflict (2/95)
Article ID:
Created:
Modified: 		16378
9/27/94
2/16/95
TOPIC



    Pressing the Command-Option-Space Bar key sequence is a Finder Shortcut which causes the keyboard control panel under 7.x - 7.5 to switch between different keyboard layouts.

    Unfortunately, this same keyboard sequence has been used by some applications for their own features such as: Adobe PhotoShop, Adobe Illustrator, and Quark XPress. Consequently, customers may experience strange behavior from their keyboards after using this keyboard sequence.

    Some versions of Adobe PhotoShop and Adobe Illustrator use the Command-Option-Space Bar key sequence to zoom the picture in, while some versions of Quark XPress uses this sequence to get a special space character called em-space (used a lot among professional typographers).

    NOTE: Recent versions of these applications may use a different shortcut for zooming and the em-space. Contact the appropriate vendor for more information. To locate a vendor's address and phone number, use the vendor name as a search string.

DISCUSSION


    There are a number of issues relative to this function as well as a workaround.

    A) An easy install of System 7.5 will install the WorldScript Power Adapter as well as the international keyboard layouts (that is the International Support option under System Software). This will also occur if International Support is selected with a custom install.

    B) Since this is part of System Software, it is excluded as an option during Custom Remove.

    C) The only way to avoid the International Support option is to do a Custom Install and NOT select it, however, the keyboard sequence will still be present, AND there will be two available alternatives visible in the Keyboard control panel - U.S. and U.S - System 6. Therefore, there will still be problems using Command-Option-Spacebar.

    Workaround
    ----------
    Open the system file and remove all the "non-American" keyboard layouts AND U.S. - System 6. (For custom installs without the International Support option selected, just remove U.S. - System 6.) The problem will be solved since "U.S." is the only choice available in the Keyboard control panel. Note that the regular U.S. keyboard layout is not a visible resource in the system file, so there is no risk of accidentally deleting it.

    Trade-offs
    ----------
    There are some trade-offs to deleting keyboard layouts. For those who do wish to use non-American keyboard layouts, these options will be gone. Also, a very small number of applications do actually use the U.S. - System 6 keyboard layout. Those whose applications use this keyboard layout should call the application's developer to see if the current version uses the regular "U.S." keyboard layout.


    Article Change History:
    16 Feb 1995 - Reviewed for accuracy and changed keyword.
    23 Jan 1995 - Added more specific information about which applications
    may experience the problem.

    Support Information Services

Document Information
Product Area: Mac OS System Software
Category: System 7.5.x
Sub Category: Troubleshooting

Copyright © 2000 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved.