Changing modifier keys on only  external keyboad

There was a similar post that was labelled as solved, but in fact did not address the greater problem.
I have the same problem as the original poster in this thread: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=778597&tstart=0
but the solution posted won't work for me–my external IBM keyboard does not have any software of its own (for os x) to manually remap the keys.
Might there be a way to fiddle around with the Apple USB kernel extensions to solve the issue?
In any even I sincerely hope Apple adds this simple setting to its keyboard preferences in the new os, it would be greatly appreciated.
PowerBook G4 1.67 GHz   Mac OS X (10.4.8)  

@mtrichardson: THANK YOU!!! I've been having problems my modifier keys for months, and was using the section of the modifiers that affected ALL keyboards to swap the modifier keys. That section was apparently removed in snow leopard which left me high and dry until I saw your post. I tried unplugging the mouse and THEN configuring the USB keyboard, and that did the trick!
Mouse is a logitech mx revolution, which I love, but it apparently causes some strange side effects. I should never have installed Logitech's drivers.
Thanks again,
-- Mike

Similar Messages

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    @mtrichardson: THANK YOU!!! I've been having problems my modifier keys for months, and was using the section of the modifiers that affected ALL keyboards to swap the modifier keys. That section was apparently removed in snow leopard which left me high and dry until I saw your post. I tried unplugging the mouse and THEN configuring the USB keyboard, and that did the trick!
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    Message was edited by: bradbergeron
    Message was edited by: bradbergeron

    Any updates on this bug?
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    Hi
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    You can assign a keyboard shortcut. Go to your Edit menu in Illustrator, select keyboard shortcuts. Scroll down to the smooth tool and enter the key combo that you would like to use. Then save the set.

  • Changing keyboard modifier keys

    I use an editor (EMACS) which makes major use of the 'ctrl' key so I swap it with the 'caps lock' key so my little finger can hit it without getting a cramp. It works just fine about 90% of the time but the other 10%, when I hit the 'caps lock' key instead of getting the 'ctrl' function I get the 'caps lock' function and my editing screws up terribly. It is really frustrating because if I don't notice, and if I hit what I think is <ctrl>k to kill a line I get a 'K' in the text instead.
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    I solved this problem by finding and altering an applescript that will change the keyboard modifier keys. I wish I could still find the web page so I could post it, but here's the applescript I used to change to PC layout:
    tell application "System Preferences"
    activate
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    click pop up button 3 of sheet 1 of window "Keyboard & Mouse"
    click menu item 4 of menu 1 of pop up button 3 of sheet 1 of window "Keyboard & Mouse"
    delay 1
    click pop up button 4 of sheet 1 of window "Keyboard & Mouse"
    click menu item 3 of menu 1 of pop up button 4 of sheet 1 of window "Keyboard & Mouse"
    click button "OK" of sheet 1 of window "Keyboard & Mouse"
    end tell
    end tell
    tell application "System Preferences"
    quit
    end tell
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    And here's the script I used to change it back to Mac layout:
    tell application "System Preferences"
    activate
    set current pane to pane "com.apple.preference.keyboard"
    end tell
    tell application "System Events"
    tell process "System Preferences"
    click radio button "Keyboard" of tab group 1 of window "Keyboard & Mouse"
    click button "Modifier Keys…" of tab group 1 of window "Keyboard & Mouse"
    click button "Restore Defaults" of sheet 1 of window "Keyboard & Mouse"
    click button "OK" of sheet 1 of window "Keyboard & Mouse"
    end tell
    end tell
    tell application "System Preferences"
    quit
    end tell
    (end of script)
    I saved the scripts as executibles with neat Apple and XP custom icons and put them in the Dock. Pretty slick.

  • Please consider adding a modifier key with click for rating change.

    Or provide us with an option to add the modifier key, as is possible in Photoshop.
    Once I had hundreds of photos selected to drag into another file, but I clicked near the bottom and changed all the ratings to 1 star.
    At that point I really could have used an UNDO option, like Microsoft Word.
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    Holly,
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  • Specific modifier keys not responding

    I'm having a big issue, and I'm hoping that other PowerBook Pro users can help me to see if I have an isolated issue. I've been doing considerable testing on this to narrow the problem, and have had several calls to Applecare with no real resolution (until I'm ready to drop it off at an Apple Store).
    Here's the issue. After repeated uses with an external pointing device (usb mouse, bluetooth mouse, usb Wacom tablet, wireless bluetooth Wacom tablet), by clicking and dragging certain modifier keys become disabled. The best example is when using photoshop (but the issue can be duplicated in any application). In Photoshop, clicking and dragging with an external mouse (or pointing device) with the paint brush tool selected, paints on the canvas, then holding the option key should turn the paintbrush into the eyedropper tool. After about 15 to 20 strokes with the paintbrush, holding down the option key no longer will result in the eyedropper tool, until pressing the cmd key to break out of it.
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    The bad behavior starts off by selecting text over and over about 20 times. Without pressing the cmd key, press the option key. Does the cursor turn into a Plus sign? What happens when the control key is held, and the mouse is clicked? Does a contextual menu appear? If this is not the same as the expected behavior, then there is an issue.
    I've checked the Modifier Keys option in the Keyboard section of the System Preferences and all the keys are mapped appropriately.
    Please try this out, and tell me your results. I'm trying to determine if I have an isolated issue, or if this is something consistent among the MacBook Pros. If you try it, post what OS version and type of MacBook Pro you are working with.
    Thanks

    Do you have any of the apps running that are listed here:
    http://www.bugge.com/Family-and-friends/Illy/other.html

  • Modifier Keys Reset After Switching User

    So, I started using and external monitor, keyboard and mouse with my MBP at work. I am running into an issue with modifier keys. I can switch the command and option keys, but when I change to another user on my MBP, and then change back, the keys are back to their original position. Any ideas?

    I'm having a similar problem...
    in 10.5.8 and prior I had an aluminum pro keyboard connected to my macbook pro unibody 15. I disable the caps-lock modifier key because I don't use it.
    Since the upgrade (not sure if it was 10.6 or 10.6.1 that caused it) I am not able to REenable the caps-lock modifier for the external keyboard only. All the settings for the macbook keyboard work as expected.
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    I found my solution here: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10094990&#10094990
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    Cheers
    Message was edited by: biver

  • Keyboard Modifier Keys trouble

    Hi!
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    While having an external USB-keyboard plugged in, I swapped the Option and Command keys here:
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