I hope someone here can help me. I had to reinstall PS7 and in the process lost all my custom keyboard commands. Problem is, I made them quite a while ago and have FORGOTTEN HOW I did it! I looked through both my Photoshop books and can't find where I learned to do this. It's a simple process, as I recall...you just hold down certain keys (?) while highlighting the menu item you want to make a keyboard command for, and it magically appears there and remains till you change it.

Please tell me if you know the procedure to do this. I am lost without my shortcuts!

Phyllis

Hi Phyllis,

Could be that I don't know the easy way, but i've just been making an action, and giving it a shortcut key. Is there another way?

Ed

Originally posted by Ed_L
Hi Phyllis,

Could be that I don't know the easy way, but i've just been making an action, and giving it a shortcut key. Is there another way?

Ed

Yes, indeed there is. Just a combination of keystrokes you hit while highlighting the menu item, and presto! Easy as pie. But there is a step or a key I am forgetting to set the keystrokes to the command in the first place.

And...the keyboard shortcuts I am talking about do not use the F-keys, but combinations of command/control + shift + (letter), just like those which appear by many menu items already. For example, the transform command is in the menu and has command/control + T beside it, so you don't need to pull down the menu...just type those keys instead. Yes, you can add your own letters like this to other menu items as well! Extremely useful, especially for commands hidden in submenus, such as "flip horizontal" under the transform menu.

Sigh...I had lots of these I depended on and now I hit those keys out of habit and... sniff... nothing happens!

Gosh I hope someone knows this. It must have been in my Photoshop Studio Techniques book, since that's the book I read just before I set them all up last year. But it's a big book, and how to make the shortcuts isn't listed in its index.

Phyllis

Phillis;

When you relearn how let us in on the tip.

Cya;

Yeah, I'm sure everyone would be interested in that. I know you can make shortcuts to use instead of icons with Windows. I now hit ctrl/alt/tilde to launch Photoshop.

Ed

Phyllis, if you're lost without your shortcut keys, then I don't doubt that you did this somehow. Being curious, I just spent some time searching through the Adobe support site.

When I searched the User-to-User Adobe forums, there was a discussion in late July 2002 of a bunch of people requesting that Adobe implement custom keyboard shortcuts (and an Adobe person indicating that they were concerned about the negative impact on tech support) - which seems to indicate that custom keyboard shortcuts do not exist in Photoshop.

Also, I took Ben Willmore's class last summer and he is big into the shortcuts and gives special "tips" after each break. I just searched my notes and did not find any mention of customizable shortcut keys. (In fact, he has an article on "what Adobe was thinking when they came up with the shortcuts.")

That being said, I'm certainly not an expert in Photoshop and it's possible this feature exists and I just can't find any info on it!

Jeanie

As far as I've heard, using actions for creating shortcuts is the only way I've heard of.
Originally posted by Ed_L
I now hit ctrl/alt/tilde to launch Photoshop.

Ed

I really liked this feature the minute I figured it out. I have quite a few by now, I just use ctrl+alt and the first letter of the program name (i.e. ctrl+alt+P for photoshop) and it works really well.

- David :)

Curiouser and curiouser... I feel like I'm in a bad dream here. I know I did this. I know I read how to do it somewhere last summer. I am shocked to find that no one else ever stumbled on this info, and even more so to learn that Photoshop reps are denying it exists and even questioning whether it should!

Only thing I can think of at this point is it could be a Mac thing. Perhaps the feature isn't from Photoshop but from my Mac OS. However, being the dedicated computer illiterate that I am, I never read anything along those lines...so... where could I have learned such a thing?

Sigh, if I could just recall where I read this in the first place...guess it wasn't Willmore's book after all... but then where? Who? How? Are there Photoshop faeries? Are they playing a joke on me?

I CANNOT BE THE ONLY HUMAN ON THE PLANET WHO HAS USED THIS METHOD! WHERE ARE ALL YOU OTHER VICTIMS OF THESE EVIL FAERIES?!

Oops...sorry...the frustration of being keyless finally got to me.

Phyllis

Hi Phyllis,
You are NOT the only one on the planet.. actually, just a couple days before you started this thread I was looking into the EXACT same thing. I could have SWORN I had learned how to create custom keyboard shortcuts for Photoshop. Then I looked in books and help files.. nothing! I was stunned to see no info anywhere on it.

I have been following this thread thinking "yes! I'm not crazy after all." hoping I would finally read the answer from someone.

I even wrote a reply earlier but deleted because I felt so dumb :P
I was suggesting that it is probably an operating system thing... but I am using a pc and I did do this .. I do know you can create hotkey shortcuts from Windows OS or Macs, but like you I was sure this was in Photoshop.
Alas I am just babbling and wish I had the answer. I'm beginning to wonder if I was not Photoshopping in my dreams in a parallel universe.

Raven, thank you for writing. Just in time...I was able to cancel my check-in at the looney bin just before they dispatched the little white truck.

Nice to know I'm not insane, but will be much nicer to know again how to make these shortcuts. Since others here now know it's possible (not to mention really easy once you know how) surely they will all join the search and we'll find the answer.

Meanwhile, I've been trying all sorts of things in the hope that the info buried in my brain will pop out of hiding, but have had no luck. Sigh.

Phyllis

Originally posted by jeaniesa
When I searched the User-to-User Adobe forums, there was a discussion in late July 2002 of a bunch of people requesting that Adobe implement custom keyboard shortcuts (and an Adobe person indicating that they were concerned about the negative impact on tech support) - which seems to indicate that custom keyboard shortcuts do not exist in Photoshop.

It would "seem" to imply that, but if you know how the corporate world operates and how inept most folks are at the jobs they are assigned to then it's no surprise. Most folks learn just enough to get by on their jobs, unfortunately. We've all encountered company reps who know little about the product or service they are supposed to be helping you with. The fact that this person gave a song and dance about "negative impact" etc. indicates not only that he/she was ill-informed but also was used to offering BS instead of useful answers. Some folks just enjoy playing the role of experts without having the knowledge to back it up...amazing how far some folks get on BS alone...look at our congress for example. :)

Phyllis

Phyllis and Raven;

"Joke mode on"

Are you guys the Anti Shirley Mcclaine sisters? Have you come to us from the future? Oh please, please tell us. I will be your trusted servent. How is the stock market? (numbers please) Is the world a better place? Are humans finally living as people and not animals? (always fighting) Is health care universal yet? Is there one computer system as good as the one in Startrek. Is Bill gates old and wearing diapers or still dollar bills?

"Joke mode off"

Keep searching you will find the answers. And please let us know. Sorry I couldn't help myself. :D

Lacto;

LOL! Lacto that is hysterical! Thanks...needed a laugh!

Today I called Ben Willmore and talked to his partner, Regina, as he was on the road. She was very nice and said she too was now curious. She asked for my phone number and said she'd ask him about it when she talks to him...in a day or two I guess...and will let me know what he says. How very nice of her to bother with a question from a stranger! Makes me even gladder that I paid big bucks for his (excellent) book! It's always refreshing to find that folks truly want to help others and aren't just in their jobs for a buck. Made my day! Now I just hope Ben knows the answer.

This is so spooky that I am beginning to think the answer may turn out to be "42." :)

One more possibility...

I've thought and thought and thought and still seem to recall that I just had to highlight the menu item then type the keys I wanted for the command, all at once, while it was highlighted, then the symbols would magically appear after the name. But obviously this not working for me now. On the remote chance that it's my new installation that's flawed and not my memory,how about if you guys all try doing this and see if it works for anyone here.

Can't hurt to try... unless...

***WARNING*** Just in case this DOES work when you do it, there is no way that I know of to get rid of the command symbols after you put them there. I was able to CHANGE them (as often as I liked) but not to remove them completely. Doesn't mean there is no way to do it, just that I didn't know how. And if you type keystrokes that were previously assigned to a different command, they will disappear from that menu and be assigned to your new one unless you put them back. So pick a command that you are sure you would want to make a shortcut for, and check other menu lists for the keys you select, just in case it should miraculously work!

Phyllis

I'm certainly curious too! So, I tried your suggestion Phyllis, and I could NOT get it to work. :( (I'm running PS7.)

Jeanie

Thanks, Jeanie. That tells me that there was indeed a step I am forgetting, Now at least I know I don't have to blame my newly installed PS7 or my OS. Just my old broken down forgetful brain. :(

Phyllis

Hi Phyllis,

Not sure about how to create shortcuts, but you might want to try this link.

http://user.fundy.net/morris/downloads/Photoshop7HotKeys.pdf

Larry

Lacto.. that is hilarious. HOWEVER, seriously, I am now beginning to doubt myself and feel rather foolish. Did I dream this? Quite possible.

Actually, I think maybe Larry has nailed it. I was thinking of that vast list of shortcuts earlier and it looks as though just about every imaginable function I would ever want a shortcut for is listed there. Most of us only learn a few.. the ones we use the most, but I do recall way back (does anyone still trust my memory) having taken the time to learn many more of these.

Larry, thanks for the hotkeys list...will come in handy I'm sure!

Raven, don't you dare start doubting yourself...that's exactly what the evil faeries want us to do. We must be strong and not let them defeat us!

You are not dreaming, nor am I. I had made keyboard shortcuts for transform>flip horizontal (command-shift-H) and for adjustment>equalize (command-E) and about ten others that I use a lot. There is no doubt this is possible, not to mention easy to do...just hard to recall. Darn faeries and their magic mind dust! Grrr....

Phyllis

Gotta hand it to ya Phyllis. This is a RetouchPRO record, for sure. Mine is the 18th reply, and still no answer. :(

Ed

Hi Phyllis, Hi Raven,

Checked around with some folks who are pretty much up on Photoshop, and the concensus is that they don't think it can be done. But, here's a couple of other links that could help do what you want:

http://www.mjmsoft.com/
http://www.iolo.com/

Larry

I did a Google search for custom shortcuts. After checking out 40 pages of threads (not each post), I found quite a bit on custom shortcuts, but not for Photoshop. You gals didn't go to a party the rest of us weren't invited to, did you? :D

Ed

Originally posted by Ed_L
You gals didn't go to a party the rest of us weren't invited to, did you? :D

Ed

I think it's called the "Fairy Tricks Party for people 50+"

Some sort of cruel initiation rite.

I was sure I had set up shortcuts! In fact, I had set it up so that when I clicked on any item, Photoshop would automatically jump to that layer... without having to hold down the ctrl (command) key. I don't remember how I did that, but it used to work all the time once I set it up. Since I reinstalled Photoshop, it went back to the default.

I am not crazy. I am not crazy. I am not crazy. I am not crazy. I am not crazy. I am not crazy. I am not crazy. I am not crazy. I am not crazy. I am not crazy.

I agree. There's nothing wrong with you wrong with you wrong with you. :D

Ed

Originally posted by Larry
Hi Phyllis, Hi Raven,

Checked around with some folks who are pretty much up on Photoshop, and the concensus is that they don't think it can be done.

LOL! I have done it, and self-proclaimed experts come back with they "don't think" it can be done. Hard to know how to respond to such "helpful" remarks! I guess some folks just feel they have to say SOMETHING when asked a question. Ain't human nature grand!

And for some mysterious reason a lot of folks seem to think that if there's a "consensus" that miraculously makes a mistaken view of reality more true. The good news? From global politics to Photoshop questions, human nature at least remains predictable in its folly. :)

Phyllis

I can't help you with the shortcuts (although there's a Mac app called QuicKeys that will do it), but if you have the move tool chosen in PS7 there's an option at the top called "Auto Select Layer" so it will jump to the layer without holding another key down.

thanks Doug, I did find how to autoselect layers.. there it was right in front of me. I had learned a different method in PS6 for it and was trying to remember that way, but now I see it is different in PS7.

Phyllis.. I'm with you about general consensus seeming to make something absolutely true. We know it aint necessarily so!

(Politics too. (but don't even get me started) :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Doug Nelson
I can't help you with the shortcuts (although there's a Mac app called QuicKeys that will do it)

Funny you should mention that. In a desperate move, I downloaded Quickeys just yesterday. I don't see anything in the menus which would allow it to make keyboard commands for a specific application, but the web site claims it can do so. Guess I'll have to plow through the PDF manual...sigh. Unless you can tell me where to look, or even how to do this?

I know the method I used last year didn't involve Quickeys, since I didn't have it on my machine then. At this point I am willing to learn a new way to do what I can no longer do the old, easy way, but this mystery is gonna keep me awake nights anyway till I get the info again. Sigh.

Phyllis

I've got my keys back! All I have to do is highlight the menu item and hit the keys I want to assign to that command and presto, the symbols appear in the menu and the keystrokes will work from then on. This is thanks to my hubby, who is the guy who wiped my hard drive last week and forced me to reinstall all my programs, one at a time. But I only installed the programs that I used/wanted/had previously installed myself. I didn't know about the stuff he had installed for me in the past, such as "Action Menus" for the Mac. It is THIS little program which makes the addition of key commands possible for any program on your machine. No wonder my method failed! It wasn't that I was forgetting something, but that I was working on a computer that lacked Action Menus.

So there you have it. It's not a Photoshop thing at all, but a separate program that allows assign key commands to menus. So that is bad news for non-Mac users, I suppose. However, he tells me that similar software exists for PC's. Soooo...I strongly suggest that you go webbing right now and find such a program and install it. Having my keyboard shortcuts back is soooooo wonderful! And you can have them too, once you install a 3rd party package, that is. They are cheap, though, and well worth the cost regardless. Sure a big timesaver!!!

Sorry for all the confusion. But now we all know something useful, so I guess it was worth it. And, I just noticed another thread here from 9/02 which dealt with EXACTLY the same question...LOL! I had even replied to it and said how easy it was to assign keys...LOL! Of course, back then I had Action Menus on my computer, though I didn't know that.

Your computer illiterate buddy,
Phyllis :)

So it only works on a Mac? :( Thanks for passing the info on, even if I can't use it.

Ed

Ed, only this particular program works on Mac, but there ARE similar ones for PC's. Bet someone here can find a bunch to pick from!

One more thing, even though my problem is now solved and I can sleep again, I still wonder where I read this info to begin with. I had assumed it was in a Photoshop book or web tute since that is ALL I read concerning computers...hehe. But now that I have Action Menus installed again, I see that it shows you a little window of "tips" whenever you restart. And I'm a sucker for tips, so I must have read it there one day last summer after a power outage or something...didn't even realize I was reading it. Sneaky little "tips" windows. :)

Happy again...la de da de da la la laaaaa...

Phyllis :)

Phyllis - so it seems that all those self confessed experts were correct and that they were truly tyring to be helpful and that in this case a concensus viewpoint was correct over a single faded memory. <g>

Glad you are up and running.

Stephen Marsh.

Originally posted by Stephen M
Phyllis - so it seems that all those self confessed experts were correct and that they were truly tyring to be helpful and that in this case a concensus viewpoint was correct over a single faded memory. <g>


Readily acknowledged that my tired old brain suffers from lack of memory ability, and never doubted these experts were trying to be helpful...most folks are, even when they are offering no help. And yes, in this particular case these folks were correct, but NOT because there was a "consensus." My point remains unaffected by the outcome. Or have you been living in a different society than I have been? If so, I wanna move to where YOU live! :)

Phyllis <--cynical old lady, but a cynical old lady with keyboard commands galore! :tongue:

No a majority view does not make something right - but I have found that it is often a simple answer that is correct, rather than a complex one - or perhaps that the majority viewpoint was correct in this case. With so many saying 'it's not possible' and one saying it is - then there must be something going on. When this is the case there is often great room for learning - either one way or the other.

Little did we know that your system had a third party utility installed without your knowledge. The majority view may have made this apparent earlier, I can also appreciate that you _knew_ you did it and that there were no third party installs to your knowledge.

Stephen Marsh.

I was intrigued by your problem and didn't read the whole topc before I got curious and went searching.

I was sure I had heard about this keyboard shortcut thing on this forum some time ago, so I did a search for the words "function key" and here's what I found:

Originally posted 08/22/2002
I needed help with a problem I had tonight, which I have since figured out how to fix. In case you ever hit a keyboard combination by mistake that changes a set keyboard command to a different function, here is how you fix the problem:

Highlight the function you want in the menu while you hold down command/control and click. Voila! You add/change a keyboard shortcut!

Discovered by trial and error with much mumbling of not-so-nice words since my PS7 manual was no help (if it was in there, I couldn't find it--big book). But now I'm glad it happened since there are some functions I use a lot that have no set keyboard shortcuts, and now I can add them! Yay!

Phyllis


http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3640&highlight=function+key%2A

I know how you feel Phylis :bawling: :bawling: :bawling:

margaret

Margaret, thank you so much! Your research has solved a mystery for me, which is how/why I ever knew how to do those commands in the first place. I had just naturally assumed I'd read it somewhere, since that's how I get all my Photoshop info, but now I see that I stumbled upon it by accident! Wow! And I even posted about it! The source of this knowledge has been bugging the heck out of me for all these weeks, and you have put what's left of my mind to rest...thanks a million!

Now perhaps you guys can appreciate the severity of my memory problem... I wasn't kidding when I said my mind is very old and tired. I'm the sort who will write notes to myself then forget to read them, so there's really no way around it I'm afraid.

Well, something useful has come out of this in the end. You now all know how to set keyboard commands for Photoshop and other programs as well...simply install software that will do it! If Action Menus exists for Mac, surely there are equivalents for PC's, since PC's usually have a huge advantage over Macs in the plethora of software add-ons available. Actually, I'm surprised no one has found one and posted it by now.

Phyllis

Phyllis, Have you thought about calling back Regina (Ben Willmore's assistant) and telling her you figured out the mystery? ;)
Jeanie

Originally posted by jeaniesa
Phyllis, Have you thought about calling back Regina (Ben Willmore's assistant) and telling her you figured out the mystery? ;)
Jeanie

Absolutely. Will do that Monday morning. Maybe Ben can spread the word at his seminars since evidently folks have been asking for this very thing. If Adobe won't do it, so what? Programs exist to make it possible, and that's really all that matters to someone who wants keyboard shortcuts.

Phyllis