Comments on: Word 2008: How to assign command-G to ‘Find Next’ http://www.betalogue.com/2008/05/20/word-2008-how-to-assign-command-g-to-find-next/ Notes from an unfinished world… Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:29:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: otherslikeyou.com » Betalogue » Blog Archive » Word 2008: How to assign command-G to ‘Find Next’ http://www.betalogue.com/2008/05/20/word-2008-how-to-assign-command-g-to-find-next/comment-page-1/#comment-8231 otherslikeyou.com » Betalogue » Blog Archive » Word 2008: How to assign command-G to ‘Find Next’ Sat, 24 May 2008 02:48:41 +0000 http://www.betalogue.com/?p=2371#comment-8231 [...] Betalogue » Blog Archive » Word 2008: How to assign command-G to ‘Find Next’: [...] [...] Betalogue » Blog Archive » Word 2008: How to assign command-G to ‘Find Next’: [...]

]]> By: Pierre Igot http://www.betalogue.com/2008/05/20/word-2008-how-to-assign-command-g-to-find-next/comment-page-1/#comment-8229 Pierre Igot Fri, 23 May 2008 11:05:04 +0000 http://www.betalogue.com/?p=2371#comment-8229 demenas: You are correct. Quitting and relaunching Word does seem to make the keyboard shortcut reassignment work, without requiring the "&" to be erased. Daiya said that it "worked immediately," though. It certainly does not work immediately on my machine. Quitting and relaunching Word is required—and of course there is absolutely nothing in the Word interface that identifies this requirement. demenas: You are correct. Quitting and relaunching Word does seem to make the keyboard shortcut reassignment work, without requiring the “&” to be erased. Daiya said that it “worked immediately,” though. It certainly does not work immediately on my machine. Quitting and relaunching Word is required—and of course there is absolutely nothing in the Word interface that identifies this requirement.

]]> By: demenas http://www.betalogue.com/2008/05/20/word-2008-how-to-assign-command-g-to-find-next/comment-page-1/#comment-8228 demenas Fri, 23 May 2008 07:22:33 +0000 http://www.betalogue.com/?p=2371#comment-8228 I went in to Customize Keyboard and added Option-G to be Repeat Find. It says on that screen that the customizations are saved in "normal.dotm", which is what is read every time Word starts. It's the default template. I don't think that blog author exited Word after making the change and that is why it did not work for him. I did and restarted Word, then did a Find with Option-F and then I did Option-G and it did repeat the Find and take me to the next occurrence of the search word. Steve I went in to Customize Keyboard and added Option-G to be Repeat Find. It says on that screen that the customizations are saved in “normal.dotm”, which is what is read every time Word starts. It’s the default template.

I don’t think that blog author exited Word after making the change and that is why it did not work for him.

I did and restarted Word, then did a Find with Option-F and then I did Option-G and it did repeat the Find and take me to the next occurrence of the search word.

Steve

]]> By: How to customize Mac Word « Shebanation http://www.betalogue.com/2008/05/20/word-2008-how-to-assign-command-g-to-find-next/comment-page-1/#comment-8227 How to customize Mac Word « Shebanation Thu, 22 May 2008 20:16:38 +0000 http://www.betalogue.com/?p=2371#comment-8227 [...] to customize Mac Word Hilarious rant about how difficult it is to assign a keyboard command to Find Next in Mac Word. Of course our own [...] [...] to customize Mac Word Hilarious rant about how difficult it is to assign a keyboard command to Find Next in Mac Word. Of course our own [...]

]]> By: Pierre Igot http://www.betalogue.com/2008/05/20/word-2008-how-to-assign-command-g-to-find-next/comment-page-1/#comment-8226 Pierre Igot Thu, 22 May 2008 19:04:20 +0000 http://www.betalogue.com/?p=2371#comment-8226 Daiya: I guess we would have to ask all those readers whether they can reproduce all the steps (including the "&" shortcuts superseding other shortcuts) on their machines. However, I do have a day job and I don't get paid for figuring out of the root causes or exact patterns of manifestation of Microsoft Word 2008's problems in real world environments. I've described in full detail what happens on my machine. I would find it hard to believe that I am the only one in the world experiencing this, but I don't have the resources to analyse the relative prevalence of the problem. I thank you for sharing your own experience. If others want to share theirs, they can do so in the comments. That's about all I can say about this. Daiya: I guess we would have to ask all those readers whether they can reproduce all the steps (including the “&” shortcuts superseding other shortcuts) on their machines. However, I do have a day job and I don’t get paid for figuring out of the root causes or exact patterns of manifestation of Microsoft Word 2008′s problems in real world environments. I’ve described in full detail what happens on my machine. I would find it hard to believe that I am the only one in the world experiencing this, but I don’t have the resources to analyse the relative prevalence of the problem. I thank you for sharing your own experience. If others want to share theirs, they can do so in the comments. That’s about all I can say about this.

]]> By: daiya http://www.betalogue.com/2008/05/20/word-2008-how-to-assign-command-g-to-find-next/comment-page-1/#comment-8225 daiya Thu, 22 May 2008 18:46:12 +0000 http://www.betalogue.com/?p=2371#comment-8225 If other shortcuts behave, then it's unlikely there is anything wrong with your Normal template. The MacBook Pro had no problems with this running 10.5.0, but it might be a 10.5.2 issue.... Are you sure the feedback you've gotten is thanking you specifically for resolving the particular issue of why Cmd-G refuses to be re-assigned, and not just for the basic act of explaining how to re-assign keyboard shortcuts in MS Word, and where the Find Next command is? But most of your readers are probably on 10.5.2 anyhow. If other shortcuts behave, then it’s unlikely there is anything wrong with your Normal template.

The MacBook Pro had no problems with this running 10.5.0, but it might be a 10.5.2 issue….

Are you sure the feedback you’ve gotten is thanking you specifically for resolving the particular issue of why Cmd-G refuses to be re-assigned, and not just for the basic act of explaining how to re-assign keyboard shortcuts in MS Word, and where the Find Next command is? But most of your readers are probably on 10.5.2 anyhow.

]]> By: Pierre Igot http://www.betalogue.com/2008/05/20/word-2008-how-to-assign-command-g-to-find-next/comment-page-1/#comment-8224 Pierre Igot Thu, 22 May 2008 18:17:19 +0000 http://www.betalogue.com/?p=2371#comment-8224 Yes, I am successfully able to assign other keyboard shortcuts without removing them. But if a shortcut is assigned to a command using the "&" method (for example, &Open means command-O is assigned to File > Open, &Find means command-F is assigned to Find, etc.) then I encounter the situation described above, where the only way to successfully assign the shortcut to another command is to remove the "&." If there is something wrong with my Normal template, then it is clearly Microsoft's own fault, since Office 2008 <a href="http://www.betalogue.com/2008/01/21/word-2008-fails-to-preserve-word-2004-settings/" rel="nofollow">hosed my existing Normal template</a> and I was forced to start again from scratch. I have changed a few settings since then, of course, but nothing out of the ordinary (although who knows what that means with Microsoft). There might be other factors involved here, but clearly, based on the feedback received, these other factors must be rather common, even though they don't seem to apply to you or your friend. All I can say is that, on my machine, with the English version of Microsoft Office 2008 (version 12.1) and Mac OS X 10.5.2, the shortcuts defined with the "&" method appear to supersede other shortcuts and cannot be removed without manually editing out the "&" in the menu label for the command in question. Maybe it's only an issue in Mac OS X 10.5.x. This would enable Microsoft to blame Apple for it and not do anything about it, as per usual. Yes, I am successfully able to assign other keyboard shortcuts without removing them. But if a shortcut is assigned to a command using the “&” method (for example, &Open means command-O is assigned to File > Open, &Find means command-F is assigned to Find, etc.) then I encounter the situation described above, where the only way to successfully assign the shortcut to another command is to remove the “&.”

If there is something wrong with my Normal template, then it is clearly Microsoft’s own fault, since Office 2008 hosed my existing Normal template and I was forced to start again from scratch. I have changed a few settings since then, of course, but nothing out of the ordinary (although who knows what that means with Microsoft).

There might be other factors involved here, but clearly, based on the feedback received, these other factors must be rather common, even though they don’t seem to apply to you or your friend. All I can say is that, on my machine, with the English version of Microsoft Office 2008 (version 12.1) and Mac OS X 10.5.2, the shortcuts defined with the “&” method appear to supersede other shortcuts and cannot be removed without manually editing out the “&” in the menu label for the command in question.

Maybe it’s only an issue in Mac OS X 10.5.x. This would enable Microsoft to blame Apple for it and not do anything about it, as per usual.

]]> By: daiya http://www.betalogue.com/2008/05/20/word-2008-how-to-assign-command-g-to-find-next/comment-page-1/#comment-8223 daiya Thu, 22 May 2008 17:54:57 +0000 http://www.betalogue.com/?p=2371#comment-8223 Yep, I have the & there. But it isn't causing any problems with the key assignment. A friend who tested on a MacBook Pro with 12.1 also sees the & but had no problem re-assigning cmd-G without jumping through any of the hoops you detail at such great length. Although I believe they did have to relaunch Word to get the menu to not-show Cmd-G, which was not the case for me. I wonder if there might be a problem with your Normal template, where keyboard shortcuts are supposed to be saved? Are you successfully able to assign other keyboard shortcuts without Removing them from the old command? Yep, I have the & there. But it isn’t causing any problems with the key assignment.

A friend who tested on a MacBook Pro with 12.1 also sees the & but had no problem re-assigning cmd-G without jumping through any of the hoops you detail at such great length. Although I believe they did have to relaunch Word to get the menu to not-show Cmd-G, which was not the case for me.

I wonder if there might be a problem with your Normal template, where keyboard shortcuts are supposed to be saved? Are you successfully able to assign other keyboard shortcuts without Removing them from the old command?

]]> By: Pierre Igot http://www.betalogue.com/2008/05/20/word-2008-how-to-assign-command-g-to-find-next/comment-page-1/#comment-8222 Pierre Igot Thu, 22 May 2008 17:31:36 +0000 http://www.betalogue.com/?p=2371#comment-8222 Daiya: Based on the feedback I have received for this post, I certainly don't seem to be the only one for whom the above contortions are required. I don't know why you didn't encounter any problems. I am certainly not making things up just for the fun of it. Do you have a "&" in the menu label for the "Go To…" command (when checking the properties of the menu item in “Customize Toolbars and Menus”)? If you don't, then I cannot explain why you don't have one and I have one. I certainly didn't put it there myself! And if you put an "&" there before the "G" in "Go To…," can you reproduce the problem? Daiya: Based on the feedback I have received for this post, I certainly don’t seem to be the only one for whom the above contortions are required. I don’t know why you didn’t encounter any problems. I am certainly not making things up just for the fun of it.

Do you have a “&” in the menu label for the “Go To…” command (when checking the properties of the menu item in “Customize Toolbars and Menus”)? If you don’t, then I cannot explain why you don’t have one and I have one. I certainly didn’t put it there myself!

And if you put an “&” there before the “G” in “Go To…,” can you reproduce the problem?

]]> By: daiya http://www.betalogue.com/2008/05/20/word-2008-how-to-assign-command-g-to-find-next/comment-page-1/#comment-8221 daiya Thu, 22 May 2008 17:19:14 +0000 http://www.betalogue.com/?p=2371#comment-8221 Um, I tested this. Word 2008 12.0.1, running OS 10.4.11 on PPC. When I assigned Cmd-G to Repeat Find, it worked immediately. I didn't have to Remove any shortcuts from EditGoTo, I didn't have to mess with the properties in the toolbar icon, and cmd-G promptly vanished from the menu as a shortcut for Edit Go To. It was that simple. Um, I tested this. Word 2008 12.0.1, running OS 10.4.11 on PPC.

When I assigned Cmd-G to Repeat Find, it worked immediately. I didn’t have to Remove any shortcuts from EditGoTo, I didn’t have to mess with the properties in the toolbar icon, and cmd-G promptly vanished from the menu as a shortcut for Edit Go To. It was that simple.

]]> By: Microsoft Word 2008 keyboard shortcut insanity | Cognitive Research and Design http://www.betalogue.com/2008/05/20/word-2008-how-to-assign-command-g-to-find-next/comment-page-1/#comment-8220 Microsoft Word 2008 keyboard shortcut insanity | Cognitive Research and Design Thu, 22 May 2008 04:34:53 +0000 http://www.betalogue.com/?p=2371#comment-8220 [...] unfortunately. It is possible to re-assign shortcuts to different commands. As blogger Pierre Igot found out, it is surprisingly and ridiculously difficult to [...] [...] unfortunately. It is possible to re-assign shortcuts to different commands. As blogger Pierre Igot found out, it is surprisingly and ridiculously difficult to [...]

]]> By: Purveyor of Iniquities » links for 2008-05-22 http://www.betalogue.com/2008/05/20/word-2008-how-to-assign-command-g-to-find-next/comment-page-1/#comment-8219 Purveyor of Iniquities » links for 2008-05-22 Thu, 22 May 2008 03:31:26 +0000 http://www.betalogue.com/?p=2371#comment-8219 [...] Betalogue » Blog Archive » Word 2008: How to assign command-G to ‘Find Next’ So you have to customize Word just to make it behave the normal way, i.e. use command-G as a shortcut for “Find Next.” (tags: word) [...] [...] Betalogue » Blog Archive » Word 2008: How to assign command-G to ‘Find Next’ So you have to customize Word just to make it behave the normal way, i.e. use command-G as a shortcut for “Find Next.” (tags: word) [...]

]]> By: links for 2008-05-21 http://www.betalogue.com/2008/05/20/word-2008-how-to-assign-command-g-to-find-next/comment-page-1/#comment-8218 links for 2008-05-21 Wed, 21 May 2008 22:34:32 +0000 http://www.betalogue.com/?p=2371#comment-8218 [...] Betalogue » Word 2008: How to assign command-G to ‘Find Next’ Wow. That’s 1500 words about how painful keyboard shortcut reassignment is in Microsoft’s latest version of Word. That’s a product manager’s worst dream. (tags: productmanagement microsoft schadenfreude humor) [...] [...] Betalogue » Word 2008: How to assign command-G to ‘Find Next’ Wow. That’s 1500 words about how painful keyboard shortcut reassignment is in Microsoft’s latest version of Word. That’s a product manager’s worst dream. (tags: productmanagement microsoft schadenfreude humor) [...]

]]> By: Why I Hate Microsoft at Tonio Loewald’s Blog http://www.betalogue.com/2008/05/20/word-2008-how-to-assign-command-g-to-find-next/comment-page-1/#comment-8215 Why I Hate Microsoft at Tonio Loewald’s Blog Wed, 21 May 2008 19:24:15 +0000 http://www.betalogue.com/?p=2371#comment-8215 [...] couldn’t put it better than Pierre Igot has. Microsoft’s lack of attention to detail with user interface design is so thorough it’s [...] [...] couldn’t put it better than Pierre Igot has. Microsoft’s lack of attention to detail with user interface design is so thorough it’s [...]

]]> By: Pierre Igot http://www.betalogue.com/2008/05/20/word-2008-how-to-assign-command-g-to-find-next/comment-page-1/#comment-8213 Pierre Igot Wed, 21 May 2008 17:25:08 +0000 http://www.betalogue.com/?p=2371#comment-8213 davraamides: Please refer to previous posts on this blog and to the first paragraph of this post, which clearly states: "I have no choice but to use [Word] sometimes." I already use Pages as often as I can. But neither Pages nor other alternatives offer 100% transparent Word document editing. Drew: You're welcome :). It's hard to figure out exactly which applications the System Prefs' Keyboard Shortcuts works reliably with. It's basically a matter of experimentation. As the example with Word shows, even within the same application it can work in some contexts (Word's AppleScript menu) and not in others (Word's other menus). Heck, even within Apple's own applications, such as the Finder, it <a href="http://www.betalogue.com/2008/01/16/mac-os-x-105-leopard-finder-lists-keyboard-shortcuts-for-action-menu-commands-but-they-dont-work/" rel="nofollow">does not work 100% reliably</a> for all menu items. davraamides: Please refer to previous posts on this blog and to the first paragraph of this post, which clearly states: “I have no choice but to use [Word] sometimes.” I already use Pages as often as I can. But neither Pages nor other alternatives offer 100% transparent Word document editing.

Drew: You’re welcome :). It’s hard to figure out exactly which applications the System Prefs’ Keyboard Shortcuts works reliably with. It’s basically a matter of experimentation. As the example with Word shows, even within the same application it can work in some contexts (Word’s AppleScript menu) and not in others (Word’s other menus). Heck, even within Apple’s own applications, such as the Finder, it does not work 100% reliably for all menu items.

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