The Missing Fn Key and Numbers
Damn, those folks at Apple have no idea what they are doing in terms of graphic design software.
Recently a posting on the InDesign User to User forum mentioned that some of the funtions of the “fn” key were missing on the MacBook Air.
Specifically, the “num lock” and alternate numbers and characters on the j, k, l, u, i, o, m, p, ., /, 7, 8, 9, 0, and – keys were gone.
What did this mean?
Well, consider what I can do on my MacBook Pro which does have those alternate numbers and characters.
InDesign paragraph and character styles can have dedicated keystrokes assigned using the number pad keys (1, 2, 3, 4, etc). They can not have dedicated keystrokes assigned using the numbers above the qwerty keys–only the number pad keys.
But as anyone who owns a laptop computer (not just Apple, Dell, Sony, HP, etc) knows, those machines don’t have number pad keys.
That’s where the fn key comes in. If you look at the laptop keys j, k, l, u, i, o, etc., you will see tiny numbers and symbols to the right of the letters. Those are the fn numbers. (Function numbers?)
These function numbers allow you to enter the numbers as if there were a number pad on the laptop.
Well, imagine my shock to discover that the MacBook Air doesn’t have those function numbers. Wow, I know Apple wanted to make the Air sexy and light, but throwing out those function numbers seemed awfully silly.
But now I found out that ALL the new Macintosh laptops no longer have the function numbers as well as no num lock key. Now I agree that the num lock key actually causes more problems than it solves when graphic designers inadvertently press it. (Boy have I looked stupid in a class when I had mine pressed by mistake.)
But to rip out the function numbers on the keyboard seems very ill advised.
I agree that very few people understand what the function numbers do. And most people think it is something that only number crunching Excel geeks need.
But it’s not true. And what it does is take away an important feature for those running InDesign on a laptop.
Yes, I know there is always QuickApply to apply styles. But for those of us who understood what the function numbers did, taking the feature away cripples us.
I can just see the round table at Cupertino headquarters:
“Hey guys what are these little numbers on the j, k, l, keys?” asks Steve J.
“I dunno” says one flunky.
“Beats me” says another.
“No idea” and another.
“Haven’t a clue” and another.
“OK, then let’s get rid of them. They make the keyboard look cluttered. I like it better when there’s just one thing on each key.” says Steve J.
“Will do, boss.”
“Yes, sir, Steve.”
“You’re the boss, Steve.”
“You’re the Steve, boss.”
And off they all went to clean up the keyboard.
Note to Adobe: You may have to readjust the keystrokes for styles given this stupidity on Apple’s part.
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Wow. Something that my PowerBook 12″ has over them there new fangled MacBooks/Airs/Pros.
I agree that it is an annoying change on Apple’s part and something that I hope is rectified in their next generation of ‘books.
Has anyone tested the USB numeric keypads for laptops with any Apple portable? As annoying as it is for there to be ‘yet another peripheral’ for the portable, this may be a functional workaround.
-mt
PS: Is the Enter key still there, or has that been yanked, too?
Ah, my heart bleeds for you Macnoids — as always. ;-) We Win folks have an easier time in this department, as there now are quite a few good laptops available with a separate NumKey keypad. I’ve sworn a sacred oath that my next laptop shall have that NumKey, as the extra efficiency is worth the extra size and cost.
Lenovo (ex-IBM) is soon coming out with a gorgeous ThinkPad especially for designers and photographers: it has a built-in Wacom pad and built-in colorimeter and supposedly great color gamut (for a laptop)! And the KeyPad, natch. See:
https://www.dpreview.com/news/0808/08081204thinkpad.asp
(And no, I don’t own Lenovo stock.)
Yes, Apple did manage to keep the fn Enter key over the Return key.
That built-in Wacom pad for the Lenovo machine sounds terrific.
I’m impressed.
Can I post this? My previous one didn’t appear, and on reposting I was told by WordPress I had already posted that same comment!
Ah, I had a rather odd, long direct link to Nack’s blog, that seems to have tripped up WordPress. (FYI, David & AM)
Heh, Sandee, you and I aren’t the only ones who are impressed with that new Lenovo — for Adobe’s John Nack blogged it five minutes after my posting!
I predict it’s gonna cause such a stir that also the other laptop makers will, in various ways, soon follow suit. Except Apple, natch — for they don’t follow suits. :-)
Sandee, Sandee, Sandee,
“Now I agree that the num lock key actually causes more problems than it solves when graphic designers inadvertently press it. (Boy have I looked stupid in a class when I had mine pressed by mistake.)”
As I mentioned in the U2U forum, the Win laptops I’ve used do not act like that with the numlock key on. You need to use the num lock and the fn key to type numbers so I’ve never personally looked stupid because of this. Of course, I’ve looked stupid for other things so I guess that makes us even. :)
I think requiring a modifier such as the fn key to get numbers is far better behavior. Of course, to each his own.
Klaus, Yeah, those Thinkpads are really nice machines.
a bit off topic but…
i am on on a laptop (pc) and cant get to make keyboard shortcuts [for styles] even with the fn key!
So Apple notebooks are now no longer simply over-priced but also lacking basic functionality? How are you supposed to create ©, é, ü etc. without the keypad in software that doesn’t contain a Glyphs panel? No wait, they’ll let you interface your iPhone with your notebook and use that as a numpad instead.
Just to clarify: I don’t hate Macs, I just can’t stand their prices nor their users’ egos :)
Roland, a few years late, but…
Special characters are one place where Macs are verifiably easier than PC’s – it’s just that you’re used to your more difficult method. On a Mac you don’t need the Glyphs panel for most commonly-used symbols – there is a keyboard shortcut that involves pressing only one, or at the most two, keypresses. ©,é, ú, î… there, I just typed those without a number pad (option-G, option-E plus E, etc.) Amazes me that PC users still have to memorize 4-digit numbers. Isn’t a computer supposed to make these things easier, not harder?
That said, I sometimes need to look up the character I want in the Character Palette… and the main point of this post is well taken: removing the “alternate numberpad” is dumb, especially now that everybody gets a chopped-off keyboard, even iMac purchasers!
Sandee … unbelievable! I have to tell you after I read your post my thoughts were … this can’t possibly be true. ;-) Well maybe for the Air (which lacks a ton of other things too) but not for the MacBook Pros. So I went looking.
And of course you’re right! (oh she of little faith…)
Here are some close-up images I found after some digging (scroll down the page to see the keyboard shot, click on the thumbnails below it to see close-ups):
New MacBook Pro design
What’s even worse, IMO, is the lack of a true Enter key! They replaced it with another Option/Alt key. How am I supposed to make column/frame breaks?
Re the missing number keys … I can live with that. I never use them except when trying to make kbsc’s for InDesign’s styles, and in that instance, my response is … why doesn’t InDesign let us use normal number keys? Why must they be from the keypad? Plus if I were doing a lot of number entry, I’d probably either hook up a full-size keyboard with a keypad to my laptop, or get a USB keypad from Belkin or something.
But the *Enter* key … I use that a lot in various programs, and I have to think other Mac users do too. Strange. I wonder if holding down the FN key will generate an “Enter”? It’s not clear from the picture.
Apparently this has been going on since Feb 2008 …
Don’t fear, Anne-Marie: I just tested on my new MacBook Pro.
Yes, Fn + Return produces the Enter key which you could use for a Column Break. Similarly, use the Fn key for the Frame and Page Breaks.
>So Apple notebooks are now no longer simply over-priced but also lacking basic functionality? How are you supposed to create ©, é, ü etc. without the keypad in software that doesn?t contain a Glyphs panel? No wait, they?ll let you interface your iPhone with your notebook and use that as a numpad instead.
Roland,
I think you’re going off the deep end, or maybe you just need to express your Mac and iPhone envy!
You don’t need a keypad to create those characters. If you look at the Keyboard Viewer on the Mac (oh, right, you don’t have a Mac!), you’ll see that those characters are combinations of normal characters with the Shift or Option/Alt key.
I noticed this a few months ago when I bought my first MacBook. I was mortified. I can understand Apple pulling the actual printed numbers off the keypad to clean up the design, but why did they need to remove the functionality? There has to be a Third Party Hack somewhere that can re-produce this. If anyone finds one, please post it.
Oh my, first of all there’s one button mouse and now they are taking more buttons off the keyboard.
I am now waiting to hear about the non-button mouse for the next gen of Macs.
Seriously though, if your tech smart you could probably find a keyboard size fits the Mac and replace their keyboard with your new one, or something (probably impossible I’ve never worked on laptops).
You can actually replace the keyboard! Just looked it up. Not sure if it’s ok to link to the site, so I won’t.
Anyway, you guys have a number of alternatives. You could buy a fully functional keyboard (bluetooth of course) to use with your lap top, or just the number pad.
There’s rolly up keyboards and number pads that you can get (not sure if there are bluetooth ones).
Rolands suggestion isn’t bad, using the phone as a number pad. I know you can connect the phones to bluetooth on the Mac, not sure if you get it to be the number pad though, surely there’s someone out there tech smart enough to make it so. But making a phone call might apply all sorts of styles to your document though… how nightmarish would that be?
Anyway, good to hear that Macs are regressing (sorta)
Sorry but never once, since QuickApply has been available in InDesign, have I ever needed to use a numeric keypad. Putting numeric keypad characters above other characters was only a bad kludge! I don’t miss it all.
ok, fn + numlock + caps lock.
Steve, I don’t have any Mac or iPhone envy. I prefer my PCs over Macs any day, you prefer your Mac. I like my Xbox 360, others love their PS3. Each to their own.
The simple fact is that Mac notebooks are overpriced and underpowered when compared to ‘regular’ notebooks, and the OS doesn’t make up for the $700 price difference either.
1 Problem I have a PC, with no FN-Numpad & no Hard-Numpad so I’m basically looking for a Windows 7 Program that allows me to bind custom Key Combos to my Keyboard and I’m having no luck…this is what I get for trying to get a better PC.
Anyways I feel all Macs and PC and including Android are all starting to suck.
Sorry, Roland this isn’t the place for a platform war. Go play with your PC and be happy.
Roland,
Steve’s right.
I didn’t post this to start a pissing contest between Mac and PC.
I posted to alert Mac users who understand the use of the fn key that the newer generation of MaBooks have taken away the function.
It is something that Mac users need to consider if they are going to buy a new portable.
And it’s something that should be mentioned to Adobe as a new reason to change the way style shortcuts are assigned.
That was why I posted.
I suppose we can just summarize this by saying that Apple has finally taken the “less is more” concept just a step too far.
Sandee, ditto on the “didn’t mean to start a war.” I referenced your post in a Facebook note, and while I was asleep in the wee hours of morning, I received 39 comments between 12 a.m. and 3 a.m. Bit of a shock when I got up this morning…/CiCi
Have tried two different keypads with the macbook pro. The number keys work to type numbers, but do not work for creating shortcut keys in indesign.
Having worked on a pc for 30 years and this being my first mac… the best macbook pro maxed on memory… frankly I think it totally sucks. It’s great for surfing the web, but when it comes down to work, the programs freeze more than on a pc. It’s a very problematic laptop. Not worth the money.
Having a new ?old? MacBook Pro (Early 2008 with matte display!), I can confirm that the omission of Num keys on Apple notebooks is highly unfortunate. But it sort of lines up into Apple?s recent ?efforts? to drive long time professional users away from portable Macs. Oh well.
But I have found a workaround. However, for initial setup it requires an older Mac with integrated NumPad ? or an external keyboard (not tested).
1) Install an application which is able to execute global actions based on your custom keyboard shortcuts. I can highly recommend Butler, which can do that with ease, and much more. (Don?t forget to donate!)
2) In Butler set all of your original InDesign NumPad shortcut variations using a NumPad keyboard and assign to them the new ?numpadless? shortcuts you want to use instead. For example: set cmd-num1 to be executed by pressing cmd-ctrl-1. (Basically you are simply replacing the fn key with the ctrl key.) Also, it?s more safe to set Butler to execute each shortcut in InDesign only. You should also check that none of these shortcuts are already in use in ID.
3) If you were not performing the previous steps on your numpadless MacBook (with an external keyboard attached), in the Butler window now put all your new shortcuts into a container (?folder?) and drag it to the Desktop. It will create a .butleritems file (actually a simple plist file). Then transfer the butleritems file to your numpadless MacBook Pro (with Butler already running there) and double-click it. It will install automatically.
4) Now you should be able to use your new shortcuts instead of NumPad. It even works for assigning new styles shortcuts.
The trick behind it is that Butler stores the hardware Key Code numbers as well, not just the output character of a key. NumPad numbers use Key Codes in the range of 82?89 and 91?92.
Actually, you can also download my personal butleritems file to start with, but you may need to remap certain shortcuts to fit your keyboard layout. I use a Swiss German layout, hence shortcuts involving the option key possibly won?t work on the U.S. or any other layout.
Also, certain modifier combinations may interfere with other global shortcuts like cmd-shift-3 for taking screenshot. You may need to remap these in the Keyboard Shortcuts System Preference pane first.
UPDATE
It gets even better. :)
Check out KeyRemap4MacBook.
However, do not download version 5.1.0, instead go to this page, scroll down to the comments and look for a reply from the developer regarding NumPad/NumLock, offering a download for version 5.1.60.
This version will automatically activate a ?virtual? NumPad, exactly as we used to love it, with all Fn keys in place. (For us users of the Swiss keyboard particularly the ?Num+? key is of major importance, because the Swiss layout otherwise doesn?t provide a dedicated ?+? key!)
Additionally, besides of many other obscure key remap possibilities, you can also get your Enter key back instead of the right-hand option key.
Of course, this solution is rather something for experienced users. While I can?t report any problems after few days of use, as you can read in the ChangeLog on the download page, previous versions of this software could sometimes cause your Mac to behave weird. So act on your own risk?
@Lou: Wow! KeyRemap4MacBook seems to be exactly the ticket. The lack of an Enter key in the lower-right corner of this new macbook pro’s keyboard threatened to drive me insane (even though the Fn-Return would work, it’s nice having a one-handed key there). There are so many other useful remapping features in there! Thanks for the recommendation.
Here’s another fun idea, if you have an iPhone: Jeff Carlson recently pointed out a number keypad app for the iPhone! You type on it, and the numbers appear on the Mac. Haven’t tried it yet.
Whoa!!!
This is too, too cool!
And it even works to assign style keyboard shortcuts.
And there’s even an option to keep the iPhone from going to sleep when the app is running.
And there are several skins for the appearance of the number pad.
I love it!
It’s a little weird to press the Cmd on the regular keyboard the the number on the iPhone, but it works!!!
I found that on my MacBook Pro (Unibody), holding the “Fn” key and pressing the arrow keys turns them into the diagonal direction keys you normally would have on the numpad
I downloaded KeyRemap4MacBook and IT WORKS on my MacBook Pro!!! While the software’s documentation is lacking, I did find a thread that explained the AUTOMATIC addition (upon reboot) of the numeric keypad and mine worked as advertised! This linky to the thread saved me some frustration to questions I couldn’t find answers to: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3332788?start=0&tstart=0
SHIFT + Fn + (associated key) = “the way things used to be!” ;-P
This is also years late… but since this posting came up when I googled this problem, I thought I should share my solution: Keyboard Maestro (https://www.keyboardmaestro.com/).
I’ve been using this excellent Mac OS macro utility for years and years, and today I discovered that it has the ability to simulate numeric keypad presses. So I assigned Command-F1 to Command-num1, Command-F2 to Command-num2, etc. It works!
Please Sir, I don’t hate on Mac, but realize the Older in years we get the worst the new tech gets.
They did the same thing to PC as well (Vostro 3446) and I to have neither FN or Hard Numpad could you direct me to a PC version of that, that would work in games as well.
I heard of AutoHotkey, but I’m hearing it doesn’t always work
With assistance from Apple Customer Service we configured function keys to work with various programs and perform actions with shortcut. One can also change skin of the OS by specifying a shortcut keys and this tip was give to use by Apple Customer Service.
There are also more number of software programs available on Mac which perform exact work they are built for instead of programs from unknown vendors as all software on Mac are initially checked by Apple before launching on marketplace.
Just can’t wait for them to fix it.