I use DIffMerge on multiple platforms and it really bugs me that there are some differences in the accelerator keys. I end up with my fingers tripping over themselves when I change platforms. The ones that bug me the most are the differences in Quit and Close Window, but it would be nice to be able to configure others as well.
TIA,
Robin
Configurable accelerator/shortcut keys
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jeffhostetler
- Posts: 534
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Re: Configurable accelerator/shortcut keys
I think the Windows and Linux versions are pretty much identical, so I'll assume
that you're comparing one of those versions with the Mac version.
Yeah, there are differences between the different versions, but they are not
limited to DiffMerge. There's a larger platform issue that we're kind of stuck
with (both as a programmer and user).
I mean, each platform has specific guidelines/standards for accelerators keys
that an application should/must respect. I mean Command-Q and Command-W
are etched in stone on a Mac whereas on Windows, it is ALT+F4.
In some cases, the OS defined/catches/handles certain accelerators before
the app gets to even see them. Command-Q is like this.
In some cases, it is a platform convention to use Command- rather than Control-
for menu commands. This is reinforced by the wxWidgets library. For example,
I defined Control-Z to be UNDO on all platforms; wxWidgets silently converts this
to Command-Z on the Mac.
There are also accelerators within a window and associated with cursor motion
and editing. These too are somewhat different because of the subtle differences
between CUA and Mac guidelines for editing text.
I've tried whenever possible to be true to the platform so that the application
behaves like a native application for that platform. This hasn't always been easy.
Unfortunately though, this introduces differences that are only apparent when you
bounce between platforms.
I have a feature request logged for allowing customizable accelerators keys and
will add your request to it. Were you mainly interested in the menu keys or the
cursor motion/editing keys too?
FWIW, on all platforms the ESC key works to close the window (just like in a dialog
window).
BTW, on the Mac, you might also look at the "Keyboard Shortcuts" page of the
"Keyboard & Mouse" section of the System Preferences (under the Apple Menu).
If you scroll down to bottom of the list of shortcuts, you can add new application-specific
shortcuts. I was able to add Control-Z as "Undo" for DiffMerge.app. This caused the
menu within DiffMerge to change to use the new accelerator. This only works for things
explicitly listed in the menu and you have to exactly match the wording/case of the
menu item. But you might give this a try and see if it'll help.
jeff hostetler
item:13300
item:13254
that you're comparing one of those versions with the Mac version.
Yeah, there are differences between the different versions, but they are not
limited to DiffMerge. There's a larger platform issue that we're kind of stuck
with (both as a programmer and user).
I mean, each platform has specific guidelines/standards for accelerators keys
that an application should/must respect. I mean Command-Q and Command-W
are etched in stone on a Mac whereas on Windows, it is ALT+F4.
In some cases, the OS defined/catches/handles certain accelerators before
the app gets to even see them. Command-Q is like this.
In some cases, it is a platform convention to use Command- rather than Control-
for menu commands. This is reinforced by the wxWidgets library. For example,
I defined Control-Z to be UNDO on all platforms; wxWidgets silently converts this
to Command-Z on the Mac.
There are also accelerators within a window and associated with cursor motion
and editing. These too are somewhat different because of the subtle differences
between CUA and Mac guidelines for editing text.
I've tried whenever possible to be true to the platform so that the application
behaves like a native application for that platform. This hasn't always been easy.
Unfortunately though, this introduces differences that are only apparent when you
bounce between platforms.
I have a feature request logged for allowing customizable accelerators keys and
will add your request to it. Were you mainly interested in the menu keys or the
cursor motion/editing keys too?
FWIW, on all platforms the ESC key works to close the window (just like in a dialog
window).
BTW, on the Mac, you might also look at the "Keyboard Shortcuts" page of the
"Keyboard & Mouse" section of the System Preferences (under the Apple Menu).
If you scroll down to bottom of the list of shortcuts, you can add new application-specific
shortcuts. I was able to add Control-Z as "Undo" for DiffMerge.app. This caused the
menu within DiffMerge to change to use the new accelerator. This only works for things
explicitly listed in the menu and you have to exactly match the wording/case of the
menu item. But you might give this a try and see if it'll help.
jeff hostetler
item:13300
item:13254