Keyboard: how to enforce option-X system shortcuts when a program intercepts these shortcuts

internationalizationkeyboard

I’m entering some less-used characters using option-key combination, eg option-o for ø on US layout (or ó on Polish layout). Unfortunately, some programs (namely IntelliJ/Android Studio) interpret such shortcuts on their own: in the "Find in Path" window, option-o toggles "Words" and so the character under option-o cannot be entered into search query (it can be typed in some other editor and pasted, but that's a short term solution). Unlike many other in IntelliJ, this shortcut is hardcoded and can not be turned off in preferences.

Can I make the system handle such key combinations and prevent rogue programs from hijacking this valid input?

/edit: I am not asking about alternative ways of getting those characters. For Polish layout users, option-(A,C,E,L,N,O,S,Z,X) are inherent part of the keyboard, as natural as Q, W or E being where they are.

Best Answer

A alternative would be to create a custom keyboard layout where the characters that cause a problem are remapped to other convenient keys with Ukelele.

You can also try a keyboard shortcut for the problem characters via: System Preferences > Keyboard > Text > Replace With

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How to change TextEdit keyboard shortcuts

Not sure how the first one should work, but I was able to assign both custom shortcuts using this:

Navigate to System Preferences->Keyboard->Keyboard Shortcuts
Click "+" button
Select TextEdit as an application
Enter "Jump to Selection" or "Select Line…" (note that there is special … symbol used, not three periods, you can just copy and paste it from here I believe) as a menu title
Press shortcut you'd like to use
Test it and enjoy!

Hope this helps.

MacOS – Apple “option” keyboard shortcuts and touch typing

I had a similar issue but solved it in a different way.

I simply "modified" the keyboard layout to the level it suits my needs and uses.

If you press and hold a certain key example "a" a pop up will show me all options for it.

pop up

Here is how it works.

Find a file in /System/Library/Input Methods/PressAndHold.app/Contents/Resources that is your keyboard Keyboard-??.plist (in my case it is called Keyboard-de.plist (German keyboard)

Copy that file to your Desktop (to modify it) since you can not modify the original file.

Open it (it will open in Text mode)

Find for example the "c" it looks like this (and I added the Portuguese ç)

<key>Roman-Accent-C</key>
    <dict>
        <key>Direction</key>
        <string>left</string>
        <key>Keycaps</key>
        <string>C Č č Ç</string>
        <key>Strings</key>
        <string>C Č č ç</string>
    </dict>

now add any "c" accents you like to use (Open the Character Viewer and find it) and just drag it over to the text file.

Once done replace the original keyboard-??.plist file with yours.

Now you have a highly customized keyboard specific to your uses, and no need to remember some finger breaking key combination to get it.

Best Answer

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How to change TextEdit keyboard shortcuts

MacOS – Apple “option” keyboard shortcuts and touch typing

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