Note durations entry on (french) Macbook keyboard - more ergonomic way?

Dorico
1

I’m a first time Apple user coming from Windows, and installed Dorico on my Macbook.

One of the things that I dislike about the Macbook keyboard (and for that matter probably any Apple keyboard) is that shift lock can not be used to enter numbers, Numbers always have to be pressed in combination with shift, not very ergonomical.

I found a work around by selecting French keyboard in the computer system settings. Indeed I can now type numbers with shift lock in any application (even in for example Dorico text input like comments) but… this doesn’t work to select time values in Dorico. Basially the combination shift lock with number key is not recognized by Dorico.

If shift lock could be used for time values, then entering time values would work like a breeze (for me at least). Just keeping 4 fingers on numbers 4 to 7 and having the other hand free for other actions, such as clicking keys on the on-screen keyboard in Dorico.

Is there a more ergonomical workaround I could use to enter time values? (other than of course using a keyboard with numeric pad)

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

2

I’m not sure I understand “numbers have to be pressed with shift”. What Keyboard Layout (Input source) are you using?

For most keyboard layouts, numbers are accessed without shift.

But you can change the keys used for any Dorico command in Preferences.

Or, there is an app called Karabiner that you can use to modify keyboard layouts on macOS.

3

Maybe he’s got a french keyboard, we unfortunately do need to press shift to get the numbers

4

Indeed @AMazedBrane I have a French keyboard, wasn’t aware the English one has numbers without shift.

Mine looks like this:

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@benwiggy I’ve followed your advice and changed the key commands in Preferences. Had to override some other less used actions but the changed configuration seems to work perfectly for me now.

Thanks both for your responses.

1 Like
5

@MarcLarcher may be able to offer some tips, as the leading French Doricien. :laughing:

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6

Yes, I can!
Actually, I have shared my keycommands_fr.json file on the FB Groupe des utilisateurs francophones de Dorico.
One main tweak is to swap note durations and articulations so that you don’t have to press shift when choosing note durations. You use those keys way more often than articulations!
Please feel free to ask questions, and of course, you’re welcome on the group!

7

“Livre de visage”.

1 Like
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Yes @MarcLarcher that’s what I kind of did manually in settings. Thanks for your suggestion.