Hello Ian and David, I answered David's query on another list, but I'll just summarize that the issue with both attached USB and Bluetooth numeric keypads is that they lose their ability to perform the full range of modified Numpad Commander definitions when used in connection with an external keyboard. That is, you can use any of your customized NumPad Commander definitions that work without a modifier key, along with the ones that use the "0" key on the external NumPad as the modifier. As David described, you can quit the keyboard setup assistant when it comes up and work with the NumPad.
The issue seems to be that the Keyboard Setup Assistant identifies the kind of keyboard you use by the other keys you are instructed to press during setup. These keys don't exist when you just use an external numeric keypad. So what would happen when I pressed a modifier key like Shift, Command, Control, or even the Escape key on an external keyboard is that the external numeric keypad somehow got identified with a keyboard which did not have a built-in number pad, and the other modifier key sequences would get lost. This is also true for Bluetooth numeric keypad, by the way. I tried this with an LMP Bluetooth keyboard that is Mac compatible. Turning on keyboard help to check the operations of the shortcuts, and exiting by pressing the escape key on another keyboard seemed to lose the modifier functionality. What's interesting is that using the Edovia "Numpad -- Wireless Numeric Keypad" app does execute the modified NumPad Commander sequences correctly. However, this combination doesn't work in practice any more, because somewhere back in iOS 4.1, I think, the response of these wireless apps got very sensitive to typing repeating keys. So you can't just execute the simple modified NumPad Commander commands with the combinations -- they tend to stutter with repeated sequences. I can say that this used to work back in Fall 2009. I'm not sure whether the app's developer can even do anything to fix this, because I think the changed behavior had to do with overall responsiveness under iOS. HTH. Cheers, Esther On Dec 22, 2011, at 01:17, Ian Harrison wrote: > Hello David, > > I do have a bluetooth numeric keypad I no longer want. > > It worked fine with my old pc, but have not yet tried with my mac. > > If you are interested I can get help to test it on my mac mini to see if it > works. > > If interested. please contact me off list at > harrisonc...@harrisonclan.karoo.co.uk > > regards > Ian > On 16 December 2011, at 14:18, David Griffith wrote: > >> A few days ago I posted a question about numeric keypads and the mac. I >> wanted one as the Ergonomic keyboard i was intending to buy did not have a >> num pad and I use num pad commander all the time. >> >> >> I spotted a USB numeric keypad on amazon for £7 so decided to take a punt on >> it. >> I have just plugged it in an although the Mac was very confused by it and >> said it did not recognise it as a keyboard it nevertheless works perfectly >> with Voiceover and the Num Pad commander. I just closed keyboard assistant >> and all was fine. Although the unit is cheap it does not feel cheap with >> solid keys with a good travel. The keys have a slightly rubbery feel rather >> than the polished affect of the Apple keyboards. On balance think I prefer >> the rubbery texture as there is more friction and less chance of a finger >> slip. I can now go ahead and purchase a Mac Ergonomic keyboard and >> hopefully the masses of typing I have to do inn the next 12 months will be a >> more pleasurable experience. Unfortunately the ergonomic keyboard is not >> cheap, I think about £130 I seem to remember or about $200 but I think the >> increase in cropper typing posture and comfort for my wrists shoulder and >> back will make it worthwhile . >> >> David Griffith >> d.griff...@btinternet.com >> >> <--- Mac Access At Mac Access Dot Net ---> To reply to this post, please address your message to mac-access@mac-access.net You can find an archive of all messages posted to the Mac-Access forum at either the list's own dedicated web archive: <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/mac-access/index.html> or at the public Mail Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/mac-access@mac-access.net/>. Subscribe to the list's RSS feed from: <http://www.mail-archive.com/mac-access@mac-access.net/maillist.xml> The Mac-Access mailing list is guaranteed malware, spyware, Trojan, virus and worm-free! Please remember to update your membership options periodically by visiting the list website at: <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/mac-access/options/>
