Problems with using function keys as "Hot Keys"

There is a feature of Mac OS 9.x .that allows you to set up the keyboard function keys to perform various tasks. They provide a quick shortcut to do vaious tasks by pressing a single key. You can program the keys to do various things.

The problem with this feature is that it prevents the function keys from being used to perform tasks that specific applications have assigned to those keys.

To use the function keys for the tasks that applications have assigned to them, such as using the terminal function keys in MacEmulate, you must turn off the Hot Keys feature, or use alternate keystrokes for the function keys.

To turn off the Hot Keys feature:

This feature is found on the Keyboard control panel.

  1. From the Apple menu choose Control Panels and then select Keyboard.
  2. In the Keyboard control panel, click on the Function Key button.
  3. The Hot Function Keys setting has changed with newer versions of the Operating System so you need to read the checkbox item to determine whether you need it checked or unchecked. Again, we need to set the function keys to be normal keys, NOT hot function keys. For example, in OS 9.2 you need to uncheck the option "Use F1-F15 as Hot Function Keys". Please read the option carefully to determine whether you need to check the box or uncheck it to get normal function keys.
  4. Click the OK button and then close the Keyboard control panel.

To use alternate keystrokes for function keys:

Hold down the option key and press the appropriate key shown below:

F1 thru F10: use option and the number keys 1 thru 0 on the main keyboard (above the letter keys)

F11 thru F16: use option and the number keys 1 thru 6 on the keyboard's numeric keypad.

If your keyboard does not have a numeric key pad, use the following letters:

F11: hyphen key (-) just to the right of the zero key and just to the left of the equals key
F12: equals key (=)
F13: f key (on the main keyboard)
F14: g key (on the main keyboard)
F15: h key (on the main keyboard)
F16: j key (on the main keyboard)

These alternate keystrokes are shown on the Terminal Keys menu in MacEmulate. Go to the Macro menu to the Terminal Keys submenu.

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