Ticket Options
Question Details
TICKET ARCHIVE -> Adobe Reader: possible to change the arrow keys?
RobinS - Jun 30, 2006 - 2:22 am
Using version 7.
I use a large font and often find I have to use the mouse to move the page around to see the full width. Most programs use the arrow keys to move the image left or right. But for some odd reason Adobe has decided to cast aside convention (just like their Preferences shortcut is Command K and others are Command ,) and have it control page up and down, which is silly for me as I already have page up and down elsewhere, like everybody else. I went into the Preferences but couldn't find anything.
Does anybody think this is possible?
I use a large font and often find I have to use the mouse to move the page around to see the full width. Most programs use the arrow keys to move the image left or right. But for some odd reason Adobe has decided to cast aside convention (just like their Preferences shortcut is Command K and others are Command ,) and have it control page up and down, which is silly for me as I already have page up and down elsewhere, like everybody else. I went into the Preferences but couldn't find anything.
Does anybody think this is possible?
earthsaver - Jun 30, 2006 - 5:37 am
What Page Layout are you Viewing in Reader? If you're in Single Page or Facing mode, your described behavior makes sense. However, if you're in one of the Continuous modes, then the arrows should operate as you expect them.
- Ben
- Ben
RobinS - Jul 2, 2006 - 9:13 am
I tried all of them but the arrow keys' functions are identical. And I happened to be in Continuous before as well. If pdf's were more consistant in their presentation, I can see the convenience of how Adobe has picked the arrow keys. If you don't have to move the document side to side, its a good choice. Unfortunately I do. And the space bar acts as a good Page Down key to and is always conveniently accessible.
What I would really like is to have a voice command for page down and page up. Do you think this is possible? Imagine how nice it would be to read a document without having to touch the keyboard and mouse. Simple email and browser navigation would be great with that too. Any command you do many times a day could be relegated to voice. It seems odd that this hasn't come to the forefront in either Linux, Mac or Windows. Especially Linux where keyboard use is so paramount. Perhaps the cross platform nature of the task is challenging?
What I would really like is to have a voice command for page down and page up. Do you think this is possible? Imagine how nice it would be to read a document without having to touch the keyboard and mouse. Simple email and browser navigation would be great with that too. Any command you do many times a day could be relegated to voice. It seems odd that this hasn't come to the forefront in either Linux, Mac or Windows. Especially Linux where keyboard use is so paramount. Perhaps the cross platform nature of the task is challenging?
earthsaver - Jul 2, 2006 - 10:31 am
Well, the Mac has had speech support since at most the mid 90s. You can explore the built-in options via the Speech pane of System Prefs. More complete support, however, is in MacSpeech's iListen software package.
Now, back to Adobe Reader… I opened a PDF in both Reader and Preview. (I think the view options in Preview are a little easier to use, because I can check Single Page or Continuous, and check or uncheck Continuous.)
Either way, the function of the arrow keys immediately changes when I choose Continuous. Prior to the change, they scroll by page; post, they scroll incrementally, as in a Web browser. Also, Preview intelligently remembers my previous setting of Continuous; Reader doesn't.
Now, back to Adobe Reader… I opened a PDF in both Reader and Preview. (I think the view options in Preview are a little easier to use, because I can check Single Page or Continuous, and check or uncheck Continuous.)
Either way, the function of the arrow keys immediately changes when I choose Continuous. Prior to the change, they scroll by page; post, they scroll incrementally, as in a Web browser. Also, Preview intelligently remembers my previous setting of Continuous; Reader doesn't.
RobinS - Jul 2, 2006 - 12:44 pm
Yes Preview looks better for reading - except that the zoom increments are pretty big. Adobe is set by percentage. Is there any way of doing that in Preview? Command- and Command+ is not very precise.
Otherwise Preview looks pretty good.
Otherwise Preview looks pretty good.
earthsaver - Jul 2, 2006 - 12:54 pm
You probably just want to customize your toolbar in Preview. As in any Cocoa application with a Customize Toolbar command, you can Command+Option+click on the toolbar window widget (right side of title bar) to show the customize sheet.
I imagine you want to add the Scale box in which you can enter a zoom percentage. Check out the other available buttons too, and rearrange them to your heart's content.
I imagine you want to add the Scale box in which you can enter a zoom percentage. Check out the other available buttons too, and rearrange them to your heart's content.
RobinS - Jul 2, 2006 - 1:13 pm
I never use the toolbar but a Comand B shortcut brings it in and out. That'll work fine.
Ben saves the day again. Go Ben go!
Thanks.
Ben saves the day again. Go Ben go!
Thanks.
IF THIS IS YOUR QUESTION AND YOU WISH TO RESPOND, LOGIN HERE FIRST.
