Add Keyboard Shortcuts in Mac OS X for Any Menu Command

Keyboard shortcuts are a real-time saver for those who are always in a hurry. Added to this, it also liberates users from following the hectic steps that are often associated with the launching of any application software’s specific command. In this article we are using Snagit, a popular image editor,  as an example. I will be walking you through the actual process about how to add keyboard shortcuts in mac OS X for a menu command of any application.

If you launch Snagit on mac OS X, the desktop screen will be fully occupied by the application when you maximize it. Now, if you press your mouse pointer a bit hard to the top side of the screen, a taskbar will slide down. Simply, click the visible Apple button shown on the left corner on that taskbar. This will always be visible whatever application you are running on your multiple desktop featured mac.

When you tap on the Apple button, a menu bar will pop down. On the menu bar you will find “System Preference”. Now hit the  “System Preference” option and go to the keyboard icon. The following screenshot will make you point my words better.

Now, select the shortcut page on the keyboard option. To create the shortcut key first, you will have to create an application shortcut by tapping on it and the ‘+’ key to specify clearly the application and the particular operation for which you want to create a shortcut key.

Now, choose any application you use persistently. Say, image resizer. Suppose that you do image resizing a lot. So, a keyboard shortcut for this particular application command will be a pretty friendly to your cause.

So, for creating the keyboard shortcut you will have to choose the application first, which is here Snagit. Then, the specific command, which is a command of that application, namely, ‘image resizing’ . So, after the selecting the application in the menu title, type the name of the operation against which you want a shortcut key.

After you are selecting the application shortcut you have to hit the + button and your application list will pop down. Now insert the particular application against whose particular operation’s shortcut key you want to launch. In the following screenshot you can see the red encircle + sign.

Now in the following image, a critical look will reveal that, if you are clicking the application box,then your application list will pop down as you can see in the image.

After that you have to type the particular command operation exactly in a same manner that is mentioned in the application and of course you have to type it in the “Manu Title” box, and your desired shortcut key in the box which is pointed in the figure.

Your befogged mind will be clearer when you scroll down and encounter a better view through the images. But always remember you will have to type the exact name of the command operation, even the exact number of full stops in the operation name consists, against which you want a short key. The screenshot below will be of  much help to you once again.

Now, in the keyboard shortcut box, hit the command ‘+shift+A’,(or any combination of keys you like) which is selected for the application, snagit, taken as an example in this case and the shortcut key will help a user to take the screenshot and resize the same with much ease.

Now carefully follow the screenshots,the red circled option and the + key used  to select the application,that you want to create a shortcut.The objective remain the same. Creating a shortcut key against a particular operation.

Now check the application desktop to find out whether the newly created keyboard shortcut  is working or not. If you have followed the procedure correctly, then a shortcut key will clearly be visible against the command operation you want to launch. You will find it much easier than the previous daunting procedure and of course the newly created shortcut key is helpful as well as a time saver in your everyday work.