How to recover from Insert Key when using Apple Remote Desktop
If I happen to press the Insert key when connected to a remote Mac from another Mac via Apple Remote Desktop, I loose the ability to send further keystrokes to the remote computer.
Whilst in this 'mode':
- the remote computer stops responding to any keyboard input (but mouse input works as normal)
- the mouse cursor changes to a question mark when hovering over things like text fields (within programs on the remote host).
- typing continues to work as normal within programs on the local machine (just not the via the remote session).
- closing and reconnecting to the remote host does not resolve the problem.
I happen to be using a non-Apple branded, but otherwise fairly standard usb keyboard (with a Windows key).
The only way I've found to recover from this is to use the mouse to log the remote user out of the remote computer, then log back in.
What's going on here? Can I resolve the problem without having to log out? What can I do to prevent entering this 'mode' in the first place?
mac keyboard remote-desktop
add a comment |
If I happen to press the Insert key when connected to a remote Mac from another Mac via Apple Remote Desktop, I loose the ability to send further keystrokes to the remote computer.
Whilst in this 'mode':
- the remote computer stops responding to any keyboard input (but mouse input works as normal)
- the mouse cursor changes to a question mark when hovering over things like text fields (within programs on the remote host).
- typing continues to work as normal within programs on the local machine (just not the via the remote session).
- closing and reconnecting to the remote host does not resolve the problem.
I happen to be using a non-Apple branded, but otherwise fairly standard usb keyboard (with a Windows key).
The only way I've found to recover from this is to use the mouse to log the remote user out of the remote computer, then log back in.
What's going on here? Can I resolve the problem without having to log out? What can I do to prevent entering this 'mode' in the first place?
mac keyboard remote-desktop
add a comment |
If I happen to press the Insert key when connected to a remote Mac from another Mac via Apple Remote Desktop, I loose the ability to send further keystrokes to the remote computer.
Whilst in this 'mode':
- the remote computer stops responding to any keyboard input (but mouse input works as normal)
- the mouse cursor changes to a question mark when hovering over things like text fields (within programs on the remote host).
- typing continues to work as normal within programs on the local machine (just not the via the remote session).
- closing and reconnecting to the remote host does not resolve the problem.
I happen to be using a non-Apple branded, but otherwise fairly standard usb keyboard (with a Windows key).
The only way I've found to recover from this is to use the mouse to log the remote user out of the remote computer, then log back in.
What's going on here? Can I resolve the problem without having to log out? What can I do to prevent entering this 'mode' in the first place?
mac keyboard remote-desktop
If I happen to press the Insert key when connected to a remote Mac from another Mac via Apple Remote Desktop, I loose the ability to send further keystrokes to the remote computer.
Whilst in this 'mode':
- the remote computer stops responding to any keyboard input (but mouse input works as normal)
- the mouse cursor changes to a question mark when hovering over things like text fields (within programs on the remote host).
- typing continues to work as normal within programs on the local machine (just not the via the remote session).
- closing and reconnecting to the remote host does not resolve the problem.
I happen to be using a non-Apple branded, but otherwise fairly standard usb keyboard (with a Windows key).
The only way I've found to recover from this is to use the mouse to log the remote user out of the remote computer, then log back in.
What's going on here? Can I resolve the problem without having to log out? What can I do to prevent entering this 'mode' in the first place?
mac keyboard remote-desktop
mac keyboard remote-desktop
asked Oct 17 '18 at 0:20
MikeLMikeL
62
62
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2 Answers
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Mac keyboards don't have an Insert key, nor does a Mac know what to do with one if you press it locally from a Windows keyboard... so analysing what it thinks it has sent might be tricky.
A start-point might be to get hold of Key Codes (freeware), install on both machines & see what key is read by each.
add a comment |
Based on comments posted here:
https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/283253/49809
and the key map posted here:
https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/technotes/tn2450/_index.html
I wrote a shell script that maps the Insert key to the left arrow:
#!/bin/sh
# the Insert key on a Windows Keyboard
src=49
# the left arrow
dst=50
hidutil property --set "{"UserKeyMapping":
[{"HIDKeyboardModifierMappingSrc":0x7000000$src,
"HIDKeyboardModifierMappingDst":0x7000000$dst}]
}"
I saved the script in my bin folder under the name "remap-key.sh", made it executable by opening Terminal and running the command:
chmod +x ~/bin/remap-key.sh
ran it, and launched Remote Desktop. When I "accidentally" hit Insert while working in the remote window, it just moved the cursor one spot left (whew!).
To run the script every time I log in, I launched System Preferences, clicked the Login Items tab, and added the script to my Login Items. I think I can quit worrying about accidentally pressing Insert in the middle of a presentation!
This solution is less than ideal because it re-maps the key for every Mac application, not just Remote Desktop. I personally haven't noticed a Mac application that uses the Windows Insert key, though, so for me the problem is hypothetical. If you find a Mac application that actually uses Insert, an ugly solution would be a script that de-maps the Insert key back to its original key code. If I ever run into that problem, I'll edit this post.
Thanks to Tetsujin for the critical hint!
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Mac keyboards don't have an Insert key, nor does a Mac know what to do with one if you press it locally from a Windows keyboard... so analysing what it thinks it has sent might be tricky.
A start-point might be to get hold of Key Codes (freeware), install on both machines & see what key is read by each.
add a comment |
Mac keyboards don't have an Insert key, nor does a Mac know what to do with one if you press it locally from a Windows keyboard... so analysing what it thinks it has sent might be tricky.
A start-point might be to get hold of Key Codes (freeware), install on both machines & see what key is read by each.
add a comment |
Mac keyboards don't have an Insert key, nor does a Mac know what to do with one if you press it locally from a Windows keyboard... so analysing what it thinks it has sent might be tricky.
A start-point might be to get hold of Key Codes (freeware), install on both machines & see what key is read by each.
Mac keyboards don't have an Insert key, nor does a Mac know what to do with one if you press it locally from a Windows keyboard... so analysing what it thinks it has sent might be tricky.
A start-point might be to get hold of Key Codes (freeware), install on both machines & see what key is read by each.
answered Oct 17 '18 at 4:44
TetsujinTetsujin
15.9k53462
15.9k53462
add a comment |
add a comment |
Based on comments posted here:
https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/283253/49809
and the key map posted here:
https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/technotes/tn2450/_index.html
I wrote a shell script that maps the Insert key to the left arrow:
#!/bin/sh
# the Insert key on a Windows Keyboard
src=49
# the left arrow
dst=50
hidutil property --set "{"UserKeyMapping":
[{"HIDKeyboardModifierMappingSrc":0x7000000$src,
"HIDKeyboardModifierMappingDst":0x7000000$dst}]
}"
I saved the script in my bin folder under the name "remap-key.sh", made it executable by opening Terminal and running the command:
chmod +x ~/bin/remap-key.sh
ran it, and launched Remote Desktop. When I "accidentally" hit Insert while working in the remote window, it just moved the cursor one spot left (whew!).
To run the script every time I log in, I launched System Preferences, clicked the Login Items tab, and added the script to my Login Items. I think I can quit worrying about accidentally pressing Insert in the middle of a presentation!
This solution is less than ideal because it re-maps the key for every Mac application, not just Remote Desktop. I personally haven't noticed a Mac application that uses the Windows Insert key, though, so for me the problem is hypothetical. If you find a Mac application that actually uses Insert, an ugly solution would be a script that de-maps the Insert key back to its original key code. If I ever run into that problem, I'll edit this post.
Thanks to Tetsujin for the critical hint!
add a comment |
Based on comments posted here:
https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/283253/49809
and the key map posted here:
https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/technotes/tn2450/_index.html
I wrote a shell script that maps the Insert key to the left arrow:
#!/bin/sh
# the Insert key on a Windows Keyboard
src=49
# the left arrow
dst=50
hidutil property --set "{"UserKeyMapping":
[{"HIDKeyboardModifierMappingSrc":0x7000000$src,
"HIDKeyboardModifierMappingDst":0x7000000$dst}]
}"
I saved the script in my bin folder under the name "remap-key.sh", made it executable by opening Terminal and running the command:
chmod +x ~/bin/remap-key.sh
ran it, and launched Remote Desktop. When I "accidentally" hit Insert while working in the remote window, it just moved the cursor one spot left (whew!).
To run the script every time I log in, I launched System Preferences, clicked the Login Items tab, and added the script to my Login Items. I think I can quit worrying about accidentally pressing Insert in the middle of a presentation!
This solution is less than ideal because it re-maps the key for every Mac application, not just Remote Desktop. I personally haven't noticed a Mac application that uses the Windows Insert key, though, so for me the problem is hypothetical. If you find a Mac application that actually uses Insert, an ugly solution would be a script that de-maps the Insert key back to its original key code. If I ever run into that problem, I'll edit this post.
Thanks to Tetsujin for the critical hint!
add a comment |
Based on comments posted here:
https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/283253/49809
and the key map posted here:
https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/technotes/tn2450/_index.html
I wrote a shell script that maps the Insert key to the left arrow:
#!/bin/sh
# the Insert key on a Windows Keyboard
src=49
# the left arrow
dst=50
hidutil property --set "{"UserKeyMapping":
[{"HIDKeyboardModifierMappingSrc":0x7000000$src,
"HIDKeyboardModifierMappingDst":0x7000000$dst}]
}"
I saved the script in my bin folder under the name "remap-key.sh", made it executable by opening Terminal and running the command:
chmod +x ~/bin/remap-key.sh
ran it, and launched Remote Desktop. When I "accidentally" hit Insert while working in the remote window, it just moved the cursor one spot left (whew!).
To run the script every time I log in, I launched System Preferences, clicked the Login Items tab, and added the script to my Login Items. I think I can quit worrying about accidentally pressing Insert in the middle of a presentation!
This solution is less than ideal because it re-maps the key for every Mac application, not just Remote Desktop. I personally haven't noticed a Mac application that uses the Windows Insert key, though, so for me the problem is hypothetical. If you find a Mac application that actually uses Insert, an ugly solution would be a script that de-maps the Insert key back to its original key code. If I ever run into that problem, I'll edit this post.
Thanks to Tetsujin for the critical hint!
Based on comments posted here:
https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/283253/49809
and the key map posted here:
https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/technotes/tn2450/_index.html
I wrote a shell script that maps the Insert key to the left arrow:
#!/bin/sh
# the Insert key on a Windows Keyboard
src=49
# the left arrow
dst=50
hidutil property --set "{"UserKeyMapping":
[{"HIDKeyboardModifierMappingSrc":0x7000000$src,
"HIDKeyboardModifierMappingDst":0x7000000$dst}]
}"
I saved the script in my bin folder under the name "remap-key.sh", made it executable by opening Terminal and running the command:
chmod +x ~/bin/remap-key.sh
ran it, and launched Remote Desktop. When I "accidentally" hit Insert while working in the remote window, it just moved the cursor one spot left (whew!).
To run the script every time I log in, I launched System Preferences, clicked the Login Items tab, and added the script to my Login Items. I think I can quit worrying about accidentally pressing Insert in the middle of a presentation!
This solution is less than ideal because it re-maps the key for every Mac application, not just Remote Desktop. I personally haven't noticed a Mac application that uses the Windows Insert key, though, so for me the problem is hypothetical. If you find a Mac application that actually uses Insert, an ugly solution would be a script that de-maps the Insert key back to its original key code. If I ever run into that problem, I'll edit this post.
Thanks to Tetsujin for the critical hint!
edited Jan 31 at 14:04
answered Jan 31 at 13:55
William H. HooperWilliam H. Hooper
1113
1113
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