12
4
I'm currently using Google Docs, but when I try to use the keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl+Alt+M it gives µ instead.
Is Chrome (9) overruling Google Docs in some way?
How can I get these shortcuts working?
I'm using Chrome dev 9 on a Dutch Windows 7 with a US-layout keyboard
Ivo Flipse
Posted 2010-12-01T09:21:31.060
Reputation: 24 054
6
Here is Google's Official Shortcut Page for Google Doc. There you find that the current shortcut to insert comments is Ctrl + Alt + M and the old shortcut was Ctrl + M. I would have to assume that the old shortcut isn't supported. Which leads to this...
"Originally, US PC keyboards (specifically, the US 101-key PC/AT keyboards) did not have an AltGr key, it being relevant to only non-US markets; they simply had "left" and "right" Alt keys.
As those using such US keyboards increasingly needed the specific functionality of AltGr when typing non-English text, Windows began to allow it to be emulated by pressing the Alt key together with the Control key:
Ctrl + Alt ≈ AltGr-- (wiki source).Therefore, it is recommended that this combination not be used as a modifier in Windows keyboard shortcuts as, depending on the keyboard layout and configuration, someone trying to type a special character with it may accidentally trigger the shortcut, or the keypresses for the shortcut may be inadvertently interpreted as the user trying to input a special character."
US International Layout: Ctrl + Alt ≈ AltGr ... which means... AltGr + M = µ
Note: To resolve this issue switch to a pure US layout, not a US International keyboard layout. See steps below on how to switch.
SgtOJ
Posted 2010-12-01T09:21:31.060
Reputation: 6 843
you'd think that one of the major world tech players' attempts to create a text-storage system could figure out a shortcut scheme that didn't disallow the convenient use of certain characters. – c.. – 2015-07-30T11:54:13.783
Ok, this explains why it doesn't work, but Ctrl + M (as listed in the link) doesn't work. So how can I make it work? – Ivo Flipse – 2010-12-01T09:58:31.763
Updated the answer. Ctrl-M is an old shortcut. Also Google's doesn't have a more universal shortcut option either. – SgtOJ – 2010-12-01T10:18:02.683
I see that you are from the Netherlands. So are you using a non-standard US keyboard layout? If not, which keyboard layout are you using? Are you using Windows 7 or XP or another OS? – SgtOJ – 2010-12-01T10:19:07.423
It's an Azerty USB keyboard, but I have switched it to the US layout and deleted all the other layouts. – Ivo Flipse – 2010-12-01T10:22:12.903
Do you get the same result when typing Ctrl + ALt + M other applications? Like in MS Word or Notepad? – SgtOJ – 2010-12-01T10:33:40.023
I get it in Google Search and Notepad too, yes @Brian – Ivo Flipse – 2010-12-01T10:37:21.717
1 The reason is, you are using a US International layout. You need to switch to a pure US layout. Proof is found here.
Strange, I've change my layout to US and it still doesn't work :-S – Ivo Flipse – 2010-12-01T10:53:18.217
1So, I want to double check that you have done the steps I just added. BTW, I didnt break it down because I don't think you knew. Instead I did it for future use of the question by someone who might not know. – SgtOJ – 2010-12-01T11:11:04.903
It's working now :-) Though I hope my GF doesn't get angry when all of sudden some keys respond differently ;-) – Ivo Flipse – 2010-12-01T11:32:08.230
That is great news. Thank you for the update and good luck with her. – SgtOJ – 2010-12-01T11:33:29.713
it is still a shame that one has to change KB layout to make shortcuts working... – törzsmókus – 2013-01-06T18:31:48.473
@törzsmókus maybe, except it's probably hard to define shortcuts that will work in all browsers on all systems. It's easy to set my KB config in Windows 7 – Fuhrmanator – 2013-02-20T16:11:17.793
4@Fuhrmanator that might be a solution for you, but for people working on non-English texts this is definitely a no-go. – törzsmókus – 2013-02-22T10:01:11.160
4is google seriously ignoring the rest of the world?! – Schiavini – 2014-04-24T15:54:15.707
2
You can solve this problem by making sure that Ctrl+Alt+M (or AltGr+M) doesn't yield µ. You can disable µ but keep the rest of your keyboard layout intact.
To do this you can use Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator. Load your current keyboard layout from the 'File' menu ('Load Existing Keyboard...') and shift state to 'Alt+Ctrl (AltGr)'. Then you can remove µ from the keyboard by clicking it and deleting the character in the popup. Next, build your new keyboard from the 'Project' menu. Lastly, install the keyboard layout from the created setup file and select it under the keyboard layout settings of Windows.
Jens Jacob
Posted 2010-12-01T09:21:31.060
Reputation: 46
0
The only easy workaround to "disable" Alt+Ctrl becoming AltGr, without disabling AltGr (a missing feature of Windows, as non-libre OS maybe forever, because minorities are irrelevants to M$), is: to use numpad (with numlock on, as any normal human being XD).
At least, this work for me on Google Docs on Chrome on W10 with Spanish layout.
The other "solutions" does not worked for me (I need AltGr+2 to @).
Eloy
Posted 2010-12-01T09:21:31.060
Reputation: 121
0
Another thing you can do is load another keyboard layout and use a keyboard shortcut to temporarily switch to that one, in order to get rid of the µ and other conflicts.
áine
Posted 2010-12-01T09:21:31.060
Reputation: 1
See Ctrl+Alt registering as AltGr for US International Alternate, any way to disable? for more general version of this question.
– Piotr Dobrogost – 2013-09-24T23:25:23.387