transition menu key for excel "/"

[NotLikingMac]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

Hello,
I am a long, long time Windows user...before mousing existed.
I recently was forced to move to Mac.
I am Shocked to learn that the Microsoft Office Excel Menu Key capability (formerly under Tools, Options, Transition in Windows Excel) has been eliminated.
Does this exist in Excel 2008 for Mac?
Why would this feature be eliminated?

Thanks,
Russ

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

Hello,
I am a long, long time Windows user...before mousing existed.
I recently was forced to move to Mac.
I am Shocked to learn that the Microsoft Office Excel Menu Key capability
(formerly under Tools, Options, Transition in Windows Excel) has been
eliminated.
Does this exist in Excel 2008 for Mac?
Why would this feature be eliminated?

Thanks,
Russ

No, it does not exist. It hasn't been eliminated, it never was there. The
Macintosh operating system works differently than Windows, so the use of
double keys to select menu commands does not exist. You'll just have to move
out of the 19th century of keyboard commands, bite the bullet and get used
to it!

 

[CyberTaz]

Well, it isn't "quite" as dire as what Bob G. would have you believe, but it
is a bit less convenient than what you're used to in the Windows OS

You can use the Control+F2 keystroke to shift focus to the Menu Bar. Type
the first letter of the Menu Name you want to access [the exception being
the Format menu - type "fo" to get there*] or use the Arrow Keys to get
there, then press either return or Down Arrow to open the Menu. You can then
Down Arrow to the command or type the first letter(s)* of the command name
to select the command & press return to execute.

*If the Menu Bar or the individual Menu contain more than one item which
begins with the same letter (such as File & Format) the 1st letter only will
select the first item reading from Left-to-Right or from Top-to-Bottom. If
you want to select a different item that begins with the same letter you
need to type the first *2* (in some cases more) characters.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[NotLikingMac]

Thank you Mr. Jones.
I will try your suggestion concerning Ctrl+F2. I appreciate your answer.

Mr. Greenblatt: It is not a matter of being in the 19th or any other century. Avoiding use of the mouse means I can be far more effective by not having to remove my hands from the keyboard. I have invested 2 decades, and quite a bit of time in learning the excel skills that I have. I do not wish to throw away my skills simply because the people in the Mac World don't appreciate how to entice customers to switch to their product. I still have the option of sticking with Windows. Overall, I am not impressed with either the Mac or Win versions of Office 2007/8 as compared with Office 2003. The changes seems more aimed at optimizing the experience for novice users at the expense of taking away familiar features that long-term users depend upon.

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Russ -

<snip>

I can be far more effective by not having to remove my hands from the keyboard

<snip>

To that end you might be interested in knowing that Excel > Help will
provide you with most of the keyboard shortcuts you might want to use...
many of which were not altered when Excel was first sucked into the
Windows/PC environment. Search using the phrase: keyboard shortcuts.

Additionally, one advantage in the Mac version is that you can customize
keystrokes to your heart's content - something which can't be done in the
Win versions. In the Tools menu you'll find a listing for Customize Keyboard
where you can assign strokes of your own in addition to or in place of the
defaults [with a few limitations]. You can also assign a stroke to almost
any command which doesn't already have one.

As for:

The changes seems more aimed at optimizing the experience for novice users at
the expense of taking away familiar features that long-term users depend upon.

<snip>

You're absolutely right & the entire community of professional users agrees
with that sentiment. Don't think it hasn't adamantly been voiced to - and
had a distinct impact on - the powers that be. In all fairness, though, it
isn't so much that the "familiar features" have been taken away ­ most have
just been buried under the deluge of cutesy stuff. I believe you'll find it
to be quite different when the next release of Office arrives somewhere down
the road - let's hope for the best

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac