Using Keyboard Accelerators

IDL supports the use of keyboard accelerators or shortcuts in three different contexts: in the IDL Development Environment (menu actions), in the IDLDE Editor window, and in IDL widget applications. For information on development environment keyboard shortcuts, see one of the following:

The IDL Development Environment provides descriptions of each available menu item including keyboard shortcuts

Editor Window Keyboard Shortcuts describes keyboard shortcuts specifically designed for use in the Editor window

Keyboard shortcuts can also be defined for individual buttons and menu items in an IDL widget application. Defining shortcut key combinations is the responsibility of the IDL programmer who creates the widget application; if you are using a widget application and are unsure about whether keyboard shortcuts have been defined, contact the author of the widget application. For information on adding keyboard accelerators to your own widget applications, see Enhancing Widget Application Usability.

Enabling Alt Key Accelerators on Macintosh

If you are using IDL on a Macintosh and wish to use keyboard accelerators that use the Alt key, you will need to perform the following steps to make the Apple (Command) key to function as the Alt key:

Create a .Xmodmap file in your home folder and add the following three lines to it:

clear mod1  
clear mod2  
add mod1 = Meta_L

When Apple's X11 program starts, this file will automatically be read, and the Apple key will be mapped to the left meta key , which for IDL's purposes is the Alt key. (Windows Alt key accelerators are mapped to the Macintosh Apple key, not the Option (alt) key.)

Run Apple's X11 program and change its preferences. Under Input in the X11 Preferences dialog, make sure that the following two items are unchecked:

Follow system keyboard layout

Enable key equivalents under X11

Note
You must relaunch Apple's X11 program for these changes to take effect.

Once you have performed these steps, keyboard shortcuts will operate in the normal Macintosh fashion — namely, pressing the Apple key in conjunction with X, C, and V will perform cut, copy and paste. The IDLDE's other shortcuts and any widget accelerators defined to use the Alt key will also work.