Direct access to F-keys for MC exclusively on Macs with media keys

[zyv]

From #4855 by @forthrin:

Thanks for the intel, and RTFM I do, but nothing to be found on direct access to F-keys for MC exclusively on Macs with media keys.

https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc/issues?q=function%20keys%20mac
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%22midnight+commander%22+f-keys+macos
https://osxdaily.com/2023/12/26/how-to-reverse-function-keys-macos-system-settings/
https://source.midnight-commander.org/man/mc.html

1. Reset softkeys .. HP terminals ... when the function keys don't work.
2. The File Menu section ... includes the function keys.
3. On terminals without function key support ... Esc key and then a number in the range 1 through 9 and 0 ...

[zyv]

@forthrin I do not understand what you mean, what is not working for you, and what you are trying to achieve.

I have a Mac with F-Key row, and I use them as F-Keys. Media keys can be accessed with Fn. This can also be flipped around if you want to have it differently. But obviously, it's not possible to have one and the same key to work as a Media key and F-Key at the same time. This has nothing to do with Macs or media keys specifically for that matter.

[forthrin]

One wants the media keys / F-keys setting to be application specific, so you can have your brightness and delete it too.

1. When MC (and other legacy software using F-keys) have focus, pressing top row keys are F-keys.
2. When these programs don't have focus, pressing top row keys are media keys.

True, it's better implemented as a generic service than specifically in MC. There seem to be some that lets you swap with a key press, but the whole point is it has to be automagical. Too bad Apple didn't make the setting app specific already. I'll browse and ask around.

https://github.com/search?q=%22media+keys%22+%22function+keys%22&type=repositories

[zyv]

There are third-party apps for that:

https://fluorapp.net

You can also try to script BetterTouchTool or Karabiner.

[forthrin]

Tend to shy away when apps become too much of a combination of the following factors:

• 3rd party
• Overkill for purpose
• Closed source
• Not maintained (eg. Fluor Github has broken image links)
• GUI-based

I might give them a test run, or look for a lean alternative (do say if you know some).

• Open source
• Terminal based
• Specifically for remapping (function) keys for specific applications

Reason to address directly within MC is because the issue creates a super annoying barrier to use, and it would be a real asset to MC if this was addressed out of the box. Can't imagine it takes a lot of code to make it work.

[zyv]

Reason to address directly within MC is because the issue creates a super annoying barrier to use, and it would be a real asset to MC if this was addressed out of the box.

It cannot (and in my opinion should not) be addressed within mc. A separate app could and should be able to address this (in fact, I linked one - be it a satisfactory one or not), but this is outside the realms of this project.

Can't imagine it takes a lot of code to make it work.

I'm afraid you have to either take my word for it, or just try it and see for yourself.

[forthrin]

Realistically agree. At least now anyone who OCDs over the issue has a thread to hang on to.