Full keyboards contain all of the standard alphanumeric keys as well as a number pad. However, these large devices can take up significant desk space.
Full-size keyboards offer variable key heights to help the fingers land in an ideal flat position, which some may view as advantageous; others find this feature annoying and unnecessary.
Tenkeyless keyboards feature a space-saving design by eliminating the NUM pad and packing editing or navigation keys into an enclosed layout, typically offering up 87 keys.
Highlighting
Word’s highlight tool has long been a reliable method of selecting text and drawing attention to it, and some subscribers of WordTips have asked if there is any.
Answering “yes” and making this transition straightforward is surprisingly simple. To do so, first ensure Full Keyboard Access is on. This enables you to control your Mac entirely with keyboard controls, rather than mouse or trackpad navigation. Full Keyboard Access highlights any item currently having focus and allows for customizable color, contrast, and size of its highlight—in real-time! To enable Full Keyboard Access, click Apple > System Settings > Keyboard from the sidebar menus.
Once Full Keyboard Access is activated, press either the down arrow or right arrow on your keyboard to move your cursor towards an area you would like to highlight, and press the Space key to select that area. Alternatively, highlight multiple items by holding down the left mouse button while moving the cursor towards items you would like selected; once selecting all desired items, release the left mouse button.
By default, the outline of a selected area will be hidden after 15 seconds of inactivity. To change this behavior, visit the Commands screen of Full Keyboard Access and turn Auto-Hide off or select another time limit from Auto-Hide options. You may also increase thickness by clicking the Increase Size checkbox.

Pass-Through Mode
With Full Keyboard Access enabled, keyboard shortcuts allow for seamless navigation around the user interface and interaction with various onscreen elements. When pressing a shortcut key, an outline appears displaying which part of the user interface will receive your input; after 15 seconds, it automatically hides until clicked to make it visible again.
Full Keyboard Access also enables keyboard gestures that mimic multi-touch interactions; for instance, in Messages, you can hold down the Shift key and tap to simulate two-finger tapping, while Photos supports rotating an area clockwise or counterclockwise 90 degrees at a time by pressing either the left or right arrow keys.
TESmart KVM switches utilize pass-through mode at the USB protocol level, enabling keyboard and mouse input directly to be sent from peripheral devices connected to the switch to their host computer without being routed through virtual machines or any other virtualized environment. This ensures peripheral devices continue functioning optimally regardless of which operating system or software may be running on client machines.
By temporarily disabling Full Keyboard Access with Control-Option Command P, you can quickly turn it off to use certain apps or games that could interfere with its functioning. This feature may be especially handy if you’re playing an online game and don’t want it interfering with gameplay or just need the option to quickly restore full keyboard access when finished.
Customization
A full keyboard can be tailored to meet the unique requirements of each user. Keys may be remapped for different functions, and additional keycaps with custom labels may be added as masking devices or learning aids, gaming controls, or for any number of purposes. Some keyboards even feature removable keyframes so users can change layouts easily.
Functional layout refers to the mapping between physical keypresses and software events; for instance, pressing A on an English-language keyboard typically produces an “A” character in the window. Visual layout refers to symbols printed on keycaps; these may differ depending on language, country, and user preference; for instance, an English-language keyboard can also be used with German keycap symbols printed therein.
Some keyboards can be configured to support different functional layouts by reconfiguring their operating system keyboard driver, enabling a user to easily switch between keyboards on one computer. Other keyboards can be switched between functional layouts through separate software applications. These applications also enable users to create keyboard shortcuts and macros relevant for certain programs, as well as control music and display album art within supported apps—something that requires the installation of additional utilities.
Keyboard shortcuts
No matter if you use a full keyboard for work or play, keyboard shortcuts are powerful tools that enable you to perform actions without using your mouse. While certain shortcuts only apply in specific programs, such as Ctrl + F to search text, others operate system-wide across applications and platforms.
Use keyboard shortcuts to boost productivity and save time when working faster and increasing efficiency. For instance, pressing WINKEY+ the up or down arrows to maximize or minimize windows automatically without clicking through menus and settings. Or resize windows quickly by holding down both ALT and the S keys; your cursor will change into four arrows, allowing you to easily move them around on screen.
Ctrl+X is another useful keyboard shortcut, used to cut text that you select and paste by pressing Ctrl+V. Pressing F1 or F2 will bring up a quick launch menu containing Microsoft Store apps, Microsoft 365 apps, and certain parts of Windows, while pressing Alt+Tab cycles through open programs progressively or retrogressively.
Keyboard shortcuts can make a task that requires multiple steps easier, like changing screen resolution or managing bookmarks. Furthermore, using keyboard shortcuts allows you to take and share screenshots quickly with colleagues or clients, streamlining workflow.
FAQs
1. What is Full Keyboard Access?
Full Keyboard Access is a macOS feature that allows users to control their computer entirely using the keyboard.
2. How do I enable Full Keyboard Access on my Mac?
Go to Apple > System Settings > Keyboard, and turn on Full Keyboard Access.
3. Can I customize the highlight color in Full Keyboard Access?
Yes, you can adjust the color, size, and contrast of the highlight in the settings.
4. What is Pass-Through Mode on KVM switches?
Pass-Through Mode ensures direct peripheral input from devices to the host without virtualization interference.
5. How do I create custom keyboard shortcuts?
You can create and customize keyboard shortcuts through your operating system’s keyboard settings or dedicated software.
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