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6,899 Views 7 Replies Last post: Jan 25, 2009 9:18 AM by kinless RSS
michael.finoc… Novice 15 posts since
Nov 6, 2007
Currently Being Moderated

Dec 13, 2007 5:08 AM

Alt+Print Screen on MacBook Pro

How can one get the various Windows keys that are unavailable on the normal MacBook Pro keyboard such as CtrlBreak, AltPrntScn, PrntScn, etc? On Parallels they have these on a shortcut menu...it is extremely painful to have to get another tool for, say, screen shots out of Fusion.

Thanks,

Guru VMware Employees 11,935 posts since
Oct 15, 2006
Currently Being Moderated
1. Dec 13, 2007 5:38 AM in response to: michael.finoc…
Re: Alt+Print Screen on MacBook Pro

See Fusion's Help, under Using Mac Keyboards in a Virtual Machine - normally you use the keys that are in the same position (e.g. F14 for Print Screen, F16 for Break, etc.), but these don't exist on a MBP. Currently, you'll have to use a key remapper in the guest to do what you want. I found a post claiming that fn-esc worked like ctrl-break on laptop keyboards: Re: Ctrl-Break on Mac Laptop?.

 

There are valid reasons why this is not as convenient, but have you considered taking screen shots using the OS X shortcuts?

shoegal Lurker 1 posts since
Jan 15, 2009
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3. Jan 15, 2009 11:28 AM in response to: michael.finoc…
Re: Alt+Print Screen on MacBook Pro

I have the same issue. I need print screen for my powerpoint presentation as well....I am debating buying a copy of MS office for my mac out of my own pocket as I am desperate and I would also like to extend the life of my battery. Using vmware fusion on mac reduces my battery life by over 50%.

 

Is there a place we can list out all the requests and vote for them? The transition from windows to mac/vmware fusion has been painful.

Berknip Novice 22 posts since
Jan 3, 2008
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4. Jan 15, 2009 1:27 PM in response to: shoegal
Re: Alt+Print Screen on MacBook Pro

I just went into VMware's Preferences under Keyboard & Mouse / Key Mappings and added Shift-Control-Option-P mapped to Print Scrn and Command-Shift-Control-Option-P for ALT-Print Scrn.  Works like a champ for me, unless I misunderstood the original poster's intent...

squirrelking Enthusiast 81 posts since
Dec 9, 2004
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5. Jan 15, 2009 2:40 PM in response to: Berknip
Re: Alt+Print Screen on MacBook Pro

I've done the remapping as well.. worked like a champ as it's very configurable.

---- VCP3 VCP4 VTSP VSP VMware Solution Provider Premier Partner VMware Authorized Consultant [http://blog.lewan.com]
kinless Novice 21 posts since
Mar 28, 2008
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6. Jan 25, 2009 7:53 AM in response to: Berknip
Re: Alt+Print Screen on MacBook Pro

One thing to be wary of, and I just discovered this bug yesterday due to recent testing (aka frustration):

 

If you're using a combination key mapping that contains the Option (Alt) key, it will conflict with your Alt-click in Windows.

 

I was having a hell of a time trying to figure out why the Clone Stamp in Photoshop CS2 (and CS4) wasn't working anymore, which requires an Alt-click. I tried disabling key mapping by unchecking the main box but that didn't help. Then my suspect turned to the custom Alt-Print Screen (Option-F16) key map I made a week ago. I disabled it but the problem was still there. Then I tried deleting it completely, and voila, I got my Alt-click back. I tried multiple combinations of key mapping, and I only get the problem if I include the Option (Alt) key.

 

So I mapped my Alt-Print screen for Shift-Control-Command P, and that works fine.

 

One of those hidden bugs that you don't notice unless you're a Photoshop user (or user of anything that needs an Alt-click). Just throwing that warning out there.

 

I should file a bug report.

 






2.8GHz Mac Pro (8-core)

VMWare Fusion 2.0.1

2.8GHz Mac Pro (8-core) VMWare Fusion 4.1
kinless Novice 21 posts since
Mar 28, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
7. Jan 25, 2009 9:18 AM in response to: kinless
Re: Alt+Print Screen on MacBook Pro

Haha ok just figured something else out. Don't use the "Shift" key for mapping anything either because it gets disabled in Photoshop and you can't hold it down and use it to draw things in a straight line.

 

I think trying to map with anything other than Command will give you problems if you try and use modifier keys with the mouse click.

 






2.8GHz Mac Pro (8-core)

VMWare Fusion 2.0.1

2.8GHz Mac Pro (8-core) VMWare Fusion 4.1

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