How to launch Flex debug session via keyboard shortcut on mac
 
OMG. For over 2 years I’ve launched Flex by mousing over to the little bug icon and clicking. I’ve done it so often its become second nature. All because I took one look at this cryptic glyph sequence, tried to guess..tecute it, then gave up to pretend this shortcut didn’t exist.
After a brief stint back in the Flash IDE–instantly returnign to hitting command-enter to debug, I came back to Flex with the determination to slay this gnarly shortcut sequence once and for all. And here’s the secret:
That up arrow icon is shift. Thats an easy one. The bizzare serif-X-with-one-leg-missing glyph represents alt/option. Yeah I don’t understand that either. Then there’s the letter “D” and “F”. Naturally, hitting all 4 together does nothing. But wait, see the slight excess kerning between those 2 letters? Thats a space. It means let go of the current key combination before hitting the next letter. And there it goes.
Why 4 keys in 2 combinations just to debug your project? Seams a little absurd for one of the most important and common shortcuts. Is every other normal key combination really taken? Really? I’m using the Eclipse plugin version of Flex btw, but I assume its the same with the stand alone.
Did anyone else have trouble with this? Don’t make me feel stupid and annoyed all by myself :P
UPDATE: Figured out how to get the more straight forward command-f11 shortcut working here
Was half expecting a dragon punch after such a complex key sequence!
I too gave up trying to decipher those cryptic symbols, so thanks for the tip. Works on Flex Builder standalone.
I don’t know what half of the shortcuts on Mac mean either, so definitely don’t feel stupid and annoyed – I’m right there with ya!
I’m not sure about the plugin version but in Flex Builder you can set the keyboard shortcuts to whatever your preference is by visiting the Flex Preferences menu, expand “General” and select “Keys”. You can then create your own shortcuts which are a lot easier to key in without having to use your nose and 7 toes.
Salut Mark,
Actually, if it’s just the «debug» for the last application you want to start, try it with CMD+F11 (on Mac) or SHIFT+CMD+F11 for normal «run».
This and more you’ll find in Eclipse > Help > Key Assist…
Cheers,
Daniel
Huh? I use Command-F11. Without the “Fn” modifier key. Sometimes the shortcut disappears for days; I think a janky workspace can cause that.
Thanks for the feedback guys.
CMD+F11 never worked for me :/ I assumed it was a Mac-overriding-the-keys issue but it sounds like it works for some (atleast sometimes)
I prefer to stick to the default key mappings but for this particular issue I’d gladly remap.
GYI, I think that the ALT glyph is the electrical schema of a switch.
*FYI