P: Allow for keyboard shortcut customization

I've found a way to make all (I am 97% sure of this) custom keyboard shortcuts work for Lightroom on OS X. It is a big work-around, but it works!

1. Use 'App Shortcuts' in 'System Preferences' → 'Keyboard' → 'Shortcuts' to create keyboard shortcuts. Follow the instructions on this page if you don't know how to do this: http://www.computer-darkroom.com/lr2_keyboard/lightroom-keyboard.htm

2. Since you always need to add modifier keys with the 'App Shortcuts' feature, to create single-character shortcuts, you will need an application. There are probably different applications that can do this, both free and paid, but I use BetterTouchTool (which is paid, but it is awesome for a multitude of differnet things—screen-snapping being only one of them).

- First, assign a shortcut in 'App Shortcuts'
- Add Lightroom in the keyboard shortcuts section in BetterTouchTool (or any other application that does the same thing)
- Add the 'App Shortcuts' shortcut and then assign a single-key shortcut to it. 

For example, assigning  'Shift+Cmd+Y' to 'Flagged' in 'App Shortcuts' (since you might need P for somthing else). Then, adding this in BetterTouchTool and assigning 'C' to it (but first changing the 'C' shortcut in Lightroom, which is the 'Compare' function, using 'App Shortcuts', to avoid shortcut conflicts). With this, Pressing 'C' toggles 'Shift+Cmd+Y', which in turn flags a picture in Lightroom.

If there is already an assigned keyboard shortcut in Lightroom (and you won't need it for another function), you can use either 'App Shortcuts' or BetterTouchTool and skip the other. 'App Shortcuts' will require a modifier key though, so BetterTouchTool would be a better option.

3. Make sure there are no shortcut conflicts!

That's it. It's quite a lot of work initially, but for Mac users (and graphics tablet users on OS X), it means not having to impatiently wait for Adobe to implement this feature, and therefore enjoying increased ease of working with Lightroom.

EDIT: Everything I've written is still correct, but there is one small problem. Assigning single-character keys to functions/commands will also be the case modify keys when typing text. 

Next one along?  

That's my Z key. I'm in the non-US keyboard boat as well. 🙂 

For P, U and X, have you tried using the ~/` key to toggle flagged/unflagged?  It's right next to the X key.

Your response, Keven, indicates exactly why customisable shortcuts are necessary, which is that when it comes to workflow, each user's preference are unique, so come on, Adobe, get onto it.

To answer your question regarding system-level shortcut modification (even though you didn't direct it to me) in OS X, my experience is that it's such an inadequate solution it's not worth bothering with.

Ah, tried it again and now the modifier keys work (first time I tried, only F1-F12 keys worked). Thanks for telling me, Victoria. I would have missed it. 

However, it has limitations. For example, I can't use only letter keys (or single keys). In Lightroom, I find the P, U, X shortcuts awfully organized and spread all over the keyboard. When triaging my shoot pictures, I would like to have all three keys together under three fingers, right next to the Shift key. A much better layout! Maybe I'll have to wait for Adobe to add a full feature. Does the same thing happen for you when adding only letters or single keys in the App Shortcuts feature of OS X?

What has been you experience with the App Shortcuts feature (unless you're on PC)?

Kind regards and thanks again.

No arguments from me Chris - I'd like to see it too - but it may help in the meantime.

It might help a little but it's a half-baked option.

Mac or PC? On Mac, you can use the OS Keyboard Shortcuts preferences to assign a shortcut to any menu command, which might help.

What were you hoping to accomplish with your wacom tablet and keyboard shortcuts?  What were you going to use the keyboard shortcuts for?