How can I change modifier keys in "System Preferences > Keyboard > Modifier Keys..."

Question

I need to programmatically change the values of the Caps Lock, Control, Option and Command keys in "System Preferences > Keyboard > Modifier Keys..."

I dont want to use AppleScript.

Could someone point me in the right direction?

I think if you can do it through AppleScript, then you can execute same commands via cocoa code ;) — Devarshi, Nov 08 '11 at 06:34
I need the same question answered, however I don't care if its AppleScript or something else. I just need to do it. Did you ever find an answer — Mark A. Donohoe, Feb 08 '12 at 05:19
See my answer in http://stackoverflow.com/questions/37581090/does-anyone-know-where-osx-stores-the-settings-in-system-preferences-keyboard/37648516#37648516. — Ted Middleton, Jun 06 '16 at 01:43

score 3 · Accepted Answer · edited Feb 22 '13 at 08:26

Here is apple script capsLockOff.scpt:

tell application "System Preferences"
    activate
    set current pane to pane "com.apple.preference.keyboard"
end tell

tell application "System Events"

    tell application process "System Preferences"
        get properties

        click button "Modifier Keys…" of tab group 1 of window "Keyboard"
        tell sheet 1 of window "Keyboard"
            click pop up button 4
            click menu item "No Action" of menu 1 of pop up button 4
            delay 1
            click button "OK"

        end tell
    end tell
end tell

tell application "System Preferences" to quit

Following is cocoa code to call above script. Hope this will help

-(void)runAppleScript{

    NSString *fileName = @"capsLockOff";

    NSString* path = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:fileName ofType:@"scpt"];
    NSURL* url = [NSURL fileURLWithPath:path];NSDictionary* errors = [NSDictionary dictionary];
    NSAppleScript* appleScript = [[NSAppleScript alloc] initWithContentsOfURL:url error:&errors];
    [appleScript executeAndReturnError:nil];
    [appleScript release];
}

score 2 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:15

2

See my answer in Does anyone know where OSX stores the settings in System Preferences > Keyboard > Modifier Keys?. The setting is in ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost/.GlobalPreferences.<UUID>.plist.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:15

Community

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answered Jun 06 '16 at 01:44

Ted Middleton

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score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 09 '11 at 09:02

1

As I suggested in comments :

I think if you can do it through AppleScript, then you can execute same commands via cocoa code ;)

You can refer this document to do so: Using AppleScript Scripts in Cocoa Applications

Hope this helps :)

answered Nov 09 '11 at 09:02

Devarshi

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I dont want to use AppleScript because the user will be aware of it. – Pétur Ingi Egilsson Nov 10 '11 at 11:20
In case I will go with using AppleScript - Will Apple accept its usage in a program on the Mac App Store? – Pétur Ingi Egilsson Nov 10 '11 at 11:21
@Miraaj, you just linked to Apple's developer documentation on using scripts (btw your link seems dead.) Do you have any information about this specific issue, not just generic scripting? – Mark A. Donohoe Feb 08 '12 at 05:22

How can I change modifier keys in "System Preferences > Keyboard > Modifier Keys..."

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