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The Great Insert-Key Mystery!
MAC VERSION OF PC'S INSERT KEY----BIG problem we had this morning that sent my wife into a panic. She was writing a newspaper story on deadline, using Microsoft Word with Parallels on my iMac. Suddenly the program began overtyping, obliterating old words with new ones -- what to do? Any sane ex-PC user would look for the Insert key, right? Wrong, Sane Ex-PC user! There is no Insert key on the Mac keyboard. And in my Pogue Switching to Mac book, there is no index entry either for Insert or overtype!?!? Nor on the pages about PC-equivalent keys is there any mention of the Insert key. WTF!!!!
So we called Applecare, using precious minutes -- and then even the Apple guy has no clue what to do! He suggests I call Microsoft! (Chuckle -- Ever try to get help from Microsoft?) Finally, after my wife has to leave for work, I get the bright idea to Google "insert key on Macs" and among several wrong solutions, I find the right one: The "Help" key (between Delete and F14) is the Mac equivalent of the PC Insert key. Worked like a charm. I beg you to get this info into print ASAP. Does it work for Macbook? I have no idea whether there is a Help key on Patricia's Macbook, because she just took it with her.
So we called Applecare, using precious minutes -- and then even the Apple guy has no clue what to do! He suggests I call Microsoft! (Chuckle -- Ever try to get help from Microsoft?) Finally, after my wife has to leave for work, I get the bright idea to Google "insert key on Macs" and among several wrong solutions, I find the right one: The "Help" key (between Delete and F14) is the Mac equivalent of the PC Insert key. Worked like a charm. I beg you to get this info into print ASAP. Does it work for Macbook? I have no idea whether there is a Help key on Patricia's Macbook, because she just took it with her.
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The best solution from the company
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Hi, thanks for your post and hot tip! I'll send this along to the editors and we'll see if they can incorporate it in a new edition of a mac title.
Thanks again.
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this solves the problem
The best solution from everyone
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Since there isn't an insert key on the Mac keyboard, the quickest fix for this problem is to open Microsoft Word and select Preferences from the Word Application menu. In Preferences turn off overtype mode in the Edit category.
3 people say
this solves the problem
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Inappropriate?Hi, thanks for your post and hot tip! I'll send this along to the editors and we'll see if they can incorporate it in a new edition of a mac title.
Thanks again.
The company says
this solves the problem
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Inappropriate?For me, the solution to this problem varies depending on the Mac/Keyboard type. I googled this problem when I first had it, and the solutions said to use the Help key. Unfortunately I could not try that because neither of my Macs have a help key!
Here's what works for me when I'm using a Windows (mostly Quickbooks Pro) program in either Parallels Desktop or Boot Camp...
On a MacBook Pro (and maybe the Macbook?):
Hold the Ctrl and fn keys down (the two bottom left keys) and type the letter m
On the newer iMac keyboard (the ultra skinny aluminum thing):
Hold the Control key and the fn keys down (the fn is next to the Home key) and hit the Return key.
I found these solutions by trying every combination I could on the keyboard. Found a few other interesting combinations as I went along! Hope this helps.
Jim V -
Inappropriate?Since there isn't an insert key on the Mac keyboard, the quickest fix for this problem is to open Microsoft Word and select Preferences from the Word Application menu. In Preferences turn off overtype mode in the Edit category.
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this solves the problem
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This solves the problem
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I've been going crazy with this problem and you solved it! Thank you so much! -
This was driving me nuts!! People gave all the craziest keys solutions that never worked and this is so simple!!! I can't believe I didn't even think of going in preferences. I was so carried away by all the fn, crtl and whatever else people were saying. Thank yo SO much!!
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Inappropriate?In the Mac version of Word there is a little OVR button in the staus bar (on the bottom of the screen). If you click it, it turns green and this "feature" will work just as before.
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Inappropriate?The OVR button in the status bar works with Mac 2004. However, it was was removed in Word 2008. Another option for Word 2008 is to click Customize Toolbars and Menus on the View menu. Click the Commands tab and select Overtype from the All Commands category. Then you can either add the OVR command to a toolbar or create a keyboard shortcut.
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this solves the problem
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thank you for this!
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Inappropriate?Start > All Programs > Accessories > Accessibility > On-Screen Keyboard
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Inappropriate?On my MacBook Pro, holding down the Function Key ("fn", in lower left corner of keyboard) and typing "m" -- does what the Insert key is supposed to do, in some of the Windows software I use. But I don't use MS Word in Windows, so someone else will need to test this out....
Good luck! -
Inappropriate?Claire Romero, you are a genius! The only thing that worked on my MacBook Pro was to go into the Microsoft Word Preferences and disable the overtype mode option. Thanks you!
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Inappropriate?Microsoft Word 2008 for Mac
1. setup overtype option
"Word" >
"Preferences" >
"Edit" >
Enable "Overtype Mode"
2. add overtype icon in toolbar
"View" >
"Customize Toolbars and Menus..." >
select "All Commands" in the "Catagories:" section >
select "Overytpe" in the "Commands:" section >
Drag and drop the word "Overtype" to a desireable location in your toolbar
3. add overtype shortcut to keyboard
"View" >
"Customize Toolbars and Menus..." >
"Keyboard..."
select "All Commands" in the "Catagories:" section >
select "Overytpe" in the "Commands:" section >
click in the "Press new keyboard shortcut:" field >
assign a shortcut by pressing a combination of keys of your choosing* >
"assign" >
"OK" >
"OK"
You are now all set up with a replacement for the classic PC "Ins" key.
*i like the combination "shift" + "Del" as my shortcut
any problems, email qxyguitarist@yahoo.com -
Inappropriate?in my macbook pro late 2008 fn+enter did the trick
by the way.. is there any magic to try to bring back the num keypad?
i read in other posts that apple did a survey and since "almost anyone" used it, they completely removed it from their newer laptop keyboards (no more fn+num keyboard option to turn on) but.. i am one of the guys who DOES use it for a couple applications so..
Is there any trick or magic that can set it up again on newer MBPs?
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