Situation:
Some Foxit PDF Editor users have noticed changes in how keyboard shortcuts are assigned. Previously, users could assign a single key (letter) to a specific tool, such as the letter "S" for Single Page mode and the letter "L" for the Line drawing tool. This could be done without modifier keys like Ctrl, Shift, or Alt. However, recent software updates have restricted this functionality, as demonstrated in the screenshots below:
(Message indicated in V2023.2)
(Message indicated in Version 2023.3)
Reason and solution:
The changes occurred because Foxit modified the shortcuts working mechanism in Foxit PDF Editor since version 2023.2 and V13.0. The following descriptions explain the old and new working mechanisms:
First, let's understand what single-key accelerators mode and non-single-key accelerators mode are.
- To enter single-key accelerators mode in Foxit PDF Editor, go to File > Preferences > General > check the option "Use single-key accelerators to access tools" > OK.
- Conversely, you will enter the non-single-key accelerators to access tools by unchecking the "Use sign-key accelerators" option.
Under the single-key accelerators mode, it allows you to quickly access tools or perform actions using single keyboard keys instead of multiple key combinations or navigating through menus to enhance your productivity and efficiency by performing tasks with simple key presses. Foxit software has default fixed Single-key accelerators for many tools/commands/actions. For example, the letter "S" is assigned by default to the Sticky Note tool in single-key accelerator mode. You could simply press the “S” key under Single-key accelerators mode to activate the “Note” tool for adding a new note to a PDF file. To learn more about the single-key accelerator mode shortcuts, please refer to the Foxit PDF Editor User Manual and search for "Single-key Accelerators." To open the user manual, click Help > User Manual within the program.
In older versions, like V2023.1, V12.X, and earlier：
Regardless of whether a letter on a keyboard has already been assigned to a single-key accelerator shortcut in Foxit PDF Editor, it can still be assigned to other tools under non-single-key and single-key accelerators mode are mutually independent, allowing the same shortcut to be used in both modes. For example, the letter "S" is assigned by default to the Sticky Note tool in single-key accelerator mode, as shown in the screenshot:
Under the non-single-key accelerators mode, users can still assign the letter "S" to another tool when customizing the keyboard, such as assigning the letter "S" to Single Page, as shown in the screenshot below:
With these settings, you can press "S" to activate the note tool under single-key accelerators mode, and press the “S” key to switch to Single Page View mode under non-single-key accelerators mode.
In the new version, such as V 2023.2/V 13.0 and later versions:
A letter on the keyboard is already occupied by a tool in single-key accelerators mode in Foxit PDF Editor, it cannot be assigned to other tools under non-single-key accelerators mode. A message "Assigned to single-key accelerators" or “Assigned” will be displayed if users attempt to assign the letter to any tool when customizing the keyboard under non-single-key accelerators mode.
In other words, the shortcuts in non-single-key accelerators mode and single-key accelerators mode are considered as a whole, and using the same shortcut in both modes in not allowed.
Our Foxit Dev team mentioned that the change was made because the original mechanism caused shortcut conflicts and bugs in specific scenarios. In the new version, we recommend using combination keys when customizing shortcuts under non-single-key accelerators mode. For example, when assigning a shortcut for Single Page, instead of "S," use "Alt+S".
