Using The Dvorak Keyboard Layout With Leopard

Keyboard Layouts

• Dvorak Keyboard Layout – Switching
• Using The Dvorak Keyboard Layout With Leopard

So you’ve decided you want to learn to type using the Dvorak layout but aren’t sure how to set your computer up? Here’s how to do it in Mac OS X Leopard.

Open “System Preferences” using the Apple menu:

Open the Apple menu to start System Preferences

Now select the “International” icon on the top row of System Preferences. Then open the “Input Menu” pane on the right.

If you scroll down the list, you’ll find that “Dvorak” is actually listed as a language! Tick the box in the left column of that row:

You should also tick the box down the bottom labeled “Show Input In Menu Bar”. You should see a tiny flag pop up on the right side of your menu bar as you tick it – it’ll probably be the flag of your country or the USA if you’re using a standard English keyboard layout. Here’s what the right corner of the menu bar looks like for me now:

A USA flag shows up for all standard 101 key keyboards, even if you're not in the USA.

Now you can close the system preferences window, you’re done setting up. But don’t panic – your keyboard isn’t typing in Dvorak yet!

To start using the Dvorak layout, click on the flag in your menu bar and then on the Dvorak line in the menu that pops down. You can easily go back to your usual keyboard layout by clicking on the flag again (it’ll be showing the DV Dvorak “flag” now) and selecting your original language.

I suggest that you pop over and read Dvorak Keyboard Layout – Resources For Switching now, so you have more tools to help you learn about your shiny new keyboard layout.

- Ricky Buchanan