System 7: Switching Among Keyboard Maps

I installed multiple keyboard maps into the System file to allow switching between languages like English and Spanish.

Here are two ways I switch maps:
- Open the Keyboard control panel and select it from a list, or
- Press a Command-Option-Spacebar sequence to "rotate" between the maps.

The issue is some applications use the Command-Option-Spacebar sequence for other operations. If I use this sequence to perform the application's command, the command is performed as expected, but the operating system also "rotates" the keyboard maps. Is there a workaround?
This key sequence is a reserved part of the operating system which should not be used by an application. Applications may also use this key sequence for other operations but there will be conflicts if multiple keyboard maps are present.

Here are three workarounds:
- Don't install more than one keyboard map into the System if you can avoid it. System 7.5 installs all keyboard maps as a default. You can remove those you will not be using by opening up the System suitcase and dragging them to the trash.

- After using the key sequence, open the Keyboard CDEV and change the map with the mouse.

- Use the mouse to perform the application's command, rather than the key sequence.

A checkbox will be added to the Keyboard Control Panel to disable this feature in System Update 1.0 for System 7.5.
Published Date: Feb 18, 2012