What is this symbol? Why isn't this symbol on my keyboard?

In lots of places in Mac documentation and menus, I run into references to a
key symbol that looks like a chevron with the point facing left and an X
inside. One place in particular, in OS X, is the keystroke used in the
Finder menu for Empty Trash, where it appears as Shift-Command-this thingie.

There is no key on my brand new keyboard that came with my brand new G4 that
bears this symbol. The Del key has a similar chevron that faces to the
right.

What is this key? Why does Apple keep talking about this key when it isn't
on the keyboard? Is it some sort of historical thing?

That's the delete key.
Below the HELP key you have the same symbol, but with the point to the
right, which is the forward delete...erasing whatever is after the
cursor. The point is telling you which side of the cursor it will delete.

Bob Bethune wrote:
> In lots of places in Mac documentation and menus, I run into references to a
> key symbol that looks like a chevron with the point facing left and an X
> inside. One place in particular, in OS X, is the keystroke used in the
> Finder menu for Empty Trash, where it appears as Shift-Command-this thingie.
>
> There is no key on my brand new keyboard that came with my brand new G4 that
> bears this symbol. The Del key has a similar chevron that faces to the
> right.
>
> What is this key? Why does Apple keep talking about this key when it isn't
> on the keyboard? Is it some sort of historical thing?
>
>

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
"Bob Bethune" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> In lots of places in Mac documentation and menus, I run into references to a
> key symbol that looks like a chevron with the point facing left and an X
> inside. One place in particular, in OS X, is the keystroke used in the
> Finder menu for Empty Trash, where it appears as Shift-Command-this thingie.
>
> There is no key on my brand new keyboard that came with my brand new G4 that
> bears this symbol. The Del key has a similar chevron that faces to the
> right.
>
> What is this key? Why does Apple keep talking about this key when it isn't
> on the keyboard? Is it some sort of historical thing?
>
>

It's the delete key...

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In article <(E-Mail Removed)>, Bob Bethune wrote:
> What is this key? Why does Apple keep talking about this key when it isn't
> on the keyboard? Is it some sort of historical thing?
Its your backspace key. and yes its a wee bit historical. I
means simply. backspace one spot and X out. Today we just backspace
Its a carry over from typewriters. They didn't nessary X out either.
but on hardware terminals they Did. for an example
misspxexelled
which if you typed that it would be
miss (typo, backspace)e(typo, backspace)elled


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In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
"Bob Bethune" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> In lots of places in Mac documentation and menus, I run into
> references to a key symbol that looks like a chevron with the point
> facing left and an X inside. One place in particular, in OS X, is the
> keystroke used in the Finder menu for Empty Trash, where it appears
> as Shift-Command-this thingie.
>
> There is no key on my brand new keyboard that came with my brand new
> G4 that bears this symbol. The Del key has a similar chevron that
> faces to the right.
>
> What is this key? Why does Apple keep talking about this key when it
> isn't on the keyboard? Is it some sort of historical thing?

It's the "delete" key.

In many programs, the "del" key deletes to the right, and the "delete"
key deletes to the left. That's why their symbols are almost identical
but point in opposite directions.

For a handle table of other Mac keyboard symbols, go to Mac Help (in the
Finder, press the "help" key), type "keyboard shortcut symbols" into the
search box and hit "return". One of the top items should have that
exact title. OR go to Mac Help, click on "List of Topics", and look for
the item called "Keyboard shortcut symbols".

If you want to keep that chart handy, just print it. (You'll have to
scale it down to 60-65% to fit on one page.) If you want to label your
keys with those symbols, print it onto adhesive-backed paper, cut them
out, and stick them onto the keys.

Thanks! This posting is really helpful. Thanks to the other folks who
answered, too. I wonder why Apple doesn't put the left-facing chevron on the
backspace key?

If I do decide to print that Help page, I won't have to scale it down--this
Mac is connected to a printer that handles 24-inch-wide paper! <grin> Maybe
I'll make a wall poster. Hmmmm....

"Wayne C. Morris" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:wayne.morris->
> For a handle table of other Mac keyboard symbols, go to Mac Help (in the
> Finder, press the "help" key), type "keyboard shortcut symbols" into the
> search box and hit "return". One of the top items should have that
> exact title. OR go to Mac Help, click on "List of Topics", and look for
> the item called "Keyboard shortcut symbols".
>
> If you want to keep that chart handy, just print it. (You'll have to
> scale it down to 60-65% to fit on one page.) If you want to label your
> keys with those symbols, print it onto adhesive-backed paper, cut them
> out, and stick them onto the keys.

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>, Bob Bethune
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Thanks! This posting is really helpful. Thanks to the other folks who
> answered, too. I wonder why Apple doesn't put the left-facing chevron on the
> backspace key?

Because it doesn't make as much sense as the word "delete" (and because
a key with one function should have only one label).

The menu symbol is intended to work across all languages.

--
David Dunham A Sharp david@SPAM_B_GONE.a-sharp.com
http://www.pensee.com/dunham/
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