Barry MacDonnell'sToolbox for WordPerfect
Macros, tips, and
templates for Corel® WordPerfect® for Windows®
© Copyright 1996-2024 by Barry MacDonnell. All Rights Reserved.
|
Home | Tips | Library | Other Authors | Other WP Sites | Writer's Links | Contact | Site Map | Donate |
| Barry MacDonnell's Toolbox for WordPerfect |
||
|
Macros, tips, and
templates for Corel® WordPerfect® for Windows® |
Page updated Aug 27, 2025 |
|
| WordPerfect
Tips Main tips page | Browse more tips |
||
| Dealing with accidentally typing in rEVERSED cASE: Make the <Shift> key turn <Caps Lock> off automatically Related items - • If you have already typed something with <Caps Lock> on and then noticed upper and lower case was reversed, you can quickly fix it without having to delete it and then re-type it. See the Convert Case macro here. • To keep from accidentally toggling the <Insert> key to typeover (overwrite) mode, see here. Disclaimer |
The problem - and some solutions when using WordPerfect After typing in ALL CAPS with the <Caps Lock> key enabled, you might find that the next sentences look something like this: "tHE iNTERNATIONAL bUSINESS mACHINES cORPORATION (ibm) IS AN aMERICAN CORPORATION ..."
Such case-reversal of letters is typical whenever Caps Lock is enabled (i.e., turned "on"). The <Caps Lock> and <Shift> keys are independent of each other in most Windows configurations, and pressing <Caps Lock> to turn it on means it will stay on until you remember to turn it off. But there are several things you can do in WordPerfect if this is a frequent problem: 1. click Tools, QuickCorrect,
Format-As-You-Go, and
2. enable (tick) the CapsFix checkbox option. [For more on QuickCorrect features and functions, see here.] • To fix the text after it was typed, see the Convert Case macro (here). If that macro is assigned to a shortcut key or toolbar button, it becomes a quick and easy way to reverse each character's case in a selection of text. • To help prevent this from happening in all Windows programs, including WordPerfect, see the next section. A solution for ALL Windows programs, including WordPerfect A more broadly useful solution to help with this problem is to enable a standard Windows setting to link the <Caps Lock> and <Shift> keys so that pressing the <Shift> key automatically turns off ("unlocks") the <Caps Lock> key (if it's on). This works transparently in ALL Windows programs when any following text — such as a new sentence — must have just the first letter capitalized when you hold down the <Shift> key while typing the first letter. This Windows setting can be enabled in several ways, which are described below. Note that they are not really "permanent" methods because any of them can be used to disable this linked-key behavior as well as enable it. Using it after you have enabled (i.e., "activated") this setting in Windows: To
toggle Caps Lock off, just press the <Shift> key instead of the
<Caps Lock> key.
This is typically done if the next word is supposed to start with a single capital letter, so just press the <Shift> key while typing that new letter. Deciding to use this option really comes down to your typing habits and how often you mistakenly type rREVERSE tEXT. To help you decide, note these new keyboard effects once you enable this optional Windows setting. (Again, the setting is easily enabled or disabled, as described below.) ► The <Shift> key can be (actually, must be) used anytime you need to unlock
the <Caps Lock> key — not just after a string of capital letters.
It simply does what a second press of the <Caps Lock> key used to
do: turn the capitalization of currently typed text off.
► The <Shift> key's operation stays the same as before you enabled the setting. In other words, that key is not otherwise affected by the setting: When you hold down the <Shift> key and press another letter you still get a capitalized version of that letter. ► Pressing the <Caps Lock> key inside or after a string of capital letters will no longer
work to toggle the <Caps Lock> key off. You must use the
<Shift> key to unlock <Caps Lock>.
If
you wish, you can leave WordPerfect's CapsFix option (above) enabled even if
you use the Windows setting below. The Windows setting will take
precedence, effectively ignoring the WordPerfect option.
► However, Caps Lock can still be toggled on as usual after typing lower-case text by pressing the <Caps Lock> key once. Sometimes this might take a small adjustment to your typing habits — such as when typing quoted material inside a string of capital letters and using <Shift+"> toggles the <Caps Lock> key off for subsequent text. Tip
Be sure to inform other users about this change to your system, since they might think something is wrong with the keyboard when using the <Caps Lock> key. Nothing's wrong — it's just using a slightly different method (easily reversable via a Windows shortcut or Windows Setting) to help prevent accidentally typing in Reverse Case! Notes and comment
The basic method came from a tip in User-To-User,
PC Magazine,
February 3, 2004; p. 75, relating to Windows XP. But the method
still works in Windows 10 and 11, as outlined below.
This is the way most typewriters worked back in the days before computers: The (mechanical) Shift key disabled a special Shift Lock key which, when previously pressed once, caused all following text to be typed in UPPER case — possibly an early example of "automation." Two choices and methods to enable this setting in Windows 10/11: NOTE: Now
that Windows 10/11 is now a "service," Microsoft
sometimes uses software updates to add, move, or remove some user options in its Settings screens
without much (or any) notice,
so if the steps below don't seem to be available on your system, try
another method. Hence the reason for the detailed information below:
it gives you alternative choices which might depend on your familarity with setting up Windows 10
and/or Windows 11 to reflect your preferences.
■ CHOICE #1. Create a Windows 10 desktop shortcut to allow convenient (mouse) access to the required setting [Updated July 2020, July 2021, Dec 2022, June 2024:
Note that this shortcut method works for me with Windows 10, versions 1909 through 22H2. Although the two internet sources below were written for earlier Windows 10 versions to access the Text Services and Input Languages dialog (used in Step 2 below), the procedure seems to be the most reliable path going forward, given that Microsoft tends to move/hide some earlier settings. But Your Mileage May Vary, as the saying goes.] Step 1. Both sites show the same procedure on how to create a desktop shortcut using a single (one-line) Windows Run command:
Rundll32 Shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL input.dll,,{C07337D3-DB2C-4D0B-9A93-B722A6C106E2}
Usage:
For a one-time use you can simply copy and paste the single Rundll32... string above into the Run field in Windows 10 (e.g., via the Windows key + R), then click OK. Then go to Step 2 below. However, creating a desktop shortcut gives a more convenient access to this feature anytime in the future (in case you forget the method). To create this special desktop shortcut:
1. Select and copy (Ctrl+C) the entire Rundl32... command shown above to the Windows clipboard. 2. Right-click on an empty space on the Windows desktop screen; choose New, then Shortcut. 3. In the next dialog ("Create Shortcut") paste (Ctrl+V) the Rundl32... command into the "Type the location of the item" field. 4. Click Next to open the next dialog where you can give the shortcut a memorable name (e.g., Caps Fix). 5. Click Finish. The shortcut should appear on your Windows desktop screen. Step 2. When the Text Services and Input Languages dialog appears:
On the Advanced Key Settings tab, click the
Press the SHIFT key radio button choice. (To restore the default choice later, click the Press the CAPS LOCK key choice.) Step 3. Click Apply, then OK.
■ CHOICE #2. Manually use Windows 10/11 Settings to change the Caps Lock key's setting • First ... use one of these three methods to open the Windows Settings window:
Method A
If you use the Start menu (tiles) click on the gear icon ("Settings") on the left side of the menu to open the Windows Settings window. -or- Method B On the Windows task bar (bottom of screen, extreme right side) click on the Notifications icon, and then choose "All settings" to open Windows Settings. -or- Method C Simultaneously press the Windows [logo] key and the letter "I" (i.e., WinKey+I) to open Windows Settings.
• Choice 2A (i.e., Alternative A) Next ... [Updated Aug 26, 2025 to include Windows 11, Source: ChatGPT AI,
Aug 26, 2025] "You can change a native Windows setting to turn off Caps
Lock with the Shift key. This is the most reliable method and does not
require a separate application or script. You can still use the Caps
Lock key to turn it on.
For Windows 11: • Open Settings by pressing the Windows key + I. • Navigate to Time & language > Typing. • Click on Advanced keyboard settings. • Click on Input language hot keys, or Language bar options, depending on your version. [N.B.: The next 2 steps are unchanged from Windows 10] • In the "Text Services and Input Languages" dialog, click the Advanced Key Settings tab. • Under "To turn off Caps Lock," select Press the SHIFT key, then click OK. For Windows 10: • Open Settings by right-clicking the Start button and choosing Settings -or- by pressing the Windows key + I. • Navigate to Time & Language > Language. • Scroll down and click on Spelling, typing, & keyboard settings. • Scroll down and click on Advanced keyboard settings. • Click Language bar options. • In the "Text Services and Input Languages" dialog, click the Advanced Key Settings tab. • Under "To turn off Caps Lock," select Press the SHIFT key. Click OK." • Choice 2B (i.e., Alternative B) Next ... use one of these three methods (A, B, C), depending on your version and build of Windows. Method A - For some Windows 10 versions.
Step 1. In Windows Settings, use the Search field and search for Advanced keyboard settings. When that phrase shows up in the results, click on it to open the Advanced keyboard settings page, then go to Step 2 below. Two alternatives to Step 1:
• In Windows Settings, use the Search field and search for Typing settings. When that phrase shows up in the results, click on it. The Typing module should now be open; scroll down and click Advanced keyboard settings. • In Windows Settings, click on Time & Language, then click on Region & Language in the left sidebar. In the Region & Language screen, scroll down and click Advanced keyboard settings. Step 2. On the Advanced keyboard settings page click on either - - the Language bar options link
or - the Language hot keys (or the Input language hot keys) link NOTE: Either link brings up the separate Text Services and Input Languages dialog.
Step 3. Step 3(a).
If you used the first link in Step 2, click on the Text Services... dialog's Advanced Key Settings tab to choose (activate) it. If you used the second link in Step 2, you should see that the tab is already active. Step 3(b).
On the Advanced Key Settings tab, click on the Press the SHIFT key choice to turn off Caps Lock's default method. Tip: To restore the default method later use the Press the CAPS LOCK key choice.
Step 4. Click Apply, then OK. Step 5. Close the Windows Settings module to return to your desktop. Method B - In some early versions of Windows 10 you can use the Windows 10 Control Panel (which should be similar in Windows 8).
Step 1.
In Windows 10, launch the Windows Control Panel (either click on Start, Control Panel -or- use Windows Search for Control Panel). Step 2. Under the Clock, Language, and Region heading, click on Change input methods. This brings up the Change your language preferences dialog. Step 3. Click the Advanced settings option (left side of dialog). Step 4. In the Advanced settings dialog, under Switching input methods, click Change language bar hot keys. This brings up the Text Services and Input Languages dialog.
Step 5. On the Advanced Key Settings tab, click the Press the SHIFT key choice. Tip: To restore the default method later use the Press the CAPS LOCK key choice.
Click Apply, then OK. Step 6. Close the Settings window to return to your desktop. Method C - For Windows 11. [As of May 9, 2023:] Without current access to Windows 11, I could not test this — but if the Press the SHIFT key button appears it should work the same as in Windows 10, as described above. Early versions of Windows Windows 7: • In Windows 7, launch the Windows Control Panel
(Start, Control Panel).
• Click on Change keyboards or other input methods (under the Clock, Language, and Region heading). This brings up the Region and Languages dialog. • On the Keyboards and Languages tab, click on the Change Keyboards button. This brings up the Text Services and Input Languages dialog. • Click on the Advanced Key Settings tab. In the "To turn off Caps Lock" section, click the radio button Press the SHIFT key. • Click OK until you return to the Control Panel. • In Windows XP, launch the Windows Control Panel
(Start, Settings, Control Panel).
• Launch (double click) the Regional and Languages Options applet in the Control Panel. • When the Regional and Languages Options dialog appears, click on the Languages tab at the top. • Click the Details button to bring up the Text Services and Input Languages dialog, • Click the Settings tab. If the Key Settings button at the
bottom of the dialog is grayed out (Windows XP requires more than one
keyboard definition to make this button active), click the Add button
to bring up the Add Input Language dialog; under the Keyboard Layout
drop list, choose another keyboard definition (e.g., United
States-International) and click OK to add the new definition.
• Select the keyboard you normally us (e.g., US). • Click on Key Settings, and choose the Press the SHIFT key option. • Click OK until you return to Control Panel.
|
|