CAPS Warn

Version 6.2

CAPS Warn is designed for people who type with one hand using Sticky Keys, or for anyone who presses the Caps Lock key frequently by mistake.

CAPS Warn is a Preference Pane that provides:

on-screen indications of when the Caps Lock, Shift, Function (Fn), Control, Option, or Command keys are pressed (or stuck on by Sticky Keys) . You can chose from among three types of visible indications:

An arrow in the menu bar that turns red when the keys you choose are pressed.

A large almost transparent image in the center of your screen when the keys you choose are pressed.

A square block to the left of the Apple in the menu bar that can show when all modifiers are pressed.

and/or warnings that:

you have turned on the CAPS Lock and/or

you have typed a specified number (default 5) of keys with the SHIFT key (or Sticky Keys SHIFT) or CAPS Lock and/or you have turned on the Num Lock. CAPS Warn warns you regardless of what application you are typing into.

The warning can be specified to be continuous while CAPS LOCK or NUM LOCK is on. This continuous feature applies only to sound warnings and only if you choose a sound other than the system alert sound.

The CAPS Warn preference pane appears above with the default settings shown.

If you show the icon in the menu bar, selecting the icon displays a menu that allows you to open the preference pane.

The Volume Control is enabled only in 10.5+, and only if you choose a sound other than the system alert sound (the volume for the system alert sound is specified in the Sound system preference).

For CAPS Warn to be able to warn you about multiple shifted key presses, you must enable assistive device access in the System Preferences. Exactly how this is done depends on which version of the Mac OS you are running. Instructions for the version you are running will appear in the CAPS Warn preference pane.

Enabling CAPS Warn via this Preference Pane will automatically disable any previous version of CAPS Warn.

The Exclusions tab (shown at the right) allows you to specify:

which applications should be excluded when counting multiple caps typed.
what keys or words should be excluded when counting multiple caps typed.

The Updates tab allows you to specify automatic checking for updates. Going to the tab will also check for updates, allowing you to download an update if available.

The Register tab allows you to check for and or enter a purchased registration code.

Macintosh Requirements

CAPS Warn is a MacOS X application. It runs on 10.4+. Universal binary.

Installing CAPS Warn

ALWAYS make sure that System Preferences is not open when you install. DO NOT double-click Paste Master.prefPane. Instead, right-click on the preference pane and choose "Open". Then answer the dialog saying you want to open it. If you are given the option to install for all users or just the current one choose just the current one.

Uninstalling Paste Master

To uninstall CAPS Warn, disable it in the preference pane then remove the preference pane from System Preferences by right-clicking it and selecting "Remove".

Version History

6.2 - Feature enhancement and bug fix:

Increased the maximum value for "Warn me after typing this many keys in a row with SHIFT or CAPS LOCK" from 9 to 25.
Restored proper functioning of checking for updates on newer OS versions.

6.1 - Bug fix and documentation update:

Fixed problem with playing sounds experienced by some users.
The "Enabled" checkbox now stays checked when you enter the preference pane.
Updated documentation.

6.0 - Feature enhancements:

Further improved compatibility with 10.10+.
Improved instructions for installing updates.
Added more debugging information to the "Email the Author" function.

5.9 - Improved compatibility with Mac OS 10.10+.

5.8 - Fixed a bug affecting the installation of CAPS Warn for the first time.

5.7 - Feature enhancement and help fix:

Added the ability to play a sound continuously as a warning (e.g., that CAPS LOCK is on).
Fixed purchase link in the help.

5.6 - Improved Preference Pane "Exclusions" tab.

5.5 - Feature enhancements:

Added help buttons within the preference pane.
Created new "Exclusions" tab in the preference pane.
Moved "Exclusion Options" to "Exclusions" tab.
The "Exclusions" tab includes the ability to specify applications for which CAPS Warn should not warn when you typing in them.
Added new "Updates" tab to check for updates and allow them to be downloaded.

5.4 - Feature enhancement:

Added the option to indicate caps lock or num lock with a large, almost transparent arrow in the center of the screen.
Updated instructions for enabling access for assistive devices in the System Preferences to take into account the differences among 10.8, 10.9, and earlier versions.

5.3 - Feature enhancement:

Added option to limit the number of times you are warned about typing too many caps in a row.

5.2 - Bug fixes:

Fixed bug in exclusion list processing.
Fixed bug in registration system with names containing Latin characters.

5.1 - Feature enhancement and bug fix:

Menu bar icon now highlights when selected.
Fixed crash causing CAPS Warn to disable itself.

5.0 - Feature enhancement:

Added Growl notification for NUM Lock Off.

4.9 - Feature enhancement and bug fix:

Now warns about each new version only once.
Fixed file corruption in 4.8 experienced by some users.

4.8 - Feature enhancements:

Added button to Configure tab to email the author.
Added button to Register tab to retrieve previously-purchased registration code.

4.7 - Feature enhancement:

The menu bar icon now allows you to open the preference pane.

4.6 - Feature enhancement:

Added Growl notification for Caps Lock Off.

4.5 - Feature enhancement and bug fix:

Added option to ignore SHIFT when counting caps (counting only caps with Caps Lock).
Fixed bug in entering words to exclude.

4.41 - Fixed crash introduced in 4.4.

4.4 - Feature enhancement:

Added option to exclude certain characters or words when counting caps.

4.3 - Feature enhancement:

Added volume control for sound notification. (Works in 10.5+ only).

4.2 - Fixed problem upgrading to 4.1.

4.1 - Fixed bug configuring if already enabled.

4.0 - Compatibility and feature enhancements:

Now works with 10.5+. Compiled as a 64-bit Preference Pane for 10.6.
Added automatic checking for updates.
Now handles display size changes.

3.1 - Feature enhancement and bug fixes:

Made indicators in upper left corner larger and easier to read.
Restored original color scheme in upper left corner.
Fixed that sometimes CAPS Warn turned off when rebooted.
Other bug fixes.

3.0 - User requested feature enhancements:

Added Growl notifications (if Growl is installed and running).
Added ability to separately request display of Caps Lock and Shift in menu bar and upper left-hand corner.
Improved look of upper left-hand corner.
Separated display of Fn from Ctrl in upper left-hand corner.
New icon for preference pane and menu bar, thanks to Elke Hübner.

2.2 - Feature enhancements:

Added option to warn when Num Lock is turned on.
Added the fn key on laptops to the upper-left-hand-corner indicator for the ctrl key.

2.1 - Fixed that "Warn me after typing..." works even when turned off.

2.0 - Feature enhancement and bug fix:

Rewritten from scratch as a Preference Pane.
Icon in menu bar is now optional (in case you have no room in your menu bar), and is no longer a menu.
The state of the Shift/Caps Lock, Control, Option, and Command keys can now optionally be displayed in the upper left-hand corner of the screen (using space that is otherwise not used).
Added a new built-in sound--CAPS.
Fixed bug whereby command-option-d to show/hide the dock did not work.

1.3 - Feature enhancement and bug fixes:

Added a preference to specify the sound to play when warning...it no longer must be the system sound.
Depressing the shift key now fills in the menu bar icon
Fixed the "Warn after typing..." preference, which would not turn off in 1.2.

1.2 - Bug fix and enhancement:

Fixed crash when changing "Start Automatically" preference.
Improved menu icon.

1.1 - Feature enhancements:

Made CAPS Warn run as an icon in the menu bar rather than in the dock.
Added a preference to start CAPS Warn automatically when you startup or login.
Added a preference to warn by flashing the screen.
Made CAPS Warn easier to setup by adding a button to the preferences to take you to the "Universal Access" preference panel so you can turn on "Enable access for assistive devices".

1.0 - Initial release.

Purchasing CAPS Warn

CAPS Warn is shareware. You can try it out for 30 days, but if you still use it thereafter, you must register it. The price is nominal--$6. After 30 days, CAPS Warn will not work unless you have registered it.

Registration includes future updates.

To purchase CAPS Warn, click here, or click the Purchase Registration Code button in the Register tab of the Preference Pane. Once you have paid, you will receive a registration code via email. You can enter this code in CAPS Warn Register tab.

If you do not get your registration code via email in a timely manner it may be that it was eaten by an overly aggressive spam filter. In that case, click on the Retrieve Purchased Code button in the Register tab or click here and enter your PayPal purchase information to retrieve the code.

You may distribute CAPS Warn unmodified via any media.