How to remap "Dashboard" key to show the Desktop on OSX [Snow] Leopard?

It's certainly no solution - but just to add to the conversation: by default hitting command+(Show All Windows) shows the desktop. i.e. hitting command-F3 where F3 is functioning as a special key and not truly as "F3" If nothing else, it's an easy reach on the keyboard and somewhat logical. I still can't understand why there is no show desktop special key - especially in light of the dedicated dashboard key (who uses that?) and an empty space at F5.

"Have you tried setting it up on your System Preferences -> Exposé & Spaces?

I haven't received my Snow Leopard copy yet so i can not be sure. But you should be able to choose what key to press for ""Show Desktop""."

"Man, I could have written this complaint myself (in fact, I just did, elsewhere, before finding this page).

I gave up. The best I could do was redefine Fn-F3 to be Desktop. At least it's on the ""Exposé key,"" so you have the mnemonic thing working, and it's an easy one-handed stretch (Fn-F11 is IMPOSSIBLE) when you need to drag a file attachment into a mail message."
"Man, I could have written this complaint myself (in fact, I just did, elsewhere, before finding this page).

I gave up. The best I could do was redefine Fn-F3 to be Desktop. At least it's on the ""Exposé key,"" so you have the mnemonic thing working, and it's an easy one-handed stretch (Fn-F11 is IMPOSSIBLE) when you need to drag a file attachment into a mail message."

"I know this is a very old question, but in case someone comes across it I've found a pretty good solution.

First step is to download Function Flip, which can be found here: http://kevingessner.com/software/functionflip/. Install the preference pane and enable flip on the F3 key. Also make sure that Function Flip starts on login.

Next, go into the Mission Control preference pane and assign Show Desktop to the F3 key.

Now the Mission Control special key will show the desktop, and holding fn while pressing the key will show Mission Control. To fully swap the functionality, you can go into Keyboard Preferences, and change the Mission Control keyboard shortcut to Command + F3.

Of course, you could also do this to the f4 key as well to flip the dashboard / launchpad button."