keyboard shortcuts

I have used Cakewalk for years. and had used X1 Essential for some time. All was going OK until I put the d patch on. My trouble is with keyboard short cuts. I use Step record extensively...and want to be able to use keyboard short cuts. Now, I understand that shortcuts I used to change have now been assigned to global functions. I used 4 to mean, select length of note 1/4. Now 4 means select the screen set 4. And after various research I have discovered that this global short cut is no longer assignable to any thing other than select screen set 4. Ok... so I have to adapt. I am fine with that. I tried to set Shift 4 to mean note length 1/4 . It seems to take this.. and shows the binding. But it does not do that when I am in Step record mode. In fact. the short cut shown when you start up is number 4 on the numpad. OK... I could try to use that... but that does not seem to do anything either. So... clearly Im an ignoramus and dont understand. I used to understand how to do this, to customize key board short cuts. but I can not get it to work ... or any short cuts for Step record. So could some kind soul please provide a few instructions. (what Id really like is to get some short cut for lengths 1/4, 1/2, 1/16 and whole notes... add a dotted length to a length already specified and assign something for advance and step backwards. but any hints for anything would be appreciated . thanks in advance Richard