News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

July 16, 2008

tips

Keyboard Shortcut Hot-Key Combos you may not know

Posted Jul. 16, ’08, 7:18 PM PT by Dan Pourhadi
Category | Tips

oldKeyboard.jpgOn slow Mac news days such as this (thanks a lot, iPhone), we of the Mac blogosphere are forced to be inventive with post topics, coming up with our own ideas to fill the gaps. Unfortunately, I’m no good at that, so I just compile lists of things hoping at least a few of the items make the post worth reading.

Today’s list: Under-used Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts.

Finder

  • Command-Delete - Send a file from the Finder to the Trash.

  • Command-Shift-Delete - Empty the Trash.

  • Command-O - Open file. (You’d be surprised how many people don’t know that; many former-Windows users think to just hit Enter.)

  • Command-Z - Undo the last Finder action, just as you would undo something in Microsoft Word.

  • Command-E - Eject a disk or disk image (alternative to dragging it to the Trash).

Screenshots - No, it’s not as simple as hitting PrntScrn

  • Shift-Command-3 - Take a screenshot of the entire screen, which is placed on the desktop.

  • Shift-Command-4 - Take a screenshot of a selected area of your screen, using the cursor to drag and select that area, which is placed on the desktop.

  • Shift-Command-4, Spacebar - Take a screenshot of a specific window (click on the window after hitting the combo), which is placed on the desktop.

  • Add Control to any of the above - This will put the screenshot in the clipboard, which you can then paste anywhere (Preview, a text document, etc.), instead of placing it on the desktop.

Text

  • Command-Left Arrow/Command Right-Arrow - Go to the beginning/end of the line.

  • Option-Left Arrow/Option Right-Arrrow - Go to the beginning/end of the current or previous/next word. (This is incredibly useful, especially if you notice a typo a few words back and don’t want to have to move your mouse to get to it.)

  • Shift-Option-Left Arrow/Shift-Option-Right arrow - Select the previous/next words, instead of just moving your cursor.

  • Option-Delete - Delete the entire word left of the cursor. (Another helpful tool for quickly deleting a lot of text without having to select it first.)

  • Command-Option-DCommand-Control-D - Look up the word under your cursor in the Dictionary. (Just move your cursor over a word—no need to click it—in almost any app and hit Command-Control-D; a little dialog will pop-up with the word’s definition.)

Dock

  • Command-Click - Show the item’s location in the Finder.

  • Option-Click and Hold - Option to Force Quit a running app.

  • Shift-Option-Click - Hide the app.

Also be sure to check out Apple’s keyboard shortcut page for a much longer list of useful combos.

I post these because, as any Mac power-user will tell you, taking advantage of keyboard shortcuts is an unquestionable boon to productivity and efficiency. Performing tasks without having to move your hand up off the keyboard and onto the mouse—then moving the cursor where you need it to be, and having to click, click, click—will make them seem more natural, and way less of a hassle. You’ll perform them without even having to think about how; they’ll just flow.

So give it a try, mkay?

Cool.

[Update: Fixed the dictionary shortcut typo; my bad! Thanks everyone for pointing it out.]


9 Comments

Kashchei Author Profile Page said:

I know that command-tab allows you to move between open apps; I also know that holding down these two buttons shows the app icons and alternates between them. What I don't know is how to freeze these icons and move slowly between them, something I've seen done. Can anyone help?

July 16, 2008 8:02 PM
f SYSTEMS said:

Kashchei, continue to hold the command key down after depressing tab (this will hold the icons on screen). While still holding command, each time you press tab you will switch to the next app. Or use the mouse to select which ever icon you wish while continuing to hold command.

July 16, 2008 9:12 PM
Preshit Author Profile Page said:

To look up a word in the dictionary almost instantaneously, the shortcut is
Command + Control + D

Holding option instead of control auto-hides the dock.


July 16, 2008 10:00 PM
Don Sebo said:

You can quit Apps while switching through them with Command+Tab. Just hold command, switch to the app you want to quit but keep holding command, then press Q and the icon disappears. Very helpful to quit a lot of apps very quickly.

July 17, 2008 12:46 AM
Anonymous said:

Holding down Command + Tab will keep the icon list of the open apps showing. Then you can use the arrow keys to scroll through the list, or use the mouse to quickly select the app you want.

July 17, 2008 4:09 AM
MTurner said:

Kashchei,

If I understand your question correctly, holding down Command+Tab will alternate between open apps at near the speed of light. To gracefully alternate between open apps, Hit Command+Tab Once, then while still keeping your finger locked on the Command key, let go of the Tab key. Now you will see the list of all open apps in 1 row. Now by hitting the Tab key once, still holding down the Command key, you will be able to Slowly alternate between open apps.

July 17, 2008 6:41 AM
Link33 said:

Text:
In a one line field (Save As..., URL lines etc.) hitting the up arrow goes to the front of the text and the down arrow goes to the end of the text.
Just being a dork but I miss it whenever I sit at a Windows machine and watch the insertion point go backwards or forwards just one character.
Cheers

July 17, 2008 7:16 AM
Dave-O said:

Command-~ to move backwards through the app list (after you hit command-tab, of course).

July 17, 2008 2:07 PM
Don Morris Author Profile Page said:

I never remember command-control-D for Dictionary, so I use the Keyboard and Mouse pref pane to change the shortcut to F1.

July 18, 2008 8:42 AM

Leave a comment

 



Visit other IDG sites: