MacinSpot

Keyboard shortcuts are the greatest thing since Segways…ok maybe Segways aren’t so great, but keyboard shortcuts are! You don’t have to take your hands off of the keyboard to cut, copy, and paste. For people like myself, I like to use the mouse as little as possible only because keyboard shortcuts save you time once learned and used correctly. To figure out a keyboard shortcut all you have to do is click on a menu to find the option you are looking for. Example:

Click on the edit menu. Almost every program has an edit menu and if you are viewing this web page then you are probably on a computer using a web browser. The edit menu can be found right next to the file menu in most cases. Click on the edit menu and you will see cut, copy, and paste. To the right of those options, you will see the keyboard combination that is used to execute those commands without having to use the mouse. The edit menu will look alot like this, though this is a screen shot from the Finder’s edit menu:

Now in the bottom left corner of your Mac keyboard you will find a group of keys. This group of keys when held down and used with other keys will execute commands such as copy or paste. The keys look like this:

In the bottom right hand corner of the image you will find a key with an Apple logo and a squiggly square. This is called the command key. To the left of that is the option/alt key which it says on the key itself. To the left of that is the control key marked with “ctrl”. To the left of the control key is the function key with fn displayed on the key. Shift can sometimes be used with these keys to add to functionality. For instance, saving a document is, most of the time, command+s. The save as option is shift+command+s. Copy as noted in the edit menu above is command+c. So highlight some text and then hit the command button, hold it down and tap(hit and release as if you were typing a letter) the c button, then let go of the command button. Whatever you highlighted has now been copied. To paste whatever you highlighted, place your cursor where you want the copied item to be(assuming you highlighted text) and hit and hold command, then tap the letter v on your keyboard.

Most menu items have keyboard shortcuts associated with them. Look around on your computer and find options you use the most. Learn the keyboard shortcuts and you will increase your productivity. Below is another menu picture which is from Safari. Note the upward facing arrows next to some of the commands such as “save as”. This is telling you that the shift key must be used with the command and s button to execute the command.

I would be willing to bet that by now you have discovered tabbed browsing which is an awesome feature. Towards the top of the Safari file menu you will find the option to open a new tab and the key command associated with it on the right hand side of the menu is command+t. I am sure you will use that alot if you get used to it.

One last thing, look at the picture below:

See the option to create a new smart folder in this menu. Look at the key combination associated with this. The weird key you see next to the command+n is the icon for the option key. When you see this, you can simply hold down the option and command keys together and then hit the button n. This will create a new smart folder. If you want to know more about smart folders, read my article, Creating Smart Folders.

One last tidbit before parting with you. If you ever want to take a screen shot you can use the shift+command+3 buttons and this will capture your screen in an image and save this image to your desktop. If you would rather just capture an image of a certain area on the screen, use shift+command+4 button and this will give you a cross-hair. Click and hold down on the mouse button and then drag your cursor until everything you want to capture is within the box. Play with it for a few minutes and you will get the idea. To delete something in Finder, such as the screen shots that are saved to your desktop, click the screen shot, or file, and use the command+delete keys and this will send your file to the trash. Alternatively you can use the mouse and drag the files to the trash, but remember, using the keyboard will help increase productivity.

I hope this helps you further the enjoyment of your Mac and I look forward to posting more articles!