Derek and Melissa’s Family

My Top-10 Mac Tips

by Derek—2006.06.27 @ 0818

Tips, tips, tips. I figure it is high-time I share my own list of top tips that I use that streamline what I do on the Mac. Looking at my own productivity methods, I must note that a lot of my tips revolve around using keyboard shortcuts. I’m a huge fan of speeding up my work by keeping my hands on the “home row.” If I do a repetitive action with the mouse over-and-over, within a few minutes you’ll find me digging through menus or documentation trying to find a shortcut to save “mousing.”

A lot of keyboard shortcuts are buried inside menus. Most people know that to print a document you type ⌘ (Command) + p. Other time-saving key combinations are hidden in help documentation or manuals. When you look at the menus, the following symbols are often used:

• ⌘ = Command or Apple Key
• ⌥ = Option Key
• ⇧ = Shift Key
• ⌃ = Control Key

Example: ⌥ ⌘ K = Hold down the Option, Apple, and ‘k’ keys together.

“Whatever you can do with the mouse, there is probably a faster way with the keyboard.”

Top-10 Mac Tips

I’m going to throw in a few more for good measure. Just because. Don’t complain. Enjoy.

13. Close all Finder Windows.

⌥ ⌘ W — This is just faster than trying to hit the red bubble on every window you want to close. Other applications support this tip too. See Tip #1.

12. Jump to the Desktop

⌘ D — When I’m saving files I’m workin on temporarily, I often want to save them in a temporary place. The Desktop is great for this in part because it stays in front of my eyes all day. I hate to have a cluttered desktop, so it reminds me to move it off soon. Using this shortcut in a save dialog box jumps you immediately to the desktop without moving for the mouse.

11. Folder Organization

I’m a big fan of order and organization. A place for everything and everything in its place. This follows after “#12 Jump to the Desktop” because I need to move these temporary files into their permanent home once it is created. Folders and sub-folders with descriptive names.

10. Finder Labels

Right after “#11 Folder Organization” is using the Finder’s labeling system. Labels highlight files and folders making them jump out. You can give labels unique names that fit your preference. When the Finder is selected, go to the preferences to modify ( ⌘ , ).

9. Fast User-Switching

Being productive often means having a project spread out all over the table. On the computer, that often means having several programs open at the same time. When other people need to use the computer, I can’t afford to close everything I’m doing. Thankfully with multiple users on the Mac, I can switch to another account while leaving all of my documents open.

8. Send to Trash

⌘ DELETE — In any Finder window, including the Desktop, you can easily send files into the Trash with this simple keyboard shortcut. I’ll admit that I giggle inside when I see someone drag a file into the trash by playing target practice with the Dock.

⌘ E — Eject a disk. I’m going to sneak this one in too. As much as I hate dragging files to the trash (how slow is that!), I refuse to drag a CD to the Trash to eject it. Forget the fact that dragging something to the trash is akin to ejecting a file. Eh, what?

7. Spring-Loaded Folders

Click-and-drag a file over a folder for a second (the time can be adjusted in the Finder preferences) and the folder will open up. You can continue this motion to put a file inside folder after folder.

6. Customizable Finder

The new Finder allows you to customize the window in several ways, making it work best for you. Depending on where my mouse is, it makes quick access to common tasks.

You can drag files or folders into the left-most column to create an Alias that creates a one-click shortcut to that resource. I often drag a folder in this way for projects I’m working on.

5. Switch Between Open Applications/Windows

⌘ TAB — Brings up icons of all the currently open applications. Hitting TAB again will cycle through these icons, and letting go will bring the application selected to the front.

4. Keyboard Screen Capture

⇧ ⌘ 3 — Take a full-screen screenshot. The file is saved to the desktop.

⇧ ⌘ 4 — Gives you cross-hairs to drag your own screenshot. A file will be saved to the Desktop.

Handy modifiers:

• ⌃ — Add this key to save the screenshot to the Clipboard. The file can then be pasted into almost any application: iChat, Photoshop, TextEdit.
• SPACEBAR — After the cross-hairs appear, hit this key to change the cross-hairs into a camera. This will highlight any open window you hover over. Click and the window is captured. Very handy.

3. Drag-and-Drop

This should go without saying, but it is one of the best things about the Macintosh platform in my opinion. Dragging files, pictures—you name it and you can probably do it.

• Chatting with someone in iChat and want to send them a file? Drag the file into the current chat window or onto their name in the Buddies list and the file is sent.
• Want to send a URL in an email? Click on any link and drag it to your open Mail message.

There are so many other ways this amazingly simple concept makes life easier.

2. Emacs Key Bindings

This is probably one of my most-used tips. Emacs is a text editor that has all kinds of keyboard controls to move your cursor position without using the arrow keys or mouse. You can use the arrow keys, of course, but that still involves moving your hands from the home row. Although OS X doesn’t support all Emacs key bindings, the simple directional modifiers are always handy:

Move the cursor…

• ⌃ P — UP
• ⌃ N — DOWN
• ⌃ B — LEFT
• ⌃ F — RIGHT
• ⌃ E — JUMP TO END OF LINE
• ⌃ A — JUMP TO BEGINNING OF LINE

It may take a bit getting used to, but once learned, it saves a ton of time moving the cursor around.

1. Universal (mostly) Keyboard Shortcuts

This isn’t a hard-fast rule, but for the most part, keyboard shortcuts work the same in most applications. You can also bet that the modifier keys ( ⌃ CONTROL, ⌥ OPTION, and ⇧ SHIFT) may give you a few more options.

0. Hide an Application

⌘ H — This is the best thing invented and I love how it works. Too bad it doesn’t yet work on every Mac application. Typing this keyboard combo will hide the current application. It’s not gone, just use Tip #5 to get it back, or go mousing for it in the Dock.

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