Shortcut mashup

We covered how to use the Cmd + Q (quit application) and Cmd + W (Close application window) in the previous post, and I’ve also talked about how to replicate the familiar windows keyboard shortcut (Control + Tab) to cycle through applications here.

You can actually quit applications directly from the application switcher without leaving the application switcher to go to the actual application.

While the application switcher is in the foreground, choose the application you want to quit, keep holding the CMD button and press Q at the same time. This quits the selected application immediately without having to jump over to the application!

Keyboard ninja

one of the hardest things to do when windows switchers hop over to mac is to wean themselves of the CTRL key. as a windows user, everything is done as an extension of the control key - control + tab, control+a, control+c etc to name a few. thankfully the mac version is not too far off from the windows keyboard controls.

just replace CTRL with COMMAND (located next to the space bar) and you pretty much have your mac alternative already.

Here’s the list of my most frequently used keyboard shortcuts and also the entry where I make poetry out of my love for keyboard shortcuts.

One thing to note though - there is no cut function (command + x in all applications except the finder) in the Finder (which is the mac equivalent of the windows explorer where you can locate your files, manage your files etc.).

The way around it if you want to transfer your files from one Finder location to the other is to hold down the command key while dragging your files. This effectively tells the Finder to move the files instead of just copying them from one location to the other.

Right Click

A couple of Mac basics for Windows switchers (since most people I know gatecrashing the Mac party are actually Windows users) -

One of the most frequently asked questions -

Where is the right click key on the trackpad?

Out of the box, your first experience with trying to find the right click key will be one of frustration, because the trackpad is just a smooth silver slab. fear not.

There’re a couple of ways to achieve the right click effect. The first, without needing any customization or digging through preferences, will be to hold the CONTROL button while clicking anywhere on the trackpad.

The second, is to go to system preferences (here’s a chance to practice some good spotlight skills - hit command + space to call up the spotlight and type in system preferences) and go to the trackpad option on the second row.There’re a couple of options you can play with there, but to enable right click like you would on a normal mouse/ trackpad, check “secondary click” and choose the option bottom right hand corner. 

forward delete

fn + delete = proper forward delete instead of having to backspace.

one of the most useful keyboard shortcuts you will need no matter what you are doing.

Turn Off Your Mac’s Display

minimalmac:

onethingwell:

⇧ + ctrl + ⏏

I was trying to remember this the other day for a friend who is a new Mac owner. Could not do it for the life of me. Thanks.