Top Ten OSX Shortcuts

If you're new to MAC (hell, even if you're not), you may not be aware of the bazillion shortcuts available to make your life just that much easier. Seems like everybody has their own "favourites" list, so without further ado, here's mine:

1. These are pretty obvious, but since I use them every day, I couldn't leave them off "the list".

cmd+A: Selects all text/images in a window.
cmd+C: Copies Info
cmd+X: Cuts Info
cmd+V: Pastes Info
cmd+P: Opens up a Print window

2. I am combining the following three shortcuts into one because they all relate to the same thing: managing windows.

cmd+N : Opens a new window.
cmd+W : Closes a window.
cmd+Q : Quits the application which you are currently in.

* These shortcuts also work in Firefox - including cmd+T which opens a new tab.

3. Again, obvious, but I just used it so thbpppt!

cmd+Z : Undoes the action you just performed. I call it the "Whoopsy! button".

4. Yes, I have mentioned these screen capture shortcuts in the "Intro to MAC" post, but they're so handy (and still a little bit secret) that they bear repeating:

cmd+shift+3: Takes a screenshot of your current screen and saves the image to your Desktop.

cmd+shift+4: Transforms the mouse cursor from an arrow into crosshairs. Click and drag the crosshairs over the area of the screen you want to capture. When you're done, just release the mouse button and Ta-da! The screenshot of the selection you specified will be saved to your Desktop.

cmd+Shift+4+spacebar: Turns your cursor into a camera (yes, a camera!), which lets you select the specific window you want to capture.

* Add the control (ctrl) key to any of the OSX screenshot keyboard shortcuts, and the screenshot is copied to the clipboard instead of being saved as a separate image file. This is mucho convenient for quick "pasting" into another application.

5. Want to quickly switch from one open application to another?

cmd+tab (+tab+tab...): Let's you quickly scroll through open applications. Just land on the one you want to switch to and let go!
+Q (while using cmd+tab): Let's you quit the selected program.

6. Need extra screen real estate?

cmd+option+D: Hides/Shows the dock.

7. Want to go to another webpage but you're too lazy to move your cursor to the top of the browser window, select the current url and delete it?

cmd+L: Selects the entire URL allowing you to easily type in your new destination.

* This works in Firefox, Safari and Internet Explorer.

8. Are you a former PC-user? Are you missing the "home" and "end" buttons?

cmd+←: In Word (and similar word processing applications), the cursor skips to the beginning of a line (same as PC "home" button).

cmd+→: In Word (and similar word processing applications), the cursor skips to the end of a line (same as PC "end" button).

* Similarly, the cmd key used with the up and down arrow keys allows you to skip up and down whole paragraphs.

9. Tired? Need a nap?

option+cmd+eject for 2 seconds: Instantly puts your computer to sleep.

10. To be honest, I'm not sure why you'd ever "need" this, but it might be fun to mess with someone when they step away from their computer(!)

ctrl+option+cmd+8: Inverts the screen colours.

I'm sure you've noticed that a lot of the OSX menus list the shortcut keys to certain functions, but I can never remember to which key the symbol relates. Here's a handy-dandy legend:

If you're looking for something specific or want a bigger list of OSX shortcuts, Apple has their very own list for your perusing enjoyment.