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TMO Quick Tip - Stickies: New Notes from Selections

by , 7:30 AM EDT, May 5th, 2008

The Stickies application made its first appearance well before the introduction of Mac OS X, but that doesn't mean it has outlived its usefulness. In fact, it's still a handy tool for storing text you might want to reference later, and you can even create new notes from text selections with a quick keyboard shortcut.


Highlight the text you want to add to a note...

If you want to create a new note in Stickies from a text selection in another application, first highlight the text you want to include, and then type Command-Shift-Y. Stickies will launch automatically and create a new note with your text selection already in place.


...and use Command-Shift-Y to add it to Stickies.

I use this trick when I'm researching a topic on the Internet and want to keep track of information or make quick notes before I move on to a different topic. I can keep information snippets close at hand while I'm working, and delete the notes when I'm done.


Jeff Gamet is TMO's Morning Editor and Reviews Editor. He lectures, teaches and speaks on Mac OS X and design-related topics, and is the author of The Designer's Guide to Mac OS X from Peachpit Press.

if you have tips or tricks to share, or Mac-related questions you want answered.

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:RayScripts Posts: 1 Joined: 05 May 2008
Subject: Stickies and screenshots

Nice tip!

Courtesy of a co-worker, I learned that Stickies are also a great way to enhance screen shots for tutorials or a quick how-to guide for clients. Just create stickies over the document you are covering, position and format them, and then do a screen capture.

Ray

Close Name:Brutno Posts: 198 Joined: 28 Aug 2002
Subject: Leopard Only?

Can't get it to work in Tiger - is this Leopard only?

Close Name:algr Posts: 296 Joined: 07 Aug 2003
Subject:

I liked the OS 6 Notepad and Scrapbook better. Stickies is to chaotic and disorganized.

Close Name:Guest
Subject:

Works in Tiger too.

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