The Mac Observer

Skip navigational links

TMO Quick Tip - iCal: Quick Keyboard Shortcuts

by , 7:30 AM EDT, August 4th, 2008

Apple's iCal is a fairly easy calendar application to use, but that doesn't mean everything about it is elegant. In fact, Leopard's iCal feels a bit more clunky to me, which is why I've begun to rely on a few keyboard shortcuts to help make my life a little bit easier.

Jump to Today I'm moving forward and backwards through my schedule all the time, but in the end I always want to get back to today. Command-T always jumps to the current day.

Jump to a Specific Date Instead of using iCal's forward and backward buttons to jump to a specific date, use the Command-Shift-T keyboard shortcut instead. You can tell iCal exactly what date you want to view.


Command-Shift-T opens the Go to date dialog

Open the Event Editor Apple really dropped the efficiency ball when it comes to editing events by killing off the info drawer in favor of the pop-up event pane. Instead of Double-clicking and event, and then clicking the Edit button, just select the event you want to edit and type Command-E.


Command-E opens Edit view

There are plenty of other keyboard shortcuts hidden away in iCal. If you have a favorite, share it in the article comments.


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.

Jeff Gamet is TMO's Managing 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.

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:Guest
Subject: Event editing - you said it! Tell Apple, folks!

You said it almost exactly how I've been saying it when you said: "Apple really dropped the efficiency ball when it comes to editing events by killing off the info drawer in favor of the pop-up event pane."

It's inconvenient many times over: size of edit area, text jumping, more....

I have used Apple's Feedback and hope others will join me in asking for the return of a better way.

<http://www.apple.com/feedback/ical.html>

Thanks Jeff.

-Deb Shadovitz, author of the original Mac Efficiency 101 and more. Fan of TMO.

Close Name:CHwk Posts: 4 Joined: 26 Jul 2004
Subject: Keyboard shortcut to close edit window???

Have I missed a keyboard shortcut to close the edit window so you do not have to click "done"?

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Shortcut to close the edit window... just hit ESC

Shortcut to close the edit window... just hit ESC

This will save your changes, and close the edit window...

Comment on this Article


You cannot edit your comments.   You cannot delete your comments.

Comments are currently closed. Please email the author instead.


Recent Headlines - Updated July 5th

Fri, 10:29 AM
News - Apple Warns of Learning Interchange Security Breach
7:30 AM
News - Happy Fourth of July!
Thu, 6:07 PM
TMO Scoop - Psystar Moves to Drop Bankruptcy Ahead of Apple Legal Battle
5:37 PM
News - Uncomfirmed Reports Say Apple & Nvidia On The Outs
4:57 PM
News - Microsoft Sick Over Barf Ad
4:09 PM
Product News - KRK Ships R6 Passive Studio Monitor for Recording
3:45 PM
John Martellaro's Blog - Particle Debris (week ending 7/2)  Juiced, Joost and Goosed
3:12 PM
Product News - ExactScan 2 Pro Released
1:56 PM
Deal Brothers - Apple TV with 160GB Hard Drive:  $324.00 Delivered
12:46 PM
TMO Appearances - TMO Appearances Jeff Gamet Shares iPhone Apps on MacJury
10:41 AM
Product News - Art Text 2.2 Adds New Templates, Layer Options [Updated]
10:04 AM
Hot Forum Topic - Deciphering Mac Sales

The Mac Observer Reader Specials

  • __________
  • Buy Stuff, Support TMO!
  • Podcast: Mac Geek Gab
  • Podcast: Apple Weekly Report
  • TMO on Twitter!