88 Keyboard Shortcuts & Commands, Part II
November 15th, 2000

I have lots of great reader input and suggestions to share this week. The first letter is from Chris Gleeson of Ontario in response to last week's column. As part of that column I shared information on keyboard commands that can be used by those who prefer the keyboard to the mouse. Chris sent a whole, huge list of keyboard commands. He and I have done our best to properly source this list and I apologize if we skipped acknowledging anyone. In addition to the list, Chris recommended a Mac list that is devoted to 68K Macs. Chris writes:

Here is the list of key combinations I promised earlier. I got it from Jo Hissel, who is from the Netherlands. I think, based on his e-mail address, via Low End Mac's Quadlist e-mail list. That is one very useful and entertaining list for anyone using a 68k Mac, although the focus is on the 68040 series of Macs.

Actually, I would suggest that anyone who is using an older Mac check out the Low End Mac site for all sorts of useful info. Heck, that's where I got the link to Mac Observer in the first place! :-)

I don't know about anyone else, but I am going to print and post this list next to my computer. Thanks Chris.

The Magic of the Command Key

Check out the Magic Option Key to see option key combinations and other key commands

  • Command + A (when inside window, desktop, or document) = Select All
  • Command + C = Copy (what is selected or highlighted)
  • Command + D = Duplicated (folders and Files)
  • Command + E (selected disk) = Ejects
  • Command + F = Find File
  • Command + I (on selected files or folders) = Get Info
  • Command + K (in some control panels and installers) = User Mode or Configurations - Uninstall (installers)
  • Command + M (on selected folders or files) = Make Alias
  • Command + N = New
  • Command + O = Open
  • Command + P = Print
  • Command + Q = Quit
  • Command + S = Save
  • Command + V = Paste
  • Command + W = Close
  • Command + X = Cut
  • Command + Y (selected disk or selected recently moved files) = Put Away
  • Command + Z = Undo
  • Command + . = Cancel
  • Command + Option + E = Eject and Leave Behind
  • Command + Option + S = Saves All
  • Command + Option + P = Prints All
  • Command + Option + W = Closes All
  • Command + Option at Start up = rebuild the desktop
  • Command + Option + P + R at Start up = Zaps the PRAM
  • Command + Option + Shift + Delete at Start up = Forces start up drive to go off-line and start up off another drive with blessed system
  • Command + Shift + 3 = Screen Shot
  • Command + Shift + 4 = Selection cursor to select an area for a Screen Shot
  • Command + Caps Lock + Shift + 4 = Screen Shot of selected window
  • Command + Shift + Control 3 = Screen in Clipboard
  • Command + Shift + Control 4 = Selection cursor to select an area to dump in Clipboard
  • Command + Caps Lock + Control Shift + 4 = Shot of selected window into Clipboard
  • Command + at Start up = Disables Virtual Memory
  • Command + Option + E (selected disk) = Eject and leave behind
  • Command + Option + Escape = Force Quit
  • Command + Control + Startup Key = Soft Restart
  • Command + Option + Tab as inserting disk = Initialize Disk
  • Command + Shift + Clear = Number Pad Mouse Control
  • Command + Delete Key = Move to Trash
  • Command + Click + hold inactive window title bar = Moves Inactive Window
  • Command + up and down arrow keys in save dialog box = Go into and back in directories
  • Command + D in save dialog box = Desktop
  • Command + Tab Key = Rotates Applications
  • Command + Option + Power key = Force Sleep
  • Command + Option + Power key + Shift = Force Shutdown
  • Command + Click on Finder Window Title = Disk Backtracking
  • Command + Option + Memory Control Panel = Startup Memory Test Option
  • Command + Option + Control + Shift + Apple Menu = About MacOS Team
  • Command + Option + Mouse Drag = Create Alias where mouse button is released
  • Command + R with alias selected = Shows original
  • Command + Up Arrow = Opens parent folder
  • Command + R with alias selected = Shows original
  • Command + Up Arrow = Opens parent folder
  • Command + Down Arrow = Opens selected
  • Command + Right Arrow = Hierarchal view of selected folders in list view
  • Command + Left Arrow = Closes hierarchal view of selected folders in list view
  • Command + Shift + Q = Quits a running 'stay-open' script
  • Command + Mouse drag in window = Scrolls without going to side bars

The Magic of the Option Key

  • Option + double click on folder = closes the window the folder resides
  • Option + click on desktop or other application = hides the current application after switch
  • Option + click on the date = turns clock on and off
  • Option + about this Macintosh = about the finder
  • Option + empty trash = trashes locked items without asking
  • Option + window shade = window shade all open windows
  • Option + collapse window = collapses all windows
  • Option + save = saves all
  • Option + print = print all
  • Option + double click on connected user in file sharing monitor = send message
  • Option + dragging item to another directory or desktop = copy to new location
  • Option + resize window box = full screen view
  • Option + eject = eject and leave behind
  • Option + arrow keys + desktop picture control panel = Moves desktop picture
  • Option + Command + Escape = Force Quit
  • Option + Command at Start up = Rebuilds Desktop
  • Option + Command + P + R at Start up = Zaps the PRAM
  • Option + Command + Shift + Delete at Start up = Forces start up drive to go off-line and start up off another drive with blessed system
  • Option + Command + Tab as inserting disk = Initializing Disk
  • Option + Command + Power = Force Sleep
  • Option + Command + Power + Shift = Force Shutdown
  • Option + Command + Memory Control Panel = Startup Memory Test Option
  • Option + Command + Control + Shift + Apple Menu = About MacOS Team
  • Option + space bar = non breaking words (when typing)
  • Option + Command + Control + Mouse Drag = Create Alias where mouse button is released

Other Key Commands

  • Space Bar at Start up = Loads Extensions Manager before starting extensions across your screen
  • Shift at Start up = Extensions Off
  • Tab Key in save dialog box = switches disks to save onto
  • Shift Key five times = enables Easy Access Control Panel
  • Mouse Button at start up = Ejects floppy with system before system load starts (older systems, obviously)

Thanks again to Chris for his help, and I hope you find this list as useful as I have.

If you have any tips, suggestions, or other comments about this, or any other Mac topics, send them to me so that I can share them with other readers.