For Mac OS X, what are some useful keyboard commands?

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Although Mac OS X allows for the manipulation of files and applications using the mouse alone, a number of keyboard commands are available for navigating the Mac OS X GUI.

Key commands in the Finder

Below are some keyboard commands that may be helpful when working in the Mac OS X Finder:

Action	Keystrokes
Show in a Finder window the volumes (e.g., hard drives, removable disks, mounted disk images, and file servers) connected to the computer	`Command-Shift-c`
Show in a Finder window your personal `Home` folder	`Command-Shift-h`
Show in a Finder window the `Applications` folder	`Command-Shift-a`
Show or hide the Dock	`Command-Option-d`
On the desktop or in Icon, List, or Cover Flow mode, select items in alphabetical order	`Tab` ; press `Shift-Tab` to move backward, or use the arrow keys to move in a specific direction
Select specific item on the desktop or in a Finder window	Begin to type the item's name on the keyboard
Select (or deselect) all items on the desktop or in a Finder window	`Command-a`
Open a selected item	`Command-o`
Open a new Finder window	`Command-n`
Rename a selected item	Press `Return` and type the new name
Make a copy of a selected item	`Command-d`
Open a selected folder or application	`Command-o` or `Command`-down arrow
Eject a selected disk	`Command-e`
Make an alias of a selected item	`Command-l` (the letter l)
Put an alias of the selected items in your Favorites or Finder Toolbar	`Command-t`
Show original of a selected alias	`Command-r`
Make a new folder	`Command-Shift-n`
Trash selected item	`Command-Del`
Empty Trash	`Command-Shift-Del`
Close window	`Command-w` ; to close all open windows while in the Finder, press `Command-Option-w`
Hide the front application	`Command-h` ; you can also press `Option` and click the desktop with the mouse
Minimize the front window to the Dock	`Command-m`
Get information about a selected item	`Command-i`
Switch between open applications	`Command-Tab`
Take a picture of the screen	`Command-Shift-3` ; the picture will be stored on your hard drive.
Take a picture of a portion of the screen only	`Command-Shift-4` ; the cursor will change into a crosshair. Hold down the mouse button, drag the crosshair over the portion of the screen you wish to take a picture of, and then release the mouse button.
Cancel an action	`Command-.` (the period key)
Shut down the computer	Press the Power key, then `Return` ; for keyboards that don't have a Power key, press `Ctrl-Eject` and then `Return`
Restart the computer	Press the Power key, then `r` ; for keyboards that don't have a Power key, press `Ctrl-Eject` and then `r`
Put the computer to sleep	Press the Power key, then `s` ; for keyboards that don't have a Power key, press `Ctrl-Eject` and then `s`
Log out of your account	`Command-Shift-q`
Connect to a server	`Command-k`
Open the `Force Quit` window	`Command-Option-Esc`
Open the `Go To Folder` window or sheet	`Command-Shift-g`
Open a "Find" or Spotlight search window	`Command-f`
Open Mac Help	`Command-?`

Key commands for the Dock

Action	Keystrokes
Leave a running application's icon permanently in the Dock	`Ctrl`-click or click and hold the application's icon; then, from the contextual menu, choose `Keep In Dock`
Hide all but a given application	Press and hold `Command-Option` while clicking the application's icon
See a list of open windows for an application	`Ctrl`-click or click and hold the application's icon
Show Dock item in the Finder	`Command`-click the application's icon

Key commands in other applications

Key commands in applications other than the Finder differ, but the following are common to most (but not all) programs:

Action	Keystrokes
Create a new document	`Command-n`
Save the current document	`Command-s`
Print the current document	`Command-p`
Quit the application	`Command-q`
Select text	Press and hold the `Shift` key and then use the arrow keys to move over the text
Copy selected text or object	`Command-c`
Cut selected text or object	`Command-x`
Paste	`Command-v`
Undo last action	`Command-z`

For other keyboard commands, check the menus within the application and consult the documentation for the program you are using.

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Last modified on October 19, 2009.