Today’s Tech Tip is a list of what I find are some of the most helpful keyboard shortcuts to help save time. Most of these shortcuts rely on you pressing a combination of keys together, and most of the time you will be starting by pressing and holding the Command Key (or Cmd) ⌘ followed by another key, then letting both/all of them go together.
I’ll start with the really common ones, and then include a few of the less common but really useful ones that I use all the time.
Copy, Cut and Paste
- Command-C: Copy the selected item to the Clipboard. This also works for files in the Finder.
- Command-X: Cut the selected item and copy it to the Clipboard.
- Command-V: Paste the contents of the Clipboard into the current document or app. This also works for files in the Finder.
Select everything
- Command-A: Select All items. I often use this in combination with the Command C -> Command V to select everything in a document or website then copy it all and paste it somewhere else.
Undo – Redo
- Command-Z: Undo the previous command.
- Shift+Command-Z to Redo, reversing the undo command. In some programs, you can undo and redo multiple commands. If so, you can just hold down the Command or Shift+Command and repeatedly press the Z key.
Screenshots, Screen Snips and screen recording
- Shift+Command-3: Whole Screen screen-shot
- Shift+Command-4: Brings up a cursor allowing you to select a section of the screen to take a screen snip
- Shift+Command-5: Opens a tool bar allowing you to take a screen shot, screen snip or make a screen recording.
OK, they were the ones I use every day. Now for a few less common but equally useful ones.
- Command-Tab: Bring up a tab that you can use to select from the most commonly used programs. This is most helpful if you have your Apps maximized and so can’t see your Dock.
- Shift-Command-N: Create a new folder in Finder (super handy to teach students when you want them to organize their files )
- Control+Command-F: Maximize the program to full screen. If the program is already in full screen, using this shortcut will take it out of maximize mode.
- Control-Command-Q: Lock your screen. This is what I do at break time or the end of the day if I don’t want to fully shutdown my computer.
And finally a special shortcut for the Maths Dept, courtesy of Sarah.
- Option-K: This inserts the degrees symbol where ever your cursor is currently located. This saves you having to hunt through and find it buried in “Symbols” and add it manually. Thanks Sarah 🙂
That’s it for today’s Tech Tip. See you again next Tuesday.
Tech Coach Ken