April 20, 2007, Newsletter Issue #135: Using Keyboard Commands

Tip of the Week

Before I list them, here are the modifier keys I´ll use in this tip, and in all future tips referring to keyboard commands:

CMD- Hold down the Command Key while you press another key
OPT- Hold down the Option Key while you press another key
SHIFT- Hold down the Shift Key while you press another key
CTRL- Hold down the Control Key while you press another key

(And by the way ... the Command Key is the one with the little cloverleaf and/or an apple on it ... depending on your keyboard.)

If you want to use this shortcut

Open something CMD-o
Save something CMD-s
Copy to the clipboard CMD-c (after selecting)
Paste from the clipboard CMD-v (after placing your cursor)
Cut to the clipboard CMD-x (after selecting)
Select All CMD-a
Close a window CMD-w

Pretty simple. As you can see, many keyboard commands are mnemonic (o for open, c for copy, s for save) which makes them easy to remember. Long ago, when I first discovered cut-and-paste, I had trouble remembering the "v" for paste. V? Why V? It took me a minute, but ... sure! When you want to insert something into a sentence you´ve written on paper, you make that little "v" shape (an inverted caret) to show where to stick the words in!

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