Mac Tips: The Ultimate Shortcuts Guide (Mac OS 9)

These tips are courtesy of Silent Way Media Asset Management in San Francisco. NOTE: These tips are valid but old. Check out the more recent Mac OS Tips in the Silent Way Forum...

Over 60 major shortcuts, keyboard commands and tricks! Print this out- you'll save time and work more intuitively. These shortcuts are for MacOS 9 and earlier unless noted.

For Mac OS X, see this Apple list of OS X shortcuts. For Intel Macs, see this list. (In particular, Command-N opens a new OS X finder window, which created a new folder in OS 9.)

Working in the Finder and Applications

Changing keyboard layouts

Key Nicknames
	Power key
	Command, (rarer, incorrect: "Apple Key")
	Option, Alt
	Shift
	Control, Cntrl
	Tab
	Escape
	Delete, Del, Backspace
	Return, Ret
	Spacebar

PC-Mac Keyboard Equivalents If you are switching to Mac from a PC, most keyboard shortcuts are the same. Just remember these two modifier-key differences:
PC	Mac
	(aka "Command" or "Apple")
Alt
And yes, there is a right-click: just hold down the Mac's key and click on just about anything. In fact, few knowledgeable Mac users still use the single-button mouse that comes with the Mac. Most multiple-button mice work fine with Macs and PCs. Read more, depending on the Mac OS version: OS 9 or OS X.

Mouse Button Combinations If you have a mouse with more than one button, I suggest programming them to perform these functions:
First button	click
Second button	-click (see more about this)
Third button	-click
Fourth Button	(usually combined with others)
This way, you can make any combination. For example, to option-command-click, hold down the fourth button and click with the third button. Also see my recommendations on which multiple-button mouse to buy.

Startup shortcuts There are three stages of startup: (1) boot/selftest, (2) extension loading, and (3) Finder launch. Various events can be triggered at each stage. Note: A few third-party extensions, such as Conflict Catcher, RAM doubler and MacsBug have their own key combinations. If you use these extensions, only use these commands during the appropriate stage of startup, or a key combination might cause two different functions. To invoke these functions, hold down these keys during the listed stage of startup:
+	Rebuilds the Desktop file. (Use at Finder launch or when removable media is inserted)
	Turns off extensions in the Extensions folder. (If you wait until after all extensions load, but before the Finder launches, this will stop the launch of items in the "Startup Folder."
+ + +	Resets most Control Panel settings stored in Parameter RAM. Useful when this data becomes corrupted. Invoke before boot, and let the Mac restart/chime a few times before letting go. (AKA "Zapping the PRAM")
	Turns off Virtual Memory until next restart.
	Starts up the computer from a CD. (But for older Macs, see below)
+ + +	Bypasses the startup disk when starting up. Will try to boot from other drives in a predetermined order. (This will let you boot from a CD on Older Macs and some clones)
+ + + + SCSI ID number	Bypasses the startup disk when starting up, and boots from specified SCSI ID.
	Makes new Powerbooks (bronze keyboard, FireWire) boot from internal drive.
Hold down the "T" key	Forces a recent G4 or FireWire PowerBook to start up in FireWire Target Disk Mode, which enables this "Target Mac" to act as a FireWire-accessible hard disk. With the "Host Mac" running, connect to the Target Mac with a 6-pin FireWire cable. Boot the Target Mac while holding down its "T" key, then let go when the FireWire icon appears. The Target Mac's hard drive will show up on the desktop of the Host Mac. To kill this mode, drag the icon to the trash and shut down the Target Mac. Read more here.
Hold down mouse button	Ejects any removable media except CD. (Floppy, Zip, Syquest, etc)
	Brings up the Extensions Manager before Extensions load.
	Before the long startup process, brings up the Location Manager. A "Location" is a global configuration set of many settings: the extensions set, control panel settings, etc. (Programmers who use the MacsBug debugger should change this to a different key)
	(at boot) Brings up the Startup Manager on the new G4-era Macs. In OS X, will produce a volume list, allowing a choice of systems to start from. This is a hardware-based feature, and may not be available on all systems.
	If held down before the Finder launches, will close any open windows. (May disable certain older extensions if held during boot)
Hold down mouse button	Bypass RAM integrity checks during startup. See "Hidden Functions" to set this permanently. These checks can take a long time during Startup on Macs with a lot of RAM. (Although I measured zero difference on my G4/400 with 320 megs RAM.)
+ + +	Holding for 5-10 seconds before powering up resets the power manager on PowerBook 500, 520, 540, 540c. Use if battery will not recharge after trying the Intelligent Battery Updater. For other PowerBook and iBook models and the full details, see this Apple article.
+ Fn (function) + +	Resets the power manager on G3 PowerBooks (M4753 model). For other PowerBook and iBook models and the full details, see this Apple article.
+ V	(OS X only, at boot) Puts system into "verbose" mode, showing the status of the system as all of the drivers and packages load.
+ S	(OS X only, at boot) Puts system into "single-user" mode, launching right into a terminal shell. This should only be used in extreme troubleshooting situations and only if you’re comfortable with shell-level command-line system administration.
For more technical details on the Mac Startup Sequence process, see this Apple article.

Working in the Finder and Applications These work on files and folders in the Finder, dialog boxes, and in some applications.
+ Click an icon	Brings up the Contextual Menu (Sys 8 and later). This menu has tons of options, much like the "right click" in Windows. For more on this, see "Control-Click: Your Secret Weapon."
+ Drag icon	Makes a duplicate copy of the file. Option-Drag to a new folder to copy to a new folder.
+ + Drag icon	Creates an alias of the icon. (Sys 8 and later)
+ Drag icon	Creates an alias of the icon. (Certain versions of Sys 7)
Letter keys	Selects the file whose name begins with the letters typed.
or or or	Selects the icon above, below, to the left, or to the right of the selected icon.
	Selects the next icon alphabetically, or advances through text entry fields in an application.
+ Click icons or + Click icons	Selects all of the icons clicked, or a range of items in a list. (OS X: These shortcuts are reversed.)
Drag across icons	Selects all icons in the group.
+ Double-click icon	Opens the icon and closes its window.
	Highlights the name of the selected icon, for editing.
+ click in empty space of window	Cursor become a "hand," for quick window scrolling.
+ Drag icon	Cleans up the icon.
+	Moves selected icons straight to the Trash.
+	In a list view, expands the contents of the selected folder(s). (To expand all folders, select all first.)
+	In a list view, collapses the contents of the selected folder(s).
+ + or + Click on closed folder's triangle	In a list view, expands the contents of the selected folder(s) AND all sub-folders.
+ + or + Click on open folder's triangle	In a list view, collapses the contents of the selected folder(s) AND all sub-folders.
+	Cycles through all currently running applications.
+ Click close box or + + + W	Closes all Finder windows and docked window tabs.
+ Click collapse box	Collapses all disk and folder windows.
+ A	Selects all items or text in the current window.
+ W	Closes an open window, or collapses a pop-up window to its Tab state at the bottom of the screen.
+ Click zoom box in window's bar	Zooms a window to the full size of the screen.
+ Switch programs	Hides the windows of the previous program.
+ Drag window	Moves a window without making it active.
+ click on the title of the window	Displays a pop-up list, showing the path of folders from the Desktop to the current folder.
+ select window in Window Menu	Closes selected window. (The Window Menu is available in the Finder under OS 9.2 or later)
+ + select window in Window Menu	Puts away selected pop-up window, or closes regular window. (OS 9.2 or later)
+ + select window in Window Menu	Expands selection and closes all other windows. (OS 9.2 or later)
+ select window in Window Menu	Expands selection and minimizes all other windows. (OS 9.2 or later)
+ + select window in Window Menu	Makes selection active and expands all open widows. (OS 9.2 or later)
+ Drag icon	Hold down the space bar while dragging an icon in the Finder, to bypass the delay before the destination folder "springs" open. "Spring-loaded Folders" should be enabled in Edit --> Preferences --> General. Dragging an icon over a folder and holding it there for a moment causes the folder to "spring open".
Drag window to bottom edge of screen	"Docks" a window at the bottom of the screen, shrinking it to a tab, which is easily reopened with one click.
	Cycles through data entry fields, table fields or window elements.
Shift +	Cycles backwards through data entry fields, table fields or window elements.

Saving files These shortcuts work in "Save" dialog boxes.
Letter keys	Selects an item in the active list whose name begins with the letters typed.
or	Selects the item above or below the selected item.
	Cycles active selection among window elements.
+	Moves up one level in the file hierarchy.
+	Moves up to the Desktop level.
+	Creates a new folder.
+ Open alias	Shows the original of the alias (rather than opening it).

Dealing with freezes
(aka the power key)	Turns your computer on and off. Your work should be saved before the computer shuts down.
+	Cancels an operation in progress.
+ +	Forces a program to quit. Unsaved work will be lost.
+ + +	Restarts or shuts down the computer (on some models). Unsaved work will be lost.
+ +	Forces the computer to restart when the pointer is frozen (on some models). Unsaved work will be lost.
+ + +	Forces the computer to shut down. Unsaved work will be lost.
+	If MacsBug is installed, brings up a debugger window. Try typing "G Finder" or "G" and hit return.

Hidden functions
+ + open Memory control panel	This adds an extra option to the Memory control panel to disable the "Startup Memory Tests." These RAM integrity checks can take a long time during Startup on Macs with a LOT of RAM. (Although I measured no significant difference on my G4/400 with 320 megs RAM.)
+ open "about this computer" in Apple menu	Changes menu item to "About the Finder" and will show neato hidden picture. There are many "Easter Eggs" like this in Mac programs, but few are useful, so I'm not listing them here. Try Google.

Taking pictures of the screen
+ +	Creates a picture file of the entire screen.
+ +	Creates a picture file of a rectangular selection of the screen. (After pressing and releasing the key combination, drag across the part of the screen you want to take a picture of.)
+ + +	Creates a picture file of a window. (After pressing and releasing the key combination, click the window you want to take a picture of.) Note: To copy a rectangle or window to the Clipboard instead of saving it as a file, press the Control key as you select the part of the screen you want.

Changing keyboard layouts and scripts
+ +	Rotates through keyboard layouts. Go to the Keyboard control panel "options" to turn this on. (Also rotates input methods within a script.)
These seem to require that Worldscript is active:
+	Switches to default keyboard layout. (Also rotates through enabled WorldScript script systems when in an active script.)
+	Changes the keyboard layout to the current layout of Roman script.
+	Changes the keyboard layout to the current layout of the system script.

Sources: Various Apple Help Guides, TidBITS, much trial-and-error.

Having trouble printing this? Here's few settings to check in your system: (Internet Explorer is my example browser, similar settings exist for Netscape)

Check the preferences under "Web Content" and try toggling "Page Specify Colors" and "Show Style Sheets" (I usually leave these on). When printing, make sure that the "print background" option is turned off in the print dialog box (in the pop-up menu, select "internet explorer" to change these options). And if all else fails, copy-and-paste the whole thing into a word processing or page-layout app. Or, if you have an HTML editor, select your browser's "View Source" mode and copy the code into your HTML editor.