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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Keyboard short cut to open programs

jverschu - Apr 24, 2007 - 3:58 pm

Hello MacOSX support member,

Is there a way to start up any program from a Mac OSX system without using the mouse. I am used to using my old Windows system that way and am stumping people in a Mac store with this question. How can I sit back and just click on the keyboad to open any program from the dock without having to click on it with the mouse.
Thanks beforehand
Jan

vinko - Apr 24, 2007 - 11:32 pm

Dear Jan,

My name is Vinko and I will attempt to assist you.

To open selected application all you have to do is press Command + "O" in Finder.

For the Dock you just have to press Control + F3 to navigate to the Dock, click on the arrows keys to move up and down. When you are on top of the application you desire to open, just press Return.

Please note that all these are in "Mac Help" reachable from the "Help" menu in Finder. Search for "Full keyboard navigation keyboard shortcuts".

Alternatively, you may want to give the great 3rd party utility "QuickSilver" a try. For someone who is used to using the keyboard, you will really like QuickSilver.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

-- Vinko

Thank you for using MacOSX.Com's free Mac support.

jverschu - May 3, 2007 - 9:44 pm

Hello Vinko,
Sorry for the slow response which forced me to reopen the ticket. I am a windows 98 user and my girlfriend has a G4 laptop with OSX Tiger. I am seriously considering for a long time to switch to a Mac. BUT I see her OSX not being very keyboard friendly at all which surprised me greatly. Thank you for you Command O command which resembles opening Windows Explorer. The CTRL F3 command to access the dock however did not do anything. Would that be due to certain other settings on her laptop? I also noticed that the Mac keyboard does not have the "right click" key which a Windows keyboard has. Great for working in Excel. Is there a way to "right click" from the keyboard in OSX at all? The keyboard use and the avoidance of the mouse determines greatly the productivity on a computer. I read an article of a switcher who switched BACK to windows for that reason alone. I am extremely oriented on the keyboard so I am critically looking at OSX for that specific utilization. A visit to an Apple store, like you, referred me to QuickSilver. BUT.... what is this? What I can do on an eleven year old Windows 98 box: I have to install software to get the "world´s most advanced operating system" in 2007 to do the same??
Thanks in advance,
Jan

DeltaMac - May 3, 2007 - 10:27 pm

Access the Dock from your PowerBook keyboard by pressing fn-ctrl-f3

Seems there is a variety of opinions about the relative efficiency of keyboard access compared to mouse clicks/gestures. Some users live by their keyboard, others (like me!) are annoyed by the use of the keyboard, other than for data entry.

Mac users recommend Quicksilver because it is a useful, quality product, providing you with extra functionality that not every Mac user needs or wants.

You can see that the Mac OS and MS Windows have taken different paths regarding the user interface. There are parts to praise as well as find fault with each. I can understand why some users may go back to Windows. Your own workstyle can be hard to duplicate on a different operating system.
- Dale

jverschu - May 4, 2007 - 5:24 pm

Hello Dale,

Thanks for the add on thought regarding Spotlight. This suggestion was also handed to me at the Apple store. But it is not at all a sure hit to use on daily files connected to programs. I further read up on Spotlight that it also seems to be incosistent and needs work... I do not know how well you know Windows 98 or probably XP will do the excact same thing. One adds shortcuts to the top of the startmenu and eg: my order entry excel spreadsheet is in there along with Outlook. I tick the windows key and O, ENTER and Outlook opens. I press the windows key O and O again and Enter and my Order Entry spreadsheet opens. Pressing Win key N opens Nero directly as no other shortcut with an N is in the list so pressing ENTER is not even necessary. I press the buttons before the monitor is warmed up... Blind computing... Thàt similar keyboard use I think is just not possible on OSX which is very surprising. Deleting a file off the desktop one needs to press TWO keys, showed the Apple store person. Just pressing DELETE did not work I discovered. It was to avoid accidental deletions was the argument...? Makes no sense. The warning that Windows uses is way more intuitive. One DELETE key: warning and ENTER and gone is a much more logical flow. You mention that you personally do NOT want to use the keyboard and prefer the mouse. Well sorry to say but in a business setting definitely you would not impress the boss regarding efficiency. In the time you reach for the mouse the computer is already opening up files on the computerdesk next to you. Thanks for the fn Command F3 correction as the dock indeed now is accessible my girlfriend confirmed over the phone. Question for you regarding Quicksilver, as that seems to be our only saviour... It appears to be that only a BETA version is available. Is that so? Safe to install? I always stay away from Beta software. Quicksilver MAY be, as you mentioned what OSX should have natively installed. Thanks for getting back to me with add on help as THAT is something that is hard to get in the windows world!!

Regards
Jan

DeltaMac - May 4, 2007 - 6:59 pm

I basically work in a non-text environment, so I don't use the keyboard too much.
You will find that you can drop a folder - any folder - into the dock, and then control-f3 to the dock, arrow key to that folder, right arrow shows you a list of the files in the folder. Type the letter of the doc/app that you want, (type more letters to take you to the exact file you want) and press enter to open. Works great for large folders.
Quicksilver is not the only file/app launcher. Do a quick search at versiontracker.com for 'application launcher', for example. You will see a list of a couple of dozen. Quicksilver is not even listed in this search. It is a good app, and still being developed (hence the beta designation by the developer). It's probably more finished than many other similar apps.
Look at Overflow, or Dragthing. A simple search will find many, some better than others to be sure. Watch the ratings and the number of downloads as listed in versiontracker.

In regard to 'deleting' a file from the desktop? You either move it to a folder to take it out of view - or move to the trash. A click and drag for either choice, or just a right-click for the trash.
Sorry, I forgot that some prefer the keyboard. Command-delete doesn't delete the file, anyway. It just moves the selected file/folder to the trash.
I don't shut my Mac down - ever - so I don't get your point about display warmup. Waking up a Mac with an LCD display only takes a couple of seconds, there's usually no delay at all for the video to come up, so no opportunity to work 'blind'
- Dale

jverschu - May 4, 2007 - 8:06 pm

Hello Dale,

I must wait till the girlfriend shows up with her G4 to test run your suggestions. But I kind of am sure that there MUST be a way to work smooth and efficiently for a guy coming from a dinosaur computer going to LEOPARD??
It better bloody well do...
Well, Quicksilver is Beta but at the same time "probably more finished" over other apps. MMmmm. I cannot evaluate every single program so I guess Quicksilver is the one to try first (and hopefully last). It SEEMS the program of choice as Apple store associates mentioned it too.

Yeah seeing my girlfriend drag and drop things into the trash makes me cringe... "Throw that MOUSE in the trash!" is my comment to that! :-) And as you say: it is still not really deleted anyway so why not just tab tab tab till it is highlighted and than DELETE...?

No I do not shut down my computer ever either. 11 years running non stop. HD is now 8 years old in there....(daily backups!!) But the monitor does get turned off. So there is the warm up time. Old CRT. Also now 8, 9 years old. This fall it´s Leopard time don´t you think...??
But the blind computing is just an illustration on how addicted I am to the keyboard.
On Windows NT 4.0 systems technicians had to know how to shut the system down without the aid of a monitor as it had video card driver issues...

Oh, last question again related to the keyboard. Is there any point in sticking to an Apple built USB keyboard? As I am thinking to start with a MacMini and find the Apple keyboards having a heavy touch to get the keys goin´. BUT as I am a keyboard king: are there any disadvantages in hooking up a generic Windows USB keyboard to OSX? I understand sofar that the Windows key becomes the Command key... Would I miss keys, going with an el cheapo windows keyboard on a Mac system? I do not need volume controls and high end palaber boards. Just the basic keys layout. AND what will the right click button do???? It is sitting to the right of the RIGHT located windows key. I had to explain it before to a surprised Apple user. What will OSX do with that?

Thanks Dale,
Jan

DeltaMac - May 4, 2007 - 9:42 pm

What does a right click button do, other than drop the contextual menu?
On Apple keyboards, it's the control or ctrl key.

Your preferred PC keyboard (USB) will certainly work on any Mac. As you don't need the various 'extra' keys, you should be OK. I prefer some of the Logitech keyboards myself.
The alt and Apple/Windows keys seem to be the ones that get switched most often. Those keys can be changed in the System Preferences/Keyboard & Mouse/Modifier Keys button

jverschu - May 9, 2007 - 9:06 pm

Hi Dale,
Thanks for your patience. Right click on items in windows drops down a submenu connected to the item. With "contextual menu" you may mean the box that pops up (under windows) describing what is hidden under the item one hovers over. I have to wait for the girlfriend´s G4 to see what your given CTRL button tip excactly does. But thanks for the Windows USB keyboard clarification as it will be cheaper at least. The girlfriend and I are both self employed entrepeneurs and her office runs Macs but they are having problems regarding software. It is up in the air to switch back to windows. So I must carefully see to not get the same problem.
Thanks again!
Jan