Navigating Mac OS X with only the keyboard

Comment from jhm
Time: December 14, 2007, 6:25 am

I would like to add, in the hope that it might influence some future release, a few navigation ideas that were available in the Linux ditros that I’ve used, and I find it bordering on incomprehensible that they are absent on the Mac.

1) When keying a list (of files in Finder, or bookmarks, for example), why does hitting Enter doesn’t open the link, but instead switched to edit mode for the file/bookmark. For the life of me I can’t see how one would think that editing a filename would be preferred over the much more likely action of opening the file (not to mention risking an accidental renaming).

2) A similar action on a list of emails, using up and down to go through the list is nowhere near as convenient as using left/right to do this, and leaving up/down to scroll the currently selected message. Having to key Tab/Shift-Tab all the time (while leaving left/right unassigned mind) is ludicrous.

3) when one selects a bookmark or folder from the bookmark bar why can we no then move the selection with left/right? If one selects a folder then wants to see another, why does he need to hit the other twice (once to deselect the original)? There might be a shortcut to the bookmark bar, but I haven’t found it (the steps involved with going to the menubar, then getting to the bookmarks is are inconvenient.

Thank you for the opportunity to vent some spleen.

Comment from Joe
Time: December 14, 2007, 8:52 am

Weird,-my-spacebar-doesn’t-work-in-here,-using-Leopard-version-of-Safari.

Anyway,-I-want-to-add-that-after-you-type-the-name-of-a-file-or-folder,
you-can-get-to-the-next-file-alphabetically-by-pressing-Tab-
and-the-previous-file-by-pressing-Shift-and-Tab.

Comment from Bernard
Time: December 17, 2007, 12:23 pm

Is there anyone who could figure out to assign the F2 key in excel to work like the windows version of excel.

With Mac it is Ctrl U which is very clumsy since it is two keys and they are too far apart. I tried keyboard shortcut/ Application but I cant figure out how to do it.

Thanks.

Comment from Pat
Time: January 17, 2008, 12:15 pm

No feedback on the F2-Excel question??? I’ve scoured the web looking for an answer to this question…

Planned on upgrading to new Excel 2008 but then read they’ve removed macros from the new version. I guess I’ll stick w/ the old version…

Comment from useEvil
Time: February 12, 2008, 1:50 pm

In Keyboard Shortcuts, click the +. Select Excel and type in the menu item exactly as you see it in the menu. Then select the F2 key. You will need to restart Excel for it to take effect. You may need to go to the Keyboard tab and turn on the “Use all F1, F2, etc.” option. Seems to work well in all applications, except Firefox and Thunderbird.

Comment from Wes
Time: March 3, 2008, 6:34 pm

“1) When keying a list (of files in Finder, or bookmarks, for example), why does hitting Enter doesn’t open the link, but instead switched to edit mode for the file/bookmark. For the life of me I can’t see how one would think that editing a filename would be preferred over the much more likely action of opening the file (not to mention risking an accidental renaming).”

This behaviour is inherited from very early versions of Mac OS, long before Linux existed and remains today.

Comment from kranko
Time: April 9, 2008, 11:59 am

Wes: And it is not possible changing that?

Comment from generic@cialis
Time: June 13, 2008, 1:28 pm

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Comment from rohit
Time: July 4, 2008, 1:37 pm

jhm: & kranko: Install this and return will open rather than edit name. http://www.returnopen.com/

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Time: March 7, 2009, 5:45 pm

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Comment from doesntmatter
Time: August 7, 2009, 4:09 am

another tip!!!
if you want to open a folder or an application use command ‘+’ (down arrow)