Just a quick question

walidshrf · Mar 30, 2010

I've had a Macbook for about 6 months now. And I've gotten pretty accustomed to it. However, one thing that I still haven't worked out and don't really know how to search on how to do it, is this:

If you take a look at this picture:

How I do move from one option to the other by using just my keyboard? In the picture 'Shut Down' is highlighted. If I wanted to move to the left to 'Sleep', how would I do that using my keyboard?

I know on windows it was just a simple left arrow, right arrow but I can't quite figure it out on OS X :Confused:

Thanks guys

Corbab · Mar 30, 2010

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's not possible. If you really don't want to use your mouse, you can hold down the power button to shut down the computer, but that's not especially healthy for the computer. I'd say just deal with using the mouse.

McYukon · Mar 30, 2010

You can use these keyboard shortcuts to restart/sleep/shutdown your mac.

Option-Command-Eject
Put the computer to sleep

Control-Command-Eject
Quit all applications (after giving you a chance to save changes to open documents), then restart the computer

Control Option-Command-Eject
Quit all applications (after giving you a chance to save changes to open documents), then shut down the computer

And please do not shutdown your computer by just pressing and holding the power button, this will basically brute-force a shutdown on your mac and will after time make the system unable to start. Only do it when the computer is frozen and you can't shut it down the normal way.

Full list of keyboard shortcuts for mac.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1343

Slydude · Mar 30, 2010

Try this when you get that dialog. As far as I can tell it still works:

The default option is Shut Down simply press Enter/Return
Cancel Press Escape
Sleep press s
I believe r Restarts

walidshrf · Mar 30, 2010

McYukon said:
You can use these keyboard shortcuts to restart/sleep/shutdown your mac.

Option-Command-Eject
Put the computer to sleep

Control-Command-Eject
Quit all applications (after giving you a chance to save changes to open documents), then restart the computer

Control Option-Command-Eject
Quit all applications (after giving you a chance to save changes to open documents), then shut down the computer

And please do not shutdown your computer by just pressing and holding the power button, this will basically brute-force a shutdown on your mac and will after time make the system unable to start. Only do it when the computer is frozen and you can't shut it down the normal way.

Full list of keyboard shortcuts for mac.
Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts

Sorry I didn't make it clear initially. I was just using this as an example. There's loads of times where there's different options and I just want to be able to move left and right and choose the different options just by using my keyboard. It's not too much of a problem but it just makes life that little bit easier, lol. Is that possible do you think?

dtravis7 · Mar 30, 2010

I use the TAB key to select the box and I believe the Spacebar to select that option.

Slydude · Mar 30, 2010

That's why the Tab function didn't work correctly. I forgot that you have to use the spacebar to "confirm" the selection.

dtravis7 · Mar 30, 2010

Since I rarely use it, I do the same thing and forget. I had to try it here in fact to refresh my memory before I posted.

McYukon · Mar 30, 2010

dtravis7 said:
I use the TAB key to select the box and I believe the Spacebar to select that option.

If the above doesn't work, you will need to enable "All Controls" under the keyboard preferences.

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walidshrf · Mar 31, 2010

Slydude said:
That's why the Tab function didn't work correctly. I forgot that you have to use the spacebar to "confirm" the selection.

dtravis7 said:
I use the TAB key to select the box and I believe the Spacebar to select that option.

McYukon said:
If the above doesn't work, you will need to enable "All Controls" under the keyboard preferences.

Sweet! thanks a lot guys, I knew there must of been a way

. Appreciate it!

skybolt · Mar 31, 2010

Generally, pressing the first letter of the preferred option will select that option, as illustrated in response #4 for the dialog box you used for illustration. Works on all (almost all?) option boxes.

Just a quick question

walidshrf

Corbab

McYukon

Slydude

Well-known member

walidshrf

dtravis7

Slydude

Well-known member

dtravis7

McYukon

walidshrf

skybolt

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