Tabbing through selections?

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Example: I have just finished a doc in TextEdit and i hit command+q to quit.

Question: Is there a way to tab from the dont save to save to cancel options?

thanks
 
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I'm not sure, but if I don't want to save I just click on Command + D which will close the app without saving the doc.
 
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I'm not sure, but if I don't want to save I just click on Command + D which will close the app without saving the doc.

The convention is (or was)
Return = default (blue) button
Command-. (period) = Cancel
Command + first letter of button activates the other option. Thus Command-D triggers Don't save.

Occasionally this doesn't hold true, but it works for TextEdit, AppleWorks, Word, Keynote, TextWrangler, and many others. The better ones actually show the shortcuts in the button when you press Command.
 
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Excellent technologist! I learn something everyday. I very rarely need the cancel option as I'm usually saving or not saving, but it's good to remember there is a keyboard shortcut assigned albeit it won't always work.
 
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Yes you CAN use tab to go through the buttons.

You have to turn this feature on though:
System Preferences > Keyboard & Mouse > Keyboard Shortcuts
Turn Full keyboard access to "All controls"

Now you can tab betwen the buttons in the dialog boxes. Just look for the faint halo around the button, becuase the pulsing doesn't switch between buttons. Activate the halo'd button with the SPACE bar, because ENTER will always activate the default (pulsing) button.

Picture 2.png
 

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