4. Chrome Tabs & Windows We basically live in Chrome, so these tips end up being especially useful. To create a new tab, hit Command/Control+T. Similarly, for a new window, hit Command/Control+N. To switch between tabs (on both Macs and PCs) tap Control+Tab or Control+Page Down. The latter trick is great when you want to cycle through your open tabs, or when you want to alternate between two tabs (Control+Shift+Tab or Control+Page Up lets you navigate back to the previous open tab).
6. Hyperlinks In Gmail No need to copy and paste a URL into an email. If you highlight the text you want to turn into a link, then hit Control/Command+K, a pop-up in Gmail appears and lets you paste in the URL. Now, instead of having an email littered with http://s and www.s, you’ve got clean text with a few blue, clickable links.
My favorite remains Ctrl+Alt, Delete.
I love Ctrl+Q to quit applications in OS X and Linux. Wish it’d work with Windoze.
Many of these tips can be accomplished by using your mouse. Like adding a new tab, just click the + sign after the last open tab. No key board typing needed.
Wish I could ALT+F4 the democrats.
Anyone else tired of the gratuitous use of the word “hack”? Sorry but shortcut keys aren’t “hacks”. Thanks for the list though...
I like ‘CTRL +’ and ‘CTRL -’ to zoom in and out on pages.
bkmk
You can tell when someone really knows how to use their computer, because they only really have to use the mouse about half the time that other users do. Many of these ‘keyboard hacks’ have been around for years.
I discovered my favorite Windows shortcut by accident. The Windows logo key (bottom row to the left of Alt) can be combined with many keys to do many things. I’ve used Windows Logo key + E to open File Explorer for years.
This is what I recently discovered and love - Try Windows Logo key + Left Arrow Key. (I think this was added in Windows 7). Your current application will move to the left half of your screen. Press that key combo again, and it will move to the right half of the screen. Press it a third time and it will go back to the original location. Using the Right Arrow Key combo does the same thing, only starting to the right. This is invaluable when I want to have two apps open, one on the left of my screen, one on the right.
Alt/Tab is a quick and useful way to switch from FR to a boring spreadsheet when your boss walks by your desk.
since when is a shortcut a hack?
There used to be macros. People used to program keys to type things. I have not heard about macros for years. Are they still possible.?
Remember how heavy those CRT screens were and how we had to bring them to a dumpster in a business park in the middle of the night because the trashman wouldn't take them?
Hitting the “Space Bar” can be the same as the “Enter” key or mouse click on a “highlighted/active” button.
I learned the hard way.
While running a live Stock Trading platform that sent orders with a single click.
I had to leave the machine for a period of time and the screen saver kicked in (I will never use a screen saver again). Apparently, my “active” function was on “submit order” when I walked away.
I returned to my machine and in order to break out of the “Screen Saver” I have a habit of tapping the “Space Bar” twice.
That sent two rather large orders that got filled instantly on a currency pair that I had no intention of trading.
What a mess.
bfl
I always use Windows + L to lock my computer before I get up so nobody can look at my screen while I am gone.
Why is everything called a hack now? I do tech support. It is common for me to tell people about short cuts. But these are just well know key strokes for people who care to know and they ain’t changing my life.