This is a really basic tip, don’t you think? It is what Spotlight is used for. Here’s one for you: [opt][cmd][space] opens an advances Spotlight window, effectively replacing the [windows][e] shortcut all us ex-XP users miss so badly.

Sure Mike, this is a basic tip. Sometimes I just like to write about the actions I take for granted. You’d be surprised how many people I’ve tutored in their homes don’t know about Spotlight. I’ll post something more advanced soon.

I agree with Steve. There are tons of people out there that would NEVER know about this, along with plenty of other basics the rest of us take for granted.

In Tiger, you had to hit Command Return to select the top hit in Spotlight. It’s definitely more useful in Leopard.

This is definitely useful as is the expanded Spotlight feature Mike described. Nice tips. Thanks!

[...] name and hit enter when you’re happy with the result. iUseApple.com even suggests enhancing Spotlight’s results to display only applications by configuring it via System [...]

[...] start applications—Spotlight can do that for you without running another application. Simply set Spotlight to include Applications in its search results, invoke it with the (default) keyboard shortcut, Cmd+Space, type your app [...]

[...] it to start applications—Spotlight can do that for you without running another application. Simply set Spotlight to include Applications in its search results, invoke it with the (default) keyboard shortcut, Cmd+Space, type your app [...]

This is an awesome tip! As a new mac convert, the biggest difficulty for me has been having to use the mouse so much.

In windows, I would just make sure to put a unique character at the beginning of my most used apps in the start menu, then hit [window], [key] to launch that app. I haven’t had a mouseless way to launch apps in Leopard without installing Yet Another App… so this is Ideal!

Thank you!

[...] start applications—Spotlight can do that for you without running another application. Simply set Spotlight to include Applications in its search results, invoke it with the (default) keyboard shortcut, Cmd+Space, type your app [...]

[...] to start applications—Spotlight can do that for you without running another application. Simply set Spotlight to include Applications in its search results, invoke it with the (default) keyboard shortcut, Cmd+Space, type your app [...]

Thanks, but my favorite application to use is Quicksilver. It basically acts like Spotlight, but does a lot more. Freeware too.

[...] to start applications—Spotlight can do that for you without running another application. Simply set Spotlight to include Applications in its search results, invoke it with the (default) keyboard shortcut, Cmd+Space, type your app [...]

Is there a way to disable (or preferably change) the keyboard shortcut for spotlight? I do a lot of formatting in documents (mostly powerpoint presentations as I am a Jr. High teacher, so I bold and italicize a lot of stuff). Long story, well, less long is that in doing all of that formatting and then hitting space bar to move on to the next letter sometimes I haven’t let up on command all the way before I hit space for the next word (as I am in a hurry). So, is there a way I could remap it to a key that 1) isn’t already taken and 2) I don’t use very often when typing, unlike the space bar which I use almost EVERY time right after I change formatting.

Justin,

You can change the Keyboard Shortcut. Open System Preferences, choose Keyboard & Mouse, click the Keyboard Shortcuts tab, then scroll down to the bottom of the resulting list.

Where the list reads:
Show Spotlight Search Field CMD Space

Double Click CMD Space and perform the replacement shortcut while it is highlighted. For instance, if you want to make the new shortcut “Control Space” then hold down Control and hit the Space bar.

Steve

visit us!
newsbox.cc
newsbox.us
nbstatus.wordpress.com
NOW!