Cool Computer Tricks With Keyboard To Do Everything Fast
We use our keyboards every day for several purposes such as gaming, typing, operating a computer, etc. Different key plays an important role to make some options of computer (in short there are some shortcuts to operate some functions). We use the alter the key, shift, caps lock, etc frequently while using the computer. The spacebar is the most used key on the keyboard. Hence you must know spacebar shortcuts, which you will learn from this article. By the way, a
space bar counter will help you to find your spacebar speed.
Even a few seconds can make a big difference in your workday. Nevertheless, seconds add up to minutes, and the momentum of being able to hit a few keys and keep typing makes an impact that's hard to measure. That's why I try to avoid using my mouse whenever possible: the more I can do without taking my hands off the keyboard, the quicker I can keep plugging away at the important stuff.
The Keyboard Shortcuts You Must Use
Let's begin with the basics: learn as many keyboard shortcuts as your brain can handle. Many of them are familiar to you (Ctrl+C to copy and Ctrl+V to paste, for instance), but dozens of others can replace the clicks you make all day long. Here are a few things I can't live without:This is some text inside of a div block.
- The Windows key (or Command+Space on a Mac): Don't click through your Start menu or Applications folder to launch a new app. Start typing the app's name by pressing the Windows key or Command+Space on a Mac. Upon seeing its icon, press Enter, and you'll have launched it without touching a mouse.
- Ctrl+F: Ever search for something on Google, find a search result that promises it contains the phrase you're looking for, but it can't be found in the 5,000-word article? If you press Ctrl+F, you'll get a search bar that helps you find any word or phrase on a page, taking you directly to the information you desire. (And you can use Ctrl+G to scroll through the results.)
- Ctrl+L: By pressing Ctrl+L, your cursor will automatically jump to the address bar, where you can type a new search or web address. Probably more often than any other shortcut on this list, I use this underrated keystroke.
- Ctrl+S: You should save the document you are working on. Keep doing this as often as you can, lest you lose everything if your computer crashes/loses power/your cat accidentally closes Microsoft Word.
- Ctrl+T and Ctrl+Shift+T: Instead of clicking the tiny New Tab button, press Ctrl+T to open a new tab and start searching. (Bonus: If you accidentally close a tab and want to bring it back, press Ctrl+Shift+T. Just like Thor's hammer, the tab will reappear in an instant.)
- Ctrl+Shift+V: Ctrl+Shift+V: You probably know you can press Ctrl+V to paste, but it often includes unwanted formatting. For example, if you copy text from a website, you might see the original font, links, and another formatting. To avoid this, many apps let you use Ctrl+Shift+V to paste a block of text without links and other garbage, so you won't have to waste time switching fonts back to normal. Its behavior can vary from app to app, but give it a try. For example, you may find that Command+Shift+V works in some apps, but Option+Shift+Command+V is needed for others.
- Ctrl+Arrow Keys: My boss used to be able to work his way through a long document using only the keyboard, and I was amazed. It turns out that he was holding Ctrl and using the arrow keys -- left and right move the cursor between words, while up and down move it between paragraphs. (Bonus: if you hold Shift while moving the arrow keys, you will select the text rather than just moving the cursor.)
You'll need to substitute the Command key for Control in the above shortcuts if you're on a Mac.
We could talk about dozens more here, especially when we get into specific apps. If you're a heavy spreadsheet user, you may want to find the most powerful Excel shortcuts available. Perhaps you live and die by your inbox, in which case you should know about the handy
shortcuts that Gmail offers.
The above shortcuts are my favorites - but look for new ones to replace the tedious tasks that slow you down if you are facing a gun to your head (help). You'll breeze through your work in no time.This is some text inside of a div block.
Customize, Remap, and Create Shortcuts
- Remap individual keys with SharpKeys: I used to be a Mac user, but after switching back to Windows, I never got used to using Ctrl instead of Command. So I fired up SharpKeys and changed Alt to Ctrl (and Windows to Alt), so my keyboard would be more Mac-like-and it's changed my life. My shortcuts are easier to hit one-handed, and I have untouched muscle memory. SharpKeys is a great option if you're simply looking to remap one key to another. (On a Mac, you can remap a few modifier keys in System Preferences > Keyboard > Modifier Keys.)
- Look for in-app keyboard shortcut customization: There are some apps—like Photoshop or MediaMonkey—that has a whole page dedicated to keyboard shortcuts. Adding keyboard shortcuts to menu items that don't have them, or changing those that do, will allow you to create the perfect setting for your favorite programs. On a Mac, you can adjust in-app shortcuts system-wide. Simply head into System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts, click App Shortcuts in the sidebar, and you can create a new keyboard shortcut for any menu item you come across in your apps.
- Create entirely new shortcuts: If all else fails, it's time to use the big guns: create your shortcuts from scratch. If you have a keyboard from a company such as Logitech or Razer, you might have software that allows you to create or "record" macros. You can also use the slightly more complex AutoHotKey, which is a very powerful scripting language that can easily convert anything into a keyboard shortcut. (I am not a coder, but I figured it out with some beginner guides, and strolling through the documentation-you can too).
This rabbit hole goes deep, but it's worth it. Many of the shortcuts I created in AutoHotkey almost a decade ago are still in use today (you know, that pause key no one ever uses? I made it a go-to-sleep button). Although it takes some time to go through all of this, your initial investment will likely serve you well for years to come.This is some text inside of a div block.
Shortcuts to Text Blocks
Every day, I type the same things over and over again, without fail. My address is in a text message, I type certain URLs in Chrome's address bar, and I send the same email to everyone who joins the church group I lead. By using a keyboard shortcut, I can type those strings of text.
My address is assigned to the shortcut ''',add''', for instance. My text expansion program of choice recognizes my typing and replaces it with my full address when I add it to a document. I use, join to paste the two-paragraph email I send to all my group members, and even,deg to type the degrees symbol (°). There are so many clever uses for this that I couldn't include them all in one article, but suffice to say anything you type more than a couple of times each week can benefit from it.
Another time, Mac users have it easy: this feature is built right into macOS, under System Preferences > Keyboard > Text. By clicking the plus sign, you can add a new shortcut--but make sure it isn't something you would usually type (this is why I used the comma-word format above)--and add the text you want to appear when you type the shortcut. There are a few third-party programs available for Windows, but I recommend PhraseExpress for most users. Once you create those first couple phrase expansions, it's powerful, free, and easy to use. If I don't have a text expander or any of the shortcuts above, it feels like I'm trudging through molasses. You will never want to work without these time-saving keyboard tricks once you get used to them.This is some text inside of a div block.
It's time to make your shortcuts if the above is old hat to you. Perhaps an app doesn't come with the hotkeys you need, or perhaps certain shortcuts are too difficult to use with one hand (I'm talking to you, Ctrl+Shift+Esc). You can customize these hotkeys in a few simple ways and others that are more complex:This is some text inside of a div block.