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Adapt Mac Shortcuts for Windows Switchers

Once you change from a geeky Windows user to a professional Mac user, first you will encounter a problem regarding to keyboard shortcuts. I've experienced it before, though some of the shortcuts are the same but most of them are different.

Here are several tips and shortcuts that I think you will feel it useful if you really want to transform your Mac shortcuts into old Windows arsenals.

Change Modifier Keys

Maybe you've noticed, in most of the shortcuts CTRL key in Windows has the same function as the Command key in Mac. Basically, by swapping the action performed by Command and Control of your Mac, you can get most of your new Mac shortcuts suitable for Windows switchers.

To change the action of modifier keys, there are only several steps need to be done:

  1. Click on the Apple on menubar
  2. Go inside System Preferences...
  3. Choose Keyboard & Mouse and go under Keyboard section
  4. Find the button labelled Modifier Keys... and hit it
  5. Select Control key to act as Command key and Command key to act as Control key
  6. Confirm by punching the OK button
  7. Now, you've done most part of your Mac to Windows transforming process

If you've already satisfied with the current result, you can just step out of the process. But I'd encourage you to read further as it's quite challenging to make your Mac machine acts as your old Windows (for switchers).

Match Commonly Used Shortcuts as in Windows Platform

Again, you need to go to System Preferences Pane under Keyboard Shortcuts sections. You will see a small + button on the bottom left-hand corner of the pane. Click on it and you will be able to assign new shortcut.

These are several shortcuts that can be transformed into Windows-like shortcuts:

Default Application Menu Title Shortcut Function
Opt-Cmd-F Finder Find by Name... Shift-F3 Search by filename
Cmd-F Finder Find... F3 Search for a file
F11 Dock, Exposé, and Dashboard Desktop Cmd-D Display the desktop
None Finder Show Path Bar (Hide Path Bar) F4 Display the address bar
Cmd-W All Applications New Finder Window Ctrl-F4 Close the active window in applications

I've long forgotten most of Windows shortcuts. Shortcuts above are told by my friend who just switched to Mac and funny enough, he still carries the behaviour of a Windows user.

And for the Rest..

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Categories: Tips and Tricks
Tags: Fun, Shortcut, Windows

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7 Comments

Johan 

(I am NOT a Mac-user - yet! Only used it in a few hours.)

I really think that this is a really bad tip...

The hand will thank you for using the Cmd more than the Control. It's way better to turn you hand out, than in.
And as a advanced Windows user, I user Ctrl + F (Cmd + F) and Ctrl + W (Cmd + W) a lot more, than the other shortcuts.

Use a Mac like a Mac - not like a PC.

Wendy 

Mac shortcuts are of course way better, but it cannot be helped if some Windows users are already getting used to their old Windows shortcuts. Last time, I need several weeks to getting a hold of new Mac shortcuts. :-)

MacPhobia 

This is the first thing i did in my Mac

encro 

This can be done so much better using keybindings:

Create a New Folder called KeyBindings in your Home > Library folder (~/Library/KeyBindings) and then copy into the KyBindings folder the "Windows Bindings.dict" file from here:
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~jrus/Site/KeyBindings/Windows%20Bindings.dict

Rename the "Window Bindings.dict' file to DefaultKeyBinding.dict and log out and back in. You should then be able to use either the Mac or Windows equivalents for most things. ctrl-c or cmd-v, home and end keys etc in text strings.

Keyboard Shortcuts can be used to further enhance from here.

You can read all about KeyBindings on the Main Page:
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~jrus/Site/cocoa-text.html

JLIT 

I have the exact opposite problem as this post. I am trying to preserve use of Mac Shortcuts which I'm already familiar with (andwhich QuikKeys have been programmed for) for use in Windows XP. is there a similar file or folder where I can change the default modifiers in XP to be mapped to the equivolent key which I'm already aware of on mac (aside from the obvious being the Start or Windows Key)> ... Summed up, I want to switch my modifiers on Windows to reflect those on my Mac correctly on the"surface"

Wayne B 

The default Mac keyboard shortcuts are retarded. **Every other operating system does it the same way as Windows** so, it's not just Windows users that are complaining.

Anyway, I'm not a switcher because I like Windows waaaay better than the Mac. I just am forced to use a Mac in order to make iPhone apps.

Jeff 

I would like to know how can dictate this?

"Once you change from a geeky Windows user to a professional Mac user, first you will encounter a problem regarding to keyboard shortcuts."

I use mac at work and windows at home so am I a geeky and professional mac user that uses windows that hates your fonts? Good luck with that classification business.

P.S. I would suggest changing your blog to allow line breaks by default. I can imagine you are sitting there laughing at the users of your blog that can't figure out how you make your pretty paragraphs on your omnipotent blog.
Oh by the way I will cross post this post on a site I am working on so good luck hiding it.

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