Vi Like direction keys for Cocoa apps

Inspired by this post on hacking your key bindings I decided to implement Vi like direction keys for OS X.

Since option is a character modifier usually, and for me at least produces useless characters in combination with j-k-l-i keys, the option key is a good modifier key.

Put the following in ~/Library/KeyBindings/DefaultKeyBinding.dict (create the file if it doesn't exist):


{
/* vi move left */
"~h" = "moveLeft:";
/* vi move down */
"~j" = "moveDown:";
/* vi move up */
"~k" = "moveUp:";
/* vi move right */
"~l" = "moveRight:";
}


Note that you have to relaunch the application before any changes take affect.

What key mappings do you guys use?

control + up or down arrow

is the same thing as page up or down. useful if you are on a mac or can't find page up or down on a keyboard without glancing at the keypad.

Daring Fireball: Where Keyboard Shortcuts Win

An interesting analysis of some original research Apple did about 20 years ago on whether or not keyboard shortcuts are faster than using the mouse. The research found that although for most tasks using the mouse was actually faster, users consistently reported that using the keyboard was faster. The two notable exceptions to this were when it was possible to the mouse and the keyboard (think ZXCV and apple key when editing text or graphics) or when accomplishing repetitive tasks.

Sogudi oh so good

Sogudi is a Safari pluggin that lets you use keywords to "auto-complete" URL's in the address bar.

It allows you to basically take a shortcut to the information you are looking for by letting you type the webpage's keyword and then the search terms all at once instead of having to first navigate to the page and then type in the search.

For example, instead of going to Netflix.com and then searching for suspiria, I can just type "netflix suspiria" on the address bar and it comes up.

Here is a listing of some handy Sogudi templates:
map http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en&q=@@@
-- search for a place
sf http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&client=safari&rls=en&q=san+francisco+@@@&btnG=Search
-- search for things in San Francisco
netflix http://www.netflix.com/Search?v1=@@@
-- search for a netflix movie
wi http://www.wikipedia.org/w/wiki.phtml?search=@@@
-- lookup something on wikipedia

The Apple Blog screencast on turning on full keyboard access

The Apple Blog has posted a briefscreencast on how to turn the feature on.

The presenter left out one of the most crucial features of Keyboard access - the ability to turn it on and off by pressing control-f7.

Adjust iTunes Volume like a Pro

In iTunes with the main window activated press (command - up) and (command - down) to turn iTunes up or down. This has the advantage of adjusting just that single application as opposed to what the keyboard's volume control keys do, which is to adjust the volume settings for the system as a whole.

Welcome

Hello,
Thanks for visiting.

Lately its come to my attention that Suriphobia's philandering older brother, Teach the Hand, was getting speckled with too many postings about serious topics.

In an effort to preserve TTH's slimy mulch of cardboard and gristle I've created this blog to actually talk about something that I know about, using Mac OS X without a mouse. So its going to get very serious around here: while Teach The Hand refuses to get of of the pool, Suriphobia is already tying its buisness boots.

On this blog you can expect to find tips, tricks, tools and commentary relating to how to accomplish command tasks quickly and efficiently by using the keyboard.

Topics will include:
1. Little known keyboard short cuts
2. Quicksilver
3. The use of OS X's "Full keyboard access mode"

Topics will be presented as either screencasts, tutorials or quicktips.

See you soon,
Duncan Idaho