What is the option button on mac. Effectively work with text using hotkeys. Hotkeys in combination with Command

IN operating system OS X hides countless useful features related to system keys. We have already told you about. Today we will talk about the “ Option”, which is a kind of analogue of the “Alt” key on a PC. Knowledge of several simple tips Using this key will help you become a more advanced OS X user and make your Mac easier to use.

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Using the Option (Alt) key in Finder

1. Cancel selection of all files.
Many users know about the keyboard shortcut Cmd+A, which allows you to select all files in open folder. If you add the key to this combination Option, you can easily deselect files.

2. Quickly jump to the search field.
To quickly jump to a search field, use the keyboard shortcut Command+Option+F, while using the combination Command+F will lead to the discovery of new Finder windows with Spotlight search.

3. Quickly close several program windows.
To quickly minimize multiple windows of any application in the Dock, use the keyboard shortcut Command+Option+M. For simultaneous closing windows click Command+Option+W.

4. View all subfolders.
Once you click on the little arrow next to a folder's name in Finder, the app will only open one level of content, excluding all subfolders. In order to immediately view all files, including files located in subfolders, hold down the key Option and click on the small arrow next to the main folder.

With the Option key pressed

Quick sound settings

When you press a key Option and volume icon in system menu You can quickly switch the audio input/output device.

View wireless network and Bluetooth information.

When pressed simultaneously Option and icons AirPort in the system menu you can see extended information about the used Wi-Fi networks.

And when you simultaneously press Option and an icon Bluetooth can view and connect to previously paired devices and generate a service diagnostic report Bluetooth.

Quick access to system information

Keystroke Option along with the icon Apple from system line will allow you to skip information about your computer and go straight to the list of equipment.

Text navigation

Using text editors, for example Pages, you can move the cursor by an entire word if you press along with the navigation keys Option. You can also navigate through paragraphs using the " up" And " down" together with Option.

Option key in Safari

Everyone knows that Safari browser when you press Tab sequentially moves the cursor from one text field to another. And, Tab in combination with Option allows you to conveniently navigate site links without using a mouse. For example, according to the site menu.

2. Fast scrolling.

Key Option can make working with the scrollbar easier. For example, to move to the bottom of the page, press Option and click the mouse in the scroll bar to the desired location and the indicator will move directly there. If you simply click on the scroll bar, the indicator will smoothly move towards the mouse pointer. This function works in any other window with a scroll bar.

3. Closing unnecessary tabs.

Keyboard shortcut Command+Option+W will allow you to close all inactive Safari tabs. In this case, the current tab will not be closed. This can also be done through the menu “ File».

View all formats when saving a file

When you save a file in OS X, for example, a picture from the view editor, you are given several options to choose from. popular formats. However, in reality the list of formats supported by OS X is slightly larger. To see all these formats when saving a file and selecting a format, press the key Option.

Option key pressed

You can't cut files in OS X. You can move them only by dragging or copying and pasting and then deleting the sources. But if you really want to, then you can.

To do this, we simply copy the desired file, but paste it into new folder not as usual, using a keyboard shortcut ⌘+V(Command + V), and also while holding down the key ⌥ (Option). A similar trick works in a similar way for the menu bar: when you hold down the key ⌥ (Option) the “Insert object” item will change to “Move object”, which is what we need.

Deleting files without moving them to the trash

By default, all files after deletion go to the trash, from where they can be restored or deleted permanently. To avoid having to do more later, files can be deleted immediately.

To do this, instead of combining ⌘ + ⌫ (Command + Delete) should be used ⌥ + ⌘ + ⌫ (Option + Command + Delete). Through the menu bar, the same can be done by holding ⌥ (Option) and selecting “File” - “Delete immediately”.

Clear Safari History

Browser history is a delicate thing that needs to be cleared from time to time, if only to increase performance. However, along with the history, it also deletes cookies and settings of visited sites, which, you see, is not always necessary.

And again we are saved by the magic Option key. Hold it down, open the “History” menu and select the changed item “Clear history, but save site data.” Ready!

Restarting Finder

The only OS X program that cannot be terminated is . However, situations when it needs to be restarted sometimes still arise (for example, for some changes to take effect).

The easiest way to do this is to call context menu by right-clicking on the Finder icon in the dock, but, as you probably already guessed, not just like that, but by holding down the key ⌥ (Option).

Copying the path to a file or folder

Want to paste the direct path to a file in an application? No problem!

Go to the folder with the required file(or another folder) and open the menu by right click. Now click ⌥ (Option), and, as if by magic, a new item will appear - “Copy path to...”.

Quick transition to the “Library”

"Library" is a folder containing various user data and settings. You can get into it through the Finder, but it’s much easier and faster to do it using our favorite key ⌥ (Option).

In Finder, open the Go menu and hold ⌥ (Option), select “Library”.

Turn on Do Not Disturb mode

At work, the first thing you need to do is turn off notifications, but to do this you don’t have to swipe the notification center shade and click the corresponding toggle switch. This is not life hacking.

It's better to just click on the notification center icon in the menu bar while holding down the you-know-what key. :)

Changes the default application for certain files

OS X can open all popular file types in standard applications. If you have several applications installed to open certain types of files, then to select them as default programs, you do not need to wander through the settings and look for the corresponding item there. There is a more convenient way.

You just need to open Finder and right-click on the file and click ⌥ (Option). After this, the “Open in the program” item will change to “Always open in the program”, and we will only have to select the right application from the drop-down list. The same can be done through the “File” item in the menu bar.

Saving a file

When editing files, OS X treats them very carefully and offers to write all changes to a duplicate. But if you just need to save your progress in another file, you can use the “hidden” command.

In the "File" menu you need to press the key ⌥ (Option) and select the “Save As” item that appears. Those who prefer should remember the combination ⌥ + ⇧ + ⌘ + S(Option + Shift + Command + S).

Precise adjustment of brightness, key backlight and volume

The display brightness, volume and key backlight adjustment scale has 16 levels. Sometimes this is enough, and sometimes it is not.

You can reduce the change step if function keys F1 - F2, F5 - F6, F10 - F11 add combination ⇧ + ⌥ (Shift + Option). In this case, each division of the scale will be further divided into four parts.

Entering special characters

You can type from the Emoji & Symbols panel, which is hidden in the Keyboard menu. Collected there full table characters, divided into categories. If this method does not appeal to you, there is another.

Using the key ⌥ (Option) you can quickly enter various special characters directly from the keyboard. For example, the combination ⇧ + ⌥ + K(Shift + Option + K) enters a character  , which you see in the menu bar all the time. In the same way, you can enter currency symbols, arithmetic operations and any others. Until you remember the location of the symbols, you can peek by turning on the display on-screen keyboard(click on the input source icon, then “Show Keyboard Panel”).

Show all subfolders in Finder

Viewing files in list mode is quite convenient. The only annoying thing is having to manually open each subfolder. But this trouble can also be overcome if you don’t forget about the Option key.

All you need to do is press the main folder arrow while holding ⌥ (Option), and the entire folder tree will appear in front of you.

Skip duplicate files when copying

When you copy files that are already there into a folder, a dialog box appears asking you to leave both files, replace them, or stop the copying process.

Actually there is another one hidden option: The option to skip copying the duplicate file appears if you press the Option key in the dialog box.

Deselecting objects

You are probably familiar with the keyboard shortcut ⌘+A(Command + A), which works in all applications and allows you to select all elements or content. Finder has the opposite of this action.

To deselect objects, be they files or folders, press the same combination, but adding the key ⌥ (Option). Like this: ⌥ + ⌘ + A(Option + Command + A).

Hiding windows and forcing applications to quit

Unlike Windows, in OS X applications can have multiple windows, and if you need to show any of them while hiding the others, you can easily do this using the dock icon. And, of course, the Option keys. :)

By right-clicking on the application icon, you need to press ⌥ (Option) and select “Hide Others”. The “Force Quit” option will also appear there, which will allow you to close the frozen application.

Opening settings for various functions

Display, sound, keyboard and Mission Control options can be changed from standard settings, or perhaps in a simpler way.

To call up options such as the display, simply press ⌥+F1(Option + F1). For other functions - by analogy with this - you should use the combination ⌥+F3(Option + F3) ⌥+F5(Option + F5) and so on.

Display detailed network information

If you click on the icon in the menu bar, a list will open available networks and several settings options. However, you can also view here detailed information about active network Wi-Fi including connection speed, IP and Mac address and more.

You probably already understood what you need to do for this, but just in case I’ll say: you need to click on Wi-Fi icon while holding down the key ⌥ (Option).

Switch to slideshow mode in Quick Look

Quick Look, which lets you scroll through files by pressing the space bar, is one of my favorite Finder features. It would seem that there is nothing to improve here, but no, the ubiquitous Option key is noted here too.

I'm talking about the slide show mode, to go to which you need to expand the preview window to full screen or launch it through the context menu. So: if you need to quickly view several images in slideshow mode, just select them in the Finder and press not just the space bar, but ⌥ + Space(Option + Space).

Opening Dropbox Settings

Clicking the Dropbox icon in the menu bar displays latest files. To get into the settings, you need to additionally click on the gear in the pop-up window.

If unnecessary gestures are not part of your plans, then to open the settings, click on the icon in the menu bar while holding ⌥ (Option), and everything will be much faster.

Skip confirmation dialogs

When you restart your Mac, the system thoughtfully asks you if you need to open everything running applications after entering. Without a doubt this useful feature, but sometimes she's annoying.

To avoid dialogs confirming your actions, all you need to do is hold down the key ⌥ (Option) when you click on the “Restart” button.

Bonus

Hopefully, after reading this article, you'll be using the Option key a lot more often. If its location seems inconvenient to you, there is good news: useful key Option can be reassigned to practically useless Caps Lock. It is larger in size and located more conveniently.

There are no secrets here. Absolutely. Everything is done standard means through the keyboard settings. The option we need is located on the “Keyboard” tab, where you should click the “Modification keys” button and specify in the drop-down list for Caps keys Lock is replaced by the Option key.

You can't cut files in OS X. You can move them only by dragging or copying and pasting and then deleting the sources. But if you really want to, then you can.

To do this, we simply copy the desired file, but paste it into a new folder not as usual, using a keyboard shortcut ⌘+V(Command + V), and also while holding down the key ⌥ (Option). A similar trick works in a similar way for the menu bar: when you hold down the key ⌥ (Option) the “Insert object” item will change to “Move object”, which is what we need.

Deleting files without moving them to the trash

By default, all files after deletion go to the trash, from where they can be restored or deleted permanently. To avoid having to do more later, files can be deleted immediately.

Clear Safari History

And again he saves us magic key Option. Hold it down, open the “History” menu and select the changed item “Clear history, but save site data.” Ready!

Restarting Finder

The only OS X program that cannot be terminated is . However, situations when it needs to be restarted sometimes still arise (for example, for some changes to take effect).

The easiest way to do this is to call up the context menu by right-clicking on the Finder icon in the dock, but, as you probably already guessed, not just like that, but by holding down the key ⌥ (Option).

Copying the path to a file or folder

Want to paste the direct path to a file in an application? No problem!

Go to the folder with the desired file (or another folder) and open the menu by right-clicking. Now click ⌥ (Option), and, as if by magic, a new item will appear - “Copy path to...”.

Quick transition to the “Library”

"Library" is a folder containing various user data and settings. You can get into it through the Finder, but it’s much easier and faster to do it using our favorite key ⌥ (Option).

In Finder, open the Go menu and hold ⌥ (Option), select “Library”.

Turn on Do Not Disturb mode

It's better to just click on the notification center icon in the menu bar while holding down the you-know-what key. :)

Changes the default application for certain files

You just need to open Finder and right-click on the file and click ⌥ (Option). After this, the “Open in program” item will change to “Always open in program”, and we will only have to select the desired application from the drop-down list. The same can be done through the “File” item in the menu bar.

Saving a file

When editing files, OS X treats them very carefully and offers to write all changes to a duplicate. But if you just need to save your progress in another file, you can use the “hidden” command.

Precise adjustment of brightness, key backlight and volume

The display brightness, volume and key backlight adjustment scale has 16 levels. Sometimes this is enough, and sometimes it is not.

You can reduce the change step if the function keys F1 - F2, F5 - F6, F10 - F11 add combination ⇧ + ⌥ (Shift + Option). In this case, each division of the scale will be further divided into four parts.

Entering special characters

You can type from the Emoji & Symbols panel, which is hidden in the Keyboard menu. There is a complete table of symbols, divided into categories. If this method does not appeal to you, there is another.

Using the key ⌥ (Option) you can quickly enter various special characters directly from the keyboard. For example, the combination ⇧ + ⌥ + K(Shift + Option + K) enters a character  , which you see in the menu bar all the time. In the same way, you can enter currency symbols, arithmetic operations and any others. Until you remember the location of the characters, you can peek by turning on the display of the on-screen keyboard (click on the input source icon, then “Show Keyboard panel”).

Show all subfolders in Finder

Viewing files in list mode is quite convenient. The only annoying thing is having to manually open each subfolder. But this trouble can also be overcome if you don’t forget about the Option key.

All you need to do is press the main folder arrow while holding ⌥ (Option), and the entire folder tree will appear in front of you.

Skip duplicate files when copying

When you copy files that are already there into a folder, a dialog box appears asking you to leave both files, replace them, or stop the copying process.

There is actually another hidden option: the option to skip copying the duplicate file, and it will appear if you press the Option key in the dialog box.

Deselecting objects

You are probably familiar with the keyboard shortcut ⌘+A(Command + A), which works in all applications and allows you to select all elements or content. Finder has the opposite of this action.

To deselect objects, be they files or folders, press the same combination, but adding the key ⌥ (Option). Like this: ⌥ + ⌘ + A(Option + Command + A).

Hiding windows and forcing applications to quit

Opening settings for various functions

Display, sound, keyboard and Mission Control options can be changed from the standard settings, or in an easier way.

Display detailed network information

If you click on the icon in the menu bar, a list of available networks and several settings options will open. However, here you can also view detailed information about the active Wi-Fi network, including connection speed, IP and Mac address and much more.

You probably already understood what you need to do for this, but just in case I’ll say: you need to click on the Wi-Fi icon while holding down the key ⌥ (Option).

Switch to slideshow mode in Quick Look

Opening Dropbox Settings

Clicking the Dropbox icon in the menu bar displays the latest files. To get into the settings, you need to additionally click on the gear in the pop-up window.

If unnecessary gestures are not part of your plans, then to open the settings, click on the icon in the menu bar while holding ⌥ (Option), and everything will be much faster.

Skip confirmation dialogs

When you restart your Mac, the system thoughtfully asks you if you need to open all running applications after logging in. No doubt this is a useful feature, but sometimes it is annoying.

To avoid dialogs confirming your actions, all you need to do is hold down the key ⌥ (Option) when you click on the “Restart” button.

Bonus

Hopefully, after reading this article, you'll be using the Option key a lot more often. If you find its location inconvenient, there is good news: the useful Option key can be reassigned to the practically useless Caps Lock. It is larger in size and located more conveniently.

There are no secrets here. Absolutely. Everything is done using standard means through the keyboard settings. The option we need is located on the “Keyboard” tab, where you should click the “Modification Keys” button and specify a replacement for the Option key in the drop-down list for the Caps Lock key.

For most people, Apple computers are something out of science fiction, something strange, incomprehensible and very inconvenient. In part, such comments are fair, because Apple laptops and desktop machines very different from the Windows computers we are used to. A new Mac user is already stumped at the initial stage when faced with the fact that the keyboard does not work the way he is used to.

It is unknown whether such dramatic changes were caused by Steven Jobs' hatred of Microsoft products, or the Apple corporation has its own ideas about the anatomy of the hands, but the usual hot keys on their computers look and work somewhat differently. In this material, the reader will find answers to basic questions, such as: “Why doesn’t changing the layout work?”; "What does the Option key look like on a Mac?" and others. The solution to these and other problems is very close, you just need to spend some time setting it up.

Keyboard shortcuts (modifier keys)

Keyboard shortcuts Apple computers are not much different from those in Windows, with the exception of changing the layout. This means that all the usual combinations, such as “copy”, “paste”, “cancel” are in place, only the modifier key has changed, Command is used instead of Control. Command + C, Command + V and so on (which is logical, because that’s what Command is for, to execute commands).

Often modifier keys are indicated using special characters:

Name	Symbol	Meaning
Command		Performs a function used as the basis of a modifier.
Shift		Performs a function similar to that in Windows.
Option		Calls up alternative options.
Control		Used in complex combinations.
Caps Lock		Can be used as a modifier after installing Karabiner Elements, and commands can be assigned manually, regardless of system limitations.

Option key on Mac: where is it and how to use it?

Some advanced Mac users They call this key a magic key, because almost every function with its use opens up new horizons in using a computer. First, it’s worth finding out where Na modern laptops and keyboards from Apple Option located next to the Command buttons, and it says, attention, Alt. The same Alt, familiar to everyone who has sat down at a modern keyboard at least once in their life. What capabilities does this button provide?

Access to additional information in the toolbar:

By holding Option and hovering over the apple icon, you can access more complete information about the system.
On laptops you can get information about the battery status.
If you open the sound settings by holding down Option, you can select the playback source.

Quick access to settings and alternative options:

If you hold down Option while pressing, the system will automatically open the settings related to the specific function key.
All applications offer alternative keyboard shortcuts that are somehow related to the Option key, to do this, simply hold it down while viewing a function in the toolbar.
When using the creation tool backup copies Time Machine The Option key reveals all drives that contain at least one copy.

The Option button also allows you to enter alternative characters, identical to Windows (this applies to those who still use a hyphen instead of a dash).

Keyboard layout

We figured out that the key assignments in Mac are different from those in Windows. Now it’s worth understanding how the layout differs and how to fix it. Yes, yes, to fix it, because by default the Mac uses a keyboard layout familiar to those who have used a typewriter - Russian typescript. The technical structure of the typewriter forced the designers to place punctuation marks in top row keys so that they do not touch each other; on a computer, this approach only slows down the speed of typing, so you need to immediately change the layout. This is done simply:

Go to "System Settings".
Sub-item "Keyboard".
Submenu “Input Sources”.
Next you need to add new layout- Russian PC, and delete the old one.

Now all the keys are back in their places, and although the engraving on the keyboard does not coincide with the actual purpose of the buttons, anyone familiar with the blind text input method will be happy after changing the layout. Also, after this, the letter E, which many still use in printing to this day, will return to its place.

Switching layouts

The most ingrained habit of all Windows users is the combination Shift keys+Alt- a big problem for those new to the world of apples. There are two options for solving the problem: either get used to the new combination Command + spacebar (which is anatomically much more convenient), or install Punto Switcher from Yandex, which allows you to use both modifiers at the same time to change the keyboard layout, and also has a lot of other functions (for example, automatic change language without using a keyboard shortcut at all).

Instead of a conclusion

As can be seen from the above material, moving into the Apple universe is not only pleasure, but also a number of difficulties associated with certain habits that we acquire while using a computer. It's up to the buyer to put up with them and set up the computer or give up and go back to Microsoft, but with difficulties there is always a reward, and in the case of the Mac it is really worth it. Moreover, once you break the habit, you can understand that keyboard shortcuts are more logical and convenient than in Windows, and the Option key on a Mac is truly magical and the notorious Alt is no match for it.

Let's learn something new or refresh our memory of forgotten information.

Few people know about all the capabilities of the “ button Alt” (aka ⌥ Option) in the OS X operating system. With its help, you can perform a number of very useful actions, which will save time every day when working with Mac. Of course, in the system you can find dozens or hundreds of various shortcuts with this key, I will tell you about the most useful of them.

1. Cut out files when copying

Former Windows users Computers are looking at OS X with a missing file cut feature. Yes, my favorite combination “ Ctrl+X” or an analogue with the Command key, we will not find, but there is another way to transfer data. We have already, but now we just recall the sequence of actions:

copy any data by clicking on Command+C;
for simple insertion we use Command+V;
to transfer data (analogous to cutting) press Command+Alt+V.

2. Delete bypassing the trash can

We are used to deleting files by moving them to the trash. You can do this faster using a shortcut Command+Backspace. We add our favorite Alt key to it and get data erasing without moving it to the trash. Click Command+Alt+Backspace, we confirm the deletion and the data can no longer be found.

Another useful shortcut for getting rid of garbage would be Command+Shift+Backspace. This combination allows you to empty the Trash. However, it is worth adding the Alt key to it and Command+Alt+Shift+Backspace will delete everything from the trash without a confirmation window.

3. Copy the path to the file

Sometimes it is necessary to copy the path to specific file. Such a need may arise if the data is already open in specific folder, and we need to specify this path in the application settings or if we need to transfer the path to the data to another user.

We add the Alt key to the well-known Command+C shortcut and get the ability to copy the path to the data. If you select one or more files and click Command+Alt+C, then something like this will appear on the clipboard:

/Users/MacMini/Desktop/Report.doc

4. Change the default application

You know that in OS X you can easily select any application to open a certain type of file. To change this parameter, open the properties of any file the right type and choose suitable program. You can do this faster from the context menu.

Click Alt and the “Open in program” option changes to “Always open in program”.

5. Changing audio output devices

When connected to a computer wired headphones And bluetooth headset or speakers, you can quickly switch between sound sources directly from the menu bar. A simple click on the volume indicator will open the volume adjustment, and pressing with the key Alt will allow you to select the sound source and specify the audio input device (when there are several of them).

Don't forget about the other one. Pressing Alt paired with any of the buttons F10, F11 or F12 will open the system volume settings window.

6. View data about the Wi-Fi network

We continue to move along the menu bar and try to click on the indicator wireless connection. A regular press displays a list of available networks, and a press in conjunction with Alt will display all parameters of the current connection.

7. Turn on do not disturb mode

Enough useful feature, which allows you to protect yourself from notifications on certain time called like this:

open the Notification Center;
move it down to display the switch;
activate the mode.

It is much easier to press and hold the Notification Center icon in the menu bar Alt.

8. Open information about the system

To obtain data about the computer’s hardware bypassing standard window“About this Mac”, click on apple icon with the key held down Alt. The standard menu item will change to "System information...".

9. Turning focus to search

When working with Finder, you often need to search for data. Familiar keyboard shortcut Command+F, which triggers a search on a page in the same Safari, will open a new Explorer window. Let's add a button Alt and we will get a shortcut Command+Alt+F to move focus to the search bar.

10. Working with text

When using most text editors in OS X, the key Alt can greatly speed up your work. If you hold it down together with the cursor movement arrows, you can quickly jump through words, and holding it together with Backspace will lead to erasing an entire word, not just one character.

When working with text, take note Alt+Backspace And Alt+arrows.

Making something convenient even more convenient

If the utility of the key Alt Now there is no doubt, and your fingers are not used to pressing it blindly, you can easily change the assignment of the buttons in the system. To do this, go to Settings-Keyboard-Modification keys.