3 ms·

The worst for me is being able to select the non-default option in an alert window. Sometimes CMD + 'the first letter of the word in the button' works, but that

The worst for me is being able to select the non-default option in an alert window. Sometimes CMD + 'the first letter of the word in the button' works, but that's like a 30% chance. How is there not a standard for that? I'd even accept the arrow keys + Enter at this point.

addaon 2y ago
If the non-default option is a cancellation or negative action, cmd-period should usually work.
- perdomon 2y ago
  This is a great tip that I didn't know about. Thank you. It doesn't work for Numbers, since I need to DELETE not Cancel the file changes, but I'm sure it'll work in a ton of other places.
  - addaon 2y ago
    Delete button in dialog: cmd-delete. (Edit: Just tested this in numbers, works fine. In cases where the button isn't correctly tagged as a "delete" button it might not -- in that case, cmd-<first letter of button content> will almost always work.)
    - perdomon 2y ago
      Absolute legend
    - perdomon 2y ago
      Okay, one more question. When I have multiple terminal tabs open with processes running, I get an alert window with three options: Review Windows, Terminate Processes, Cancel: https://imgur.com/a/mNQNRaI https://imgur.com/a/mNQNRaI I can cancel with CMD + (period), but I can't seem to select Terminate Processes with anything except the mouse, since it isn't the default option and it isn't cancel. Any idea if this one is possible without turning on the keyboard navigation accessibility option?
      - addaon 2y ago
        It /should/ be cmd-t, but just confirmed that that doesn't work. I'd consider this a bug, and would suggest filing a radar for it.
        perdomon 2y ago
        I’ve never done that before but will! How fun!
samatman 2y ago
System Settings / Accessibility / Keyboard / Full Keyboard Access This is macOS we're talking about. You can move the pointer with your face if you want (or more likely, if you need to).
egypturnash 2y ago
Often space cycles this, for some reason.
- perdomon 2y ago
  This is a nice tip! This does not work for MacOS alerts that want you to enter data (like a file name to save), but I will be using this and the other guy's CMD + . (period) tip as much as possible in every other scenario.
kps 2y ago
> How is there not a standard for that? There was, long ago, in the Macintosh Human Interface Guidelines.
- wkat4242 2y ago
  Which apple always sets an example for by not following.

addaon 2y ago

If the non-default option is a cancellation or negative action, cmd-period should usually work.

perdomon 2y ago
This is a great tip that I didn't know about. Thank you. It doesn't work for Numbers, since I need to DELETE not Cancel the file changes, but I'm sure it'll work in a ton of other places.
- addaon 2y ago
  Delete button in dialog: cmd-delete. (Edit: Just tested this in numbers, works fine. In cases where the button isn't correctly tagged as a "delete" button it might not -- in that case, cmd-<first letter of button content> will almost always work.)
  - perdomon 2y ago
    Absolute legend
  - perdomon 2y ago
    Okay, one more question. When I have multiple terminal tabs open with processes running, I get an alert window with three options: Review Windows, Terminate Processes, Cancel: https://imgur.com/a/mNQNRaI https://imgur.com/a/mNQNRaI I can cancel with CMD + (period), but I can't seem to select Terminate Processes with anything except the mouse, since it isn't the default option and it isn't cancel. Any idea if this one is possible without turning on the keyboard navigation accessibility option?
    - addaon 2y ago
      It /should/ be cmd-t, but just confirmed that that doesn't work. I'd consider this a bug, and would suggest filing a radar for it.
      - perdomon 2y ago
        I’ve never done that before but will! How fun!

samatman 2y ago

System Settings / Accessibility / Keyboard / Full Keyboard Access This is macOS we're talking about. You can move the pointer with your face if you want (or more likely, if you need to).

egypturnash 2y ago

Often space cycles this, for some reason.

perdomon 2y ago
This is a nice tip! This does not work for MacOS alerts that want you to enter data (like a file name to save), but I will be using this and the other guy's CMD + . (period) tip as much as possible in every other scenario.

kps 2y ago

> How is there not a standard for that? There was, long ago, in the Macintosh Human Interface Guidelines.

wkat4242 2y ago
Which apple always sets an example for by not following.