Tantek Çelik

Independent technologist, writer, teacher

  3. Keyboard Shortcut to Open Mac OS X System Preferences

    Hannah: I wish there was a keyboard shortcut to open system preferences.

    Tantek: That would be useful, wouldn't it. ... Your wish is granted.

    On Mac OS X 10.6 (likely works on previous versions)

    1. From the Apple () menu, choose System Preferences...
    2. On the Hardware row, click Keyboard
    3. At the top of the window, click Keyboard Shortcuts
    4. In the left column, click Application Shortcuts
    5. Click the [+] (plus sign) button just underneath the right column
    6. Make sure the Application: pop-up shows All Applications (or pick it)
    7. In the Menu Title: field type System Preferences... (case-sensitive!)
    8. Tab/click/activate the Keyboard Shortcut: field
    9. Press the shift command comma keys simultaneously
    10. You should see ⇧⌘, appear in the field
    11. Click the Add button and close the System Preferences window
    12. Click on the Apple () menu and note the System Preferences... ⇧⌘, menu item

    Now no matter what application you're in, if you simply hold down the shift key and press command-comma (the normal application preferences shortcut), it will open System Preferences instead.

    Afterwards I found this article on Macworld which explains pretty much the same thing in prose, however they recommend command-option-dash as a shortcut.

    I prefer shift-command-comma for the System Preferences... keyboard shortcut because my muscle memory is already trained to think command-comma for the application Preferences menu item, and it's easier to just think "shift" (like shift-up to the level of the whole system) for system-wide preferences.

    Update: On Mac OS X before 10.6, you may need to type in an actual ellipsis character (…) in step 7 System Preferences… (via @ljharb: 1, 2).

  5. quite enjoyed Techmosis talking with @lastfm on CASSIS NewCalendar NewBase60 Whistle Falcon RelMeAuth NewBase64 OctalGeo

  7. Dear London friends, I'll be in your lovely city soon for several days. Dinner Sunday night? DM/IM/email/txt me.

  8. OH: I'd been into web design for a while before I got RSI in high school. #csswg

  13. boarding a 747, hearing the #Inception soundtrack. Not 1st class, nor returning to children, so I know it's not a dream.

  14. 10 years since Oslo, 2 since London/Brighton. still have the maps. wondering how this orbit will differ.

  16. accidentally hit the "block" link instead of "message" on a @Twitter profile Web UI, anyone else do this? cc: @k

  17. The Creamery (4th + Townsend) is everything they say. good food, great Ritual coffee, outside seating, fast wifi.

  18. comets slow near the sun, near enough to share a warming drink, before flying off in different directions.