Little tips and tricks for daily comp work

[Kalemic]

So I love reading about little tips and tricks for things that might be obvious, but can fly under the radar for daily computing. So here's a thread for all those little shortcuts we use!

I'll go first.

For those that use multiple computers (laptops, work computers, desktops) and get annoyed installing their programs on each station and then inputing all the necessary information and tweaking them, there is an easy way to keep them synced for some specific programs.

I suggest a syncing service (sugarsync, syncplicity, MS live folders, etc), and have one folder for programs that is synced between them all. Then drop in any of the portable applications, such as the ones at http://portableapps.com/ like Filezilla into that folder. Voila, you'll have only one copy of Filezilla that will remain the same on all of your computers.

 

[Rajio]

hotkeys

and delicious for bookmarks (where i went to dig up the hotkeys link)

also if you don't know about RSS you better axe somebody!

 

[Flashy_McFlash]

Lifehacker is wonderful for little tips like this.

 

[workdowntown]

Seconding hotkeys/shortcut keys.

Saves me a bunch of time.

My most used would probably be
Win+D show desktop
Win+R open run dialog
Ctrl+C copy
Ctrl+V paste
Ctrl+A select all


Also if you need some custom shortcuts/automated tasks, autohotkey is fantastic.

 

[Wiseman]

ALT+Tab to switch between windows.

 

[matty]

Make a policy of not using your desktop for anything besides temporary storage. If it's there for longer than a day it belongs elsewhere.

 

[JamesM]

Seconding hotkeys/shortcut keys.

Saves me a bunch of time.

My most used would probably be
Win+D show desktop
Win+R open run dialog
Ctrl+C copy
Ctrl+V paste
Ctrl+A select all


Also if you need some custom shortcuts/automated tasks, autohotkey is fantastic.

CTRL insert and SHIFT insert are the bomb for copy paste. Too bad most new keyboards just put in one honkin delete key.

grr. Im lucky at work tho.

 

[workdowntown]

CTRL insert and SHIFT insert are the bomb for copy paste. Too bad most new keyboards just put in one honkin delete key.

grr. Im lucky at work tho.

Great on a desktop agreed.
My laptop key arrangement sucks for anything to do with Ins.

 

[SneakyPete]

Alt + Ctrl + Delete

 

[coleridge]

F2 to rename the selected file.

 

[daddyiwantchocolate]

little tips and tricks

This makes me want to hurt you.

 

[derek]

Lifehacker is wonderful for little tips like this.

agreed. most the tips on lifhacker are timesaving and worthwhile.

 

[Bass-Invader]

When dumping a set of files on top of a set of existing files sometimes windows will ask you if you want to overwrite files that have the same name

It will give you the choice of
Yes, Yes to All, No

If you hold shift while clicking No, it will function as a No to All. Not sure if they fixed this in vista.

 

[Kalemic]

So for the nerd set, I was at Walmart today and found the best, cheapest cable ties yet.

50 Velcro brand cable ties for less than $5.

I like.

 

[d.code]

and remember kids- CTRL is COMMAND on the mac.

 

[ScottBentley]

Shortkeys

^^^try it free for 30 days.

ShortKeys is a utility that allows you to set up replacement text or paragraphs for any given number of user defined keystrokes. ShortKeys monitors the keyboard activity on a global nature and anytime a user defined keystroke combination is typed in, it will be replaced with the replacement text.

Save Time! Automate tedious and repetitive typing. Reduce errors. Type a few characters and ShortKeys will replace them with up to 3000 keystrokes. You will be amazed how much time ShortKeys will save.

Countless Uses. If you find yourself typing the same thing over and over again, then this product is for you.

 

[Aerius Zension]

Some companies hiring graphic designers will hire solely on how many keyboard shortcuts you know.

 

[Wiseman]

So for the nerd set, I was at Walmart today and found the best, cheapest cable ties yet.

50 Velcro brand cable ties for less than $5.

I like.

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Wiseman]

When dumping a set of files on top of a set of existing files sometimes windows will ask you if you want to overwrite files that have the same name

It will give you the choice of
Yes, Yes to All, No

If you hold shift while clicking No, it will function as a No to All. Not sure if they fixed this in vista.

Fixed in vista. There is a check for doing the same action to the next(##) conflicts. Nice that it tells you how many there are.

 

[KiFe]

I use windows key+E at least 5 times daily.
It brings up file explorer.

In firefox: ctrl+L jumps you to the location bar.
and ctrl+L followed by TAB is a quick way to get to the google bar and start a new search.

accelerate your workflow!

anyone know how to cycle between tabs using the keyboard in firefox? that would be handy.

 

[lobo]

Yup, crtl+pageup/down

Lobo

 

[Flashy_McFlash]

Aren't the best cable ties twist ties or pipecleaners? I'm sure one could repurpose something from Dollarama if one were industrious enough.

 

[JamesM]

lately I have been digging. CTRL + left/right arrow keys (skip forward + backward through text)

and alternatively. If you are a programmer or mad copy and paster. ctrl+shift+left/right arrow.

 

[Rajio]

So for the nerd set, I was at Walmart today and found the best, cheapest cable ties yet.

50 Velcro brand cable ties for less than $5.

I like.

Woah, for reals? WTF isn't there a Wal-Mart downtown

 

[Wiseman]

There is a Walmart at dufferin mall