A Keyboard shortcut to open Finder or to change to finder's window ?

Not to my knowledge. apple+tab can be a great way to switch quickly between apllications. Pressing f11 (provided you have this set to expose) and then clicking on the desktop background could also function as an effective shortcut

Message was edited by: tmx3

I also don't believe this is possible to set in OS X as it is. For instance in System Preferences - Keyboard & Mouse - Keyboard shortcuts the command you wish to shortcut to has to exist somewhere.

There are third-party applications that do it, like [Quicksilver|http://www.blacktree.com/?quicksilver].

I just played around with Automator to see if i could record the action to open Finder through the File-Services but didn't manage for some reason. Also it was a bit slow in the execution.

I also found [this link|http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=56654] where a script is suggested and while it works I'm not sure it can be shortcut to.

To tmx3's excellent suggestion re Alt-Tab (which is the simplest bar a shortcut application like Quicksilver) I would only add that once you've got the focus moved to Finder (after one or several Tab presses), just press CMD-N to open a new Finder window. Which folder you open can be set in Finder-Preferences-General tab.

/p

Click on the Finder's Dock icon. That action brings all open Finder windows to the front. If you want the Finder itself, click on the Desktop.

If you have Keyboard Navigation enabled in the Keyboard Shortcuts, Ctrl-F3 will bring up the Dock, with Finder selected, and then hitting space or return will activate the finder.

What I did was add the path to my Downloads folder to my Safari Bookmarks Bar (i.e., "file:///Users/ ***/Downloads/"), thus whilst in Safari, Command+1 (or whatever position you've assigned it to in the Bookmarks Bar) opens my Downloads folder. Voila - instant switch to Finder. 🙂


//edit: I also just remembered Spark, a keyboard shortcut creator/manager… http://www.shadowlab.org/Software/spark.php

Message was edited by: ElleW

Glad that works for you. The ones I suggested do the same thing—also with a single click. With the Downloads folder on the Dock, clicking it also works, depending on which setting and view you're using.

Yes, of course baltwo, but OP asked for a keyboard shortcut (also, you're suggestion is fine if Finder windows are already open).

I mentioned the keyboard shortcut from Safari, but using the Spark app that I linked to will allow you to set a global hotkey to open the Finder window of your choice. (I just tried it and it worked from any app).

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/4789/sparkhotkeysjf9.png

Message was edited by: ElleW

OK. I just don't see a how an alias to your Downloads folder constitutes a keyboard shortcut. However, if that does something for you, have at it. Me, I just click on Dock icons, but have removed the Downloads folder from there, since I use another for that repository.

As I said, the shortcut can point to any Finder folder, the point being that Finder opens/comes to the front 😉

Welcome to the Apple discussions. We can always use more people who can read around here!

ElleW wrote:
What I did was add the path to my Downloads folder to my Safari Bookmarks Bar (i.e., "file:///Users/ ***/Downloads/"), thus whilst in Safari, Command+1 (or whatever position you've assigned it to in the Bookmarks Bar) opens my Downloads folder. Voila - instant switch to Finder. 🙂

All the OP needs now is a shortcut to take him to Safari so he can use that shortcut.

3 posts up I mentioned Spark to set a global shortcut. (OP used Safari as an example, thus I followed with my Safari example.) 🙂

Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems to me tmx3's answer works fine. You are in a program, and you use Command-Tab to switch to Finder--if you have several programs open, just keep tapping the Tab key while continuing to hold down the Command key until you've cycled to Finder as the selected item. Release the Command key and you are "in" Finder. If you have a Finder window open you will be "in" that window. If you have several windows open Command-~ (Tilde) will cycle between each of them and the Desktop. If you don't have a Finder window open, once you have switched to Finder with Command-Tab just hit Command-N and you'll get whatever your default Finder window is--mine is set to my home folder.
Francine


Francine
Schwieder

You are missing something Francine…
This is a contest to come up with the most convoluted method of switching to the Finder without using the Mouse.