Dialog box shortcut keys

Question

Dialog box shortcut keys

Hi all,

Apologies if this is a stupid question. 🙂

When a dialog box appears, let's say with 2 buttons. For example renaming a file and changing the extension from .html to .php. Finder asks if you want to keep the extension .html or use .php - pretty standard stuff.

Is there a shortcut to select 1 or the other button? I want to be able to rename files using the keyboard only and I can't see a way of doing this ... tab doesn't move to the next button, alt-<letter> (like Windows) doesn't work etc.

Can someone point out what obvious shortcut I'm missing?

Thanks!

15" Macbook Pro Core i7, Mac OS X (10.6.4), 27" iMac Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Aug 9, 2010 10:12 PM

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Answer 1

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,252 points

Aug 9, 2010 10:25 PM in response to digitalformula

You can turn on full keyboard access in Keyboard System Prefs, Keyboard Shortcuts. That will allow you to tab through the buttons and select one. The default button will be highlighted as a solid color, and the next button will be outlined in the highlight color. Space will hit the outlined button and return will hit the solid (default) button.

Also, most applications support cmd+first letter of button to select that button. I'm not sure how it will work with a .html and .php. You'll have to experiment.

And, esc is cancel along with cmd-. Return is default button.

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