What tips for what fingers to use for Ctrl+C (V, X, S etc)

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Level 1

17 points

What tips for what fingers to use for Ctrl+C (V, X, S etc)

Having come from windows I am finding it hard to get used to the Mac keyboard.. the Cmd + C, V, X, Z, S, A etc. (all the common copy, paste, select, undo, redo etc shortcuts) are difficult to do. I used to be able to use them all the time, very quickly. Little finger on the Ctrl Key, then first finger on the letter key.

Cant do that now, I seem to have a mix of thumb on the Cmd, first finger on the key, but thats not goof for Cmd + C and V, so then revert to maybe use 4th finger on Cmd, First finger on key.

I just wondered if there was a good finger to key combo to use that I need to get used to, so its as easy as it was on Windows.

P.S. I honestly think the windows keys for this are better, I cant see how it can be as easy on Mac keyboard, but maybe it just means getting use to it so will keep trying if I can find a good combination.

Thanks

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.3)

Posted on Feb 1, 2011 5:26 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

dwb

Level 7

33,256 points

Feb 1, 2011 6:37 AM in response to amityuk

I move between Windows and the Mac several times a day and this Ctrl Cmd thing used to drive me nuts - muscle memory is so strong! If you launch the System Preferences and select the Keyboard tab, you'll see a button at the bottom left labeled Modifier keys. You can use this to switch the function of the Cmd and Ctrl keys so your muscle memory can continue to work.

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Answer 2

Feb 1, 2011 8:34 AM in response to amityuk

For what it's worth, this is what I use (mostly) (numbering counts thumb as 1, so little finger is 5). All left hand.

Command-B 5,2
Command-V 4,2
Command-C 4,3
Command-X 1,2
Command-Z 2,3
Command-Q 1,3
Command-A 1,2
No fingers crossed over. Having learned the piano helps.

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Answer 3

amityuk Author

Level 1

17 points

Feb 1, 2011 8:06 AM in response to dwb

I can use any fingers I know, the point is none of them I try seem natural, its an effort, so wondered what others naturally use so I can concentrate on using them rather than something that wont quite work. Nothing is coming natural at the moment.

I did not want to modify the keys because I want to give up windows for good, and online you will see references to certain command key functions, which may not work, I have to try remembering what keys I have swapped them for. I used to use a british normal keyboard on the mac ( have a special language/keyboard installed for it) so Ctrl+key worked fine, but could never remember what key Cmd was etc. when reading about key combinations. I wanted to revert to Mac keyboard to use the wireless connectivity, smaller keyboard, and basically because I dont want to use windows again!

I am sure I will find the best way. At the moment seems to be going toward a combination of thumb + first finger (Z, X, C, V, A, S, W), thumb + middle finger (Q)

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Answer 4

BobHarris

Level 9

56,933 points

Feb 1, 2011 11:13 AM in response to amityuk

On my iMac I've added an Apple Magic Trackpad, then I've configured BetterTouchTool so that I can use finger gestures for a lot of those Command-key combos 🙂 Should work just as well on Mac laptops.

If you really just want to make the switch and do not want to swap Control for Command, then you should really train your fingers to use the Command. It will be the least pain in the long run.

The other possibility is to get a hotkey utility such as BetterTouchTool, or Spark, or any number of commercial hotkey utilities, then map Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V, Ctrl-X, etc...

Many of these hotkey utilities can bind the action to a specific app, or in a specific app ignore a global binding, in case the app needs that key combo.

Over time you can migrate off of the mappings with practice.

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