As an efficiency maven, I have always been attuned to keyboard shortcuts as a way to increase productivity on a Mac. For starters, they keep my hands on the keyboard rather than shifting to mouse or trackpad, input devices that I find overall less efficient.
Previously, in Efficiency Dexterity, I shared a brief history of keyboard shortcuts, many of which also translate to iPhone and iPad when using an external keyboard. I introduced one way to discover them by way of browsing the menus in an application.
I also wrote about how to create your own shortcuts in Command Day. Plus, when getting Help! (in Mac Apps), you might find a shortcut in the course of searching for a menu item whose location you don’t already know.
I recently reminded myself about my writings on this topic when I rediscovered a blog post from 2012. I shared a story about helping a client who was excited to learn new shortcuts and mentioned an app called CheatSheet that made it easy to discover or remember shortcuts in a given application.
While CheatSheet is not longer available, comparable apps including KeyCue and KeyClu fill its gap. Both offer methods to learn and create keyboard shortcuts on the Mac.
KeyCue has been around since 2004, is more polished, and developer Ergonis actively updates it. The app is not free; beyond a free trial, it currently costs $40 for a one-time license to the current major version or $20/year for all minor and major updates while subscribed.
Meanwhile, KeyClu is a more recent development by Anze’s Laboratory, also actively updated, and currently free.
Client Notes
Last week, I finally helped Linda set up her new Mac and recommended a new Mac to Katharine. I also worked with Estella, Ronna, and Ann to clean up and strengthen their logins using 1Password, each at a different stage of familiarity with this excellent app.
Plus, I explored calendar syncing with Ann, Nancy, and Julie, and helped them consolidate their calendar lists for easier scheduling experiences. While teaching Julie some valuable keyboard shortcuts, I was reminded of an early blog post that inspired today’s article.
See an Application’s Keyboard Shortcuts
Using KeyCue or KeyClu, you can see all of an application’s keyboard shortcuts in a grid. Each app offers a method to display this overlay, such as holding the Command key. KeyClu also offers to keep the panel on the screen or dismiss it when you let go of the last modifier key.
While on screen, hold any modifier key(s) and those that use this combination will change color. KeyCue also offers a search field to help you locate a command and its the shortcut, if it exists.
Both apps can also show system-wide shortcuts in the same grid, if enabled. So, if you didn’t know that Command+Option+D enables or disables hiding the Dock, this is an easy way to find out.
Create Your Own Keyboard Shortcuts
It’s easy to make your own shortcut in any application, even with keys not permitted by System Settings. For example, I was recently hoping to make a shortcut in Messages for Delete Conversation…. However, macOS doesn’t allow me to use the Delete key in a custom shortcut.
I can instead use KeyCue to make the shortcut, simply mousing over the menu item and holding the shortcut until KeyCue indicates it’s set. KeyClu, on the other hand, integrates with CustomShortcuts, an app by Houdah.
In the latter case, you can use CustomShortcuts to create new shortcuts and it will autocomplete menu items as you type. Or, within KeyClu, you can edit existing shortcuts and the app will launch CustomShortcuts to complete this process.
This is not as elegant as KeyCue, but it works, and your feedback will probably lead to improvements. Regardless, custom keyboard shortcuts will naturally appear in each app’s grid just the same.
Note: In the case of shortcuts using restricted keys like Delete, you must also grant Full Disk Access to KeyCue, which the app will prompt; CustomShortcuts requires this permission upon first launch. Either way, doing so enables you to can create shortcuts using these keys just like any other.
Show All Emoji
KeyCue adds one more nicety. For easier selection of Emoji, you can show a grid of all available Emoji. Just double-tap a Shift key. When the grid appears, mouse over emoji for their names and categories, search at the bottom for the one you seek, and click one to insert it.
KeyCue has additional features, such as quick access to common URLs, files, and folders, as well as integration with other Ergonis apps.
KeyClu offers more thorough visual customization, which might overwhelm or perfectly satisfy the user, depending on their tech savvy and patience.
I don’t think KeyCue is for me but I’m going to let KeyClu hang around for a while and maybe it will stick. If nothing else, I’ll probably keep CustomShortcuts because it’s better than System Settings.
Post a comment if one of these benefits you particularly or let me know if you want any coaching with it.
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