Keyboard Access to All OS X’s Dialogue Boxes
The last two episodes of The Mac Geek Gab featured two listener tips relating to controlling pop-up dialogue boxes via the keyboard. Both of these tips addressed something that has always annoyed me about OS X: a rare and random inconsistency in the overall UI that allowed some but not all dialogue boxes to be manipulated without reaching for the mouse. For the most part, Leopard is consistent across applications as to the visual presentation of UI elements. In my opinion, this consistency should extend to every basic element of usage as well.
To gain more control over dialog boxes, first go into System Preferences, Keyboard and Mouse, Keyboard Settings and change “Full keyboard access” from “Text boxes and lists only” to “All controls.” This simple change will allow you to tab between buttons of dialog boxes as if they were text fields, highlighting each button with a subtle but distinct blue aqua glow.
The second tip compliments the first beautifully. Most users know that the Return key will, when pressed with a dialogue box open, select whichever button is bright blue. But I had no idea that pressing the space bar will select, not the bright blue button, but whatever button is surrounded by the glowing aqua mentioned in the last paragraph.
These two hints, then, when taken together, provide complete keyboard access to systemwide dialogue buttons using only the Tab key, the space bar and the Return key.
If you’re interested in applicable, pro Mac troubleshooting tips then I can’t recommend The Mac Geek Gab enough.
