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Close the window of a running program (without shutting down the program) by pressing Ctrl-F4 (Windows) or Cmd-W (Mac). Note that this works only in some Windows programs but should work in all Mac programs.
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Al Fasoldt's reviews and commentaries, continuously available online since 1983

More Windows and Mac tips: All those little things you thought you'd never find out


Nov. 10, 2002


By Al Fasoldt
Copyright © 2002, Al Fasoldt
Copyright © 2002, The Post-Standard

   This is the last installment of my tips and tricks for 2002. Clip this or print it out and keep it handy.
   Give your hands a break. Stop typing "http://" and all that stuff in the address line of your Web browser. Just type the main part of the Web address and press Ctrl-Enter (on Windows PCs) or Cmd-Enter (on Macs). You can usually leave out both the "http://" prefix and the "com" suffix. (Stop running for your dictionary. "Prefix" comes before, as in "preschool," and "suffix" comes after, as in ... don't press me ... Suffer? Sufficient? If you know, write to me.)
   This works with all recent versions of Internet Explorer (for Windows and Macs). In other browsers, you might find that a similar method works. For example, in OmniWeb, a Mac OS X browser, a secondary line below the address line fills out the full address while you type in the partial one; you merely click on the full address line.
   Make short work of navigation by making shortcuts to files and folders. Windows calls them shortcuts and Macs call them aliases, but they're the same. They're tiny signposts that point to real files and folders. (You use them all the time when you surf the Web. They show up as bookmarks or favorites.)
   In Windows, click and drag with the right mouse button and let go. You'll see an option to create a shortcut. On a Mac, hold down Cmd and Option while you drag. When you let go, you will have created a shortcut (or alias). Shortcuts take up very little space, so don't be afraid to make zillions of them. Hidden tip: You can name a shortcut or alias anything you want. You don't ever have to stick with the name that shows up automatically.
   Got a new Mac? Double your clicking power by getting a wheel mouse made for PCs. Plug it in and take advantage of a right click and a scroll wheel. (Be sure it's a USB mouse.)
   Make icons behave. In Windows, right click on the desktop and uncheck "Auto Arrange" to make icons stick where you put them. The Finder menu supplies the same sort of thing on a Mac.
   Learn a little each day. An example: Did you know that pressing Ctrl-S (Windows) or Cmd-S (Mac) saves the file you are working on in your word processor and in most other programs?
   Little tips you can squirrel away so you can learn one a day for the next week:
   Switch quickly to any still-existing previous document in your Windows word processor: Press Alt-F, let go, press 1, 2, 3 or 4.
   Quit a running program by pressing Alt-F4 (Windows) or Cmd-Q (Mac).
   Close just the window of a running program (without shutting down the program) by pressing Ctrl-F4 (Windows) or Cmd-W (Mac). Note that this works only in some Windows programs but should work in all Mac programs.
   Rename items quickly. In Windows, select the item, press F2 and type a new name. On the Mac, select the item, press Enter and type a new name.
   To write yourself a quick reminder, leave a note on your desktop by creating a folder that uses the name as the note.
      On a Windows PC: Right click on the desktop, choose "New," then "Folder," and type a very short note (such as GET MILK ON WAY HOME), then press Enter. (Don't use weird characters. Use letters and numbers only.)
      On a modern Mac: Ctrl-click on the Desktop (right click if your Mac has a right mouse button) and choose "New Folder." Type a very short note (see example above), then press Enter.
   Wonder if you're having mail problems? Put your own e-mail address in your address book and give it a short name such as "==" (two equals signs). Then, whenever you're not sure if your mail is working right, send a note to "==" and pick up the mail a few minutes later. If you get your note, you know that your computer is sending mail OK, your ISP is passing it along OK and your computer is receiving mail OK.
   Make program windows as big as possible by double-clicking the top title bar (in Windows) or clicking the green button at top left (on a Mac). Reverse the procedure with the same technique.
   ---
   After this article was published, reader Ed McCorduck wrote to tell me the derivation of "suffix." Here's his explanation:
   Since you asked in your column this morning, here is the etymology of suffix: suf- is an assimilated form of the Latin prefix sub-, meaning 'under' or the semantically related 'behind' or 'after,' before the root fix which comes from Latin figere 'to fix' or 'to attach.' I should humbly point out that because I'm a language professional, I oughta know about this stuff.