'tab' between save options

[northerner]

Let's suppose I've been working on a txt file, and I go to close TextEdit. It prompts me to 'Save' (highlighted by default), Dont' Save, or Cancel.
How do I move between those options (ie highlight the next button) without touching the mouse?!
I'm a switcher, and would be accustomed to simply using tab to move between the options - but on my mac I can't find any keystroke which does it - and have to click the one I want (if its not the default highlighted one) and its driving me nuts!
Thanks for being here.

 

[GGJstudios]

Control-Tab

Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts

Helpful Information for Any Mac User

 

[Knoodles]

You need to turn on full keyboard access all controls in System Preferences>Keyboard. Then you can use Tab and Spacebar to select.

 

[Knoodles]

Control-Tab

Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts

Helpful Information for Any Mac User

Don't you mean Option-Tab?

 

[GGJstudios]

Don't you mean Option-Tab?

Nope. Control-Tab.

Control-Tab : Move focus to the next grouping of controls in a dialog or the next table (when Tab moves to the next cell)

 

[northerner]

Thanks

The key was turning on 'all controls' in Keyboard Sys prefs, which I didn't know about.
Once I did that, I can either Option-tab or Ctrl-tab between them.
Thanks a lot.

 

[northerner]

Whoa...

Tab on its own also (apparently) moves the selection, to put a blue 'haze' around the next option - but the 'Save' button stays solid blue. Pressing Enter when one of the other options is 'hazed' simply opens the Save dialogue box. So the hazed option is not selected.
Thought I was going forward, but apparently not!

 

[Knoodles]

Tab on its own also (apparently) moves the selection, to put a blue 'haze' around the next option - but the 'Save' button stays solid blue. Pressing Enter when one of the other options is 'hazed' simply opens the Save dialogue box. So the hazed option is not selected.
Thought I was going forward, but apparently not!

Use the Spacebar to select once highlighted.

 

[northerner]

Thanks again

Yep, that does it.
Thanks, much appreciated.

Just smiled - my join date was 2007 - when I tried to switch but really couldn't because of a lack of enterprise quality Exchange email client. Had to go back to the dark side. Outlook for mac has now made it possible - so I must be the longest-serving newbie in here...

 

[GGJstudios]

- so I must be the longest-serving newbie in here...

Not quite, but we're glad to have you, anyway! Check out this post by a "newbie" six days ago, and note the join date!

 

[northerner]

newbie

wow. He doesn't have time to post though - too much music to listen to

 

[GGJstudios]

wow. He doesn't have time to post though - too much music to listen to

LOL. His library sounds like mine!

 

[Knoodles]

wow. He doesn't have time to post though - too much music to listen to

No kidding!

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

You can also often use Command and the first letter of the option you're wanting in a dialog box. For instance, in most cases, cmd-D would select "Don't Save." This doesn't always work, but I find it works the majority of the time in dialog boxes.