Yes, I have a degree in IT. No, that doesn’t mean I automatically know how to use every single feature of every single computer program ever written (I wish!).
Even though this might violate the unofficial “guy code” and the “geek protocol” I’m going to come out and admit to something.
It’s OK to ask for help.
Whoa, you have no idea how much better I feel now! That was really liberating.
Finding help on for Mac apps couldn’t be easier. You can use Google and pray that you type in something that gives you back something relevant or you can the Help Search function built in to every new Mac since late 2007.
If you don’t know how to use Google you’re probably also running Windows and I can’t help you (no one can). Sorry.
If you’re on a Mac, you’re in luck—I’ve got a great little shortcut to share with you.
Let’s suppose I’m writing a message in Sparrow and want to copy some text from a Web page in Chrome, but also want it to have the same formatting as the rest of the email.
To find out how to do that hold the Shift, Command, and Forward Slash keys and then — BAM!!!!
The Help Menu Search comes up for Sparrow (or whatever the active application is). As soon as I start typing, suggested menu items start to appear.
The more text I type, the more refined the search results appear. I can use the keyboard arrows to select the desired result; how to paste text and match document formatting in this example.
The popular Webcomic XKCD has perfectly summed up how I go about helping when I’m asked how to do something on a computer with this handy, dandy flowchart.
Image via XKCD
Where do you go for IT help when you don’t know what to do? Sound off in the comments below.
All images are from my flickr, unless otherwise noted.
