[This article was first published in the February, 2009, issue of
Larry's Final Cut Pro Newsletter. Click here to subscribe.]

I was surprised to discover that I have not written about a technique that I use in almost every project: a very fast way to find a keyboard shortcut or menu.

Apple has hidden it in plain sight: its called the Button List.

To display it, choose Tools > Button List.

An instant later, when it appears, it lists the 30 different groups of menus inside Final Cut Pro.

To see just how extensive this list is, twirl down any one of the categories. For instance, here is just a partial list of the menu choices in the File menu. The left side of the list is the menu name, on the right side is the keyboard shortcut assigned to it - if any.

Note: If you have created custom keyboard shortcuts, they will appear in this list as well. This does not distinguish between custom and default keyboard shortcuts.

Here is where the Button List gets REALLY helpful.

In the search box, type the first letter or two of what you are looking for. For instance, type the letter W and see all the keyboard shortcuts that contain the letter "W."

Or type just the first letters of a menu choice and see if there's a shortcut assigned to it.

This is just such a flat-out fast way to find shortcuts that I find myself using it on a regular basis.

Larry Jordan is a post-production consultant and an Apple-Certified Trainer in Digital Media with over 25 years experience as producer, director and editor with network, local and corporate credits. Based in Los Angeles, he's a member of both the Directors Guild of America and the Producers Guild of America.

The information in this article is believed to be accurate at the time of publication. However, the author assumes no liability in case things go wrong. Please use your best judgment in applying these suggestions.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. This newsletter has not been reviewed or sanctioned by Apple or any other third party. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are mentioned here for editorial purposes only.

Links to my website home page or this article are welcome and don't require prior permission.