The Best Mac Tips – Productivity Tips for Mac Users (2015)

DIVVY

DIVVY IS A UNIQUE way of managing your workspace through which you can divvy up your screen by dividing it into exact portions in a quick and highly efficient manner. With Divvy, you can make a single click after which you can drag into the Divvy interface. This will help your window to get resized so that you can move it to a particular portion of the screen.

Divvy is a fresh and new approach that hands over the control to you, allowing you to decide how your window is divided. By using Divvy to divide up your screen, you can make the most of things especially when you work on Macbooks that have small screens.

Divvy is a powerful app that allows you to manage and organize the placement and size of your open desktop and application windows. It also comes with a free trial.

How Divvy Solves Your Problems

Suppose you would like to have your screen split in two equal halves to enable you to run two different applications on your desktop simultaneously. Or you would like to create two separate finder screens to enable you to have your files transferred from one folder to the other.

Generally, this process would be extremely time consuming and difficult but that’s where Divvy comes in. It divides your screen into exact portions by just two simple keystrokes regardless of the type of application you are using.

How It Works

· Click on the application icon or press on the keyboard shortcut

· You will be able to view a grid through which you can select the amount of the screen space you would like to fill up with that particular window

· Repeat this process for all of the other applications you would like to open and your screen will be full of as many apps you would like to view on your screen

· Lastly, you can set your keyboard shortcuts to re-arrange your windows in the order you like

To simplify the process, here are some more elaborate steps to help you understand its working process:

· A display panel pops up and has the active window re-arranged in accordance with the location or size in which you would like it to appear on the grid.

· Upon dragging your cursor, you will be able to make a square or rectangle in the grid so as to resize your window.

· The portion of your screen that is a representation of a particular square on your grid will be highlighted.

· The amount of squares appearing onto the grid can be decreased as well as increased. You can then access the panel by either making use of the user-set hotkeys or by selecting the Divvy app icon from the menu bar.

Enabling Divvy to Work On Mac

· Open up the System Preferences on your Mac after having installed the application

· Select the option of Security & Privacy

· Click on the Privacy tab

· Select Accessibility

After performing the above steps, you will be required to unlock it and you can do this by clicking on the lock which is located at the very bottom of the window. You will then need to enter your Mac’s password and click on the check mark which you can find present beside the application to enable it.

Features of Divvy

Following are some of the features you can expect with Divvy:

Flexibility

Divvy allows you to create custom grids for each and every one of your applications.

No Configuration

This app does not require any configuration. All you need to do is install the app after which you can start organizing your windows immediately without the need for any learning curve or set up time.

Multiple Displays

This app allows you to have multiple displays and the application’s interface appears onto every screen. If you would like to resize a window as well as have it moved to a different screen, all you will be required to do is to make use of the Divvy interface on the respective screen and the application will have the window resized and moved to that particular screen.

Benefits of Using Divvy

Let’s have a look at some of the major benefits you can get from using Divvy:

Custom Grid Settings

Even though Divvy is equipped with a default grid setting that comes with six rows by six columns, the application lets you adjust each one of the settings in accordance with your liking. You can choose to adjust your grid and margin settings from the Appearance tab.

Works with Several Monitors

Divvy allows you to work with several monitors. The application appears in each of the monitors and in order for you to configure your windows with ease for each desktop.

Shortcuts

The app allows you to create specific hotkey shortcuts so that you can re-arrange your window to a specific size instantly. The shortcuts feature can be used to record as well as manage certain window positions. After this you have two options. You can either choose the shortcut to be global or local.

· Global - This means that the shortcut can be used so long as Divvy being run in the background.

· Local - This means that Divvy should be visible in order for the shortcut to work.

The shortcuts can be helpful with moving your active windows into position.

Tips for Mac Users on Using Divvy

When using Divvy, here are some tips Mac users can incorporate for ease of use and efficiency:

Keeping Divvy on the Screen

Divvy’s interface disappears by default when you select your preference for your window position and size. If you would like to keep Divvy onto your screen until you yourself want to dismiss it, you can:

· Click on the application’s Close button or

· Press Escape

This is useful in having multiple windows consecutively resized.

Fine Positioning and Re-Sizing

There are times when you need finer increments in positioning and re-sizing and in order to successfully do this, you can:

· Press Command-Shift-+ or

· Press Command+ (the plus key)

The above actions will allow you to create additional columns or rows. On the other hand, if you hold down the Option key, the number of rows and columns will be doubled for that particular action to have it re-sized or re-positioned.

Sub-Dividing the Grid

If you would like to have the grid sub-divided:

· Press the ⌥ (option) key

The above command will sub-divide the grid instantly so that you can have finer control over the placement of your window. If you want to get a 12 x 12 grid, sub-divide the default grid of 6 x 6 and then press the ⌥(option) key if you want to revert back.

Addition and Removal of Columns and Rows from the Grid

You can make additions or removals to columns and rows on the fly from the Grid. Also, you can have a default grid size configured. This will be shown when you activate the application interface or when you create a brand new shortcut.

You can make additions to columns and rows up till 10 x 10 at a maximum. This can further be sub-divided into 20 x 20. You can also choose to remove columns and rows up to a minimum of 1 x 1.

Here are some keyboard shortcuts you can use for certain operations:

· If you want to remove a row, you can use ⌘- (Command + Minus)

· If you would like to add a row, you can use ⌘+ (Command + Plus)

· If you want to have a column removed, you can use ⇧⌘- (Command + Shift + Minus)

· If you would like to add a column, you can use ⇧⌘+ (Command + Shift + Plus)

Accessing the Appearance Preferences

If you would like to gain access to the Divvy Appearance Preferences, you will need to perform the following:

· Activate the Divvy panel

· Press onto the gear button which is located on the panel in the upper right corner

· Lastly, click onto the Appearance tab

Accessing Generalized Preferences

In order to gain access to the Divvy General Preferences, you will have to do the following:

· Activate the Divvy panel

· Then press onto the gear button which you can find on the Divvy panel on the upper right corner

· Then, you need to click onto the General tab

Accessing the Shortcuts Preferences

In order to gain access to the Divvy Shortcuts Preferences, you will have to do the following:

· Activate the Divvy panel

· Then press onto the gear button which you can find on the Divvy panel on the upper right corner

· Then, you need to click onto the Shortcuts tab

Choosing a Shortcut

When you are in the process of selecting a keyboard shortcut, it is preferable to avoid the use of the Alt key so as to prevent you from triggering the sub-divide feature of the Grid.

Deleting a Shortcut

In order to have a shortcut deleted, you will need to do the following:

· From the Shortcuts Preferences, choose the shortcut you would like to delete

· Then, either press onto the shortcut ⌘⌫ (Command + Delete), or

· Simply click onto the Delete button which you will be able to find at the bottom

Editing a Shortcut

If you would like to make edits to a particular shortcut, you will be required to do the following:

· Go to the Shortcuts Preferences and double click onto the shortcut you would like to edit

When you do the above, you will be presented with a view from where the settings for this shortcut can be modified. Then:

· If you are satisfied with the shortcut after having edited it, you can press Accept

· If however, you would like to return to the Shortcut Preferences without editing the shortcut or without having it modified, you can press Cancel

If you want to be able to control the portioning and sizing of your applications to fit within your window, Divvy is a perfect app that will allow you to perform these operations with absolute ease and efficiency, enhancing your productivity.