How to use your iPad Pro to replace your laptop (Part II)



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The second part of this multi-part guide to using your iPad Pro to replace a laptop explains how to take control of your keyboard.

Expectations Management

For an increasing number of people, the iPad Pro is already the only laptop you will need. That's not true for everyone – what's on Earth?

It is also true that some tasks simply can not be done on an iPad. Tasks such as Xcode development, 4K video editing and other high-end tasks are simply not available (yet), and although the Files application offers a rudimentary filing system . some users need Macs to do what they need.

Nevertheless, as promised the publication in 2019 of "Full Photoshop"Show that the list of things that iPads can not do will surely shrink, especially considering that the latest range of iPad Pros is surprisingly 32 times faster than that of the second generation of iPad delivered in 2011.

It's a progress at work.

It also means that the iPad that you buy today will still be supported and endowed with additional features in four years. In other words, the list of reasons why you should not use an iPad to replace a laptop is becoming more restricted.

Who predicted that PCs will still be present but their unique uses will decline? With the show:

Episode guide:

  1. Part one: iPad equipment
  2. Second part (this episode): Tips on keyboard, typing, shortcuts and dictation.

Take control of your keyboard

The Apple iPad can include a good range of keyboard shortcuts. If you plan to use one to effectively replace a laptop, you will do more if you learn to use them and what they serve.

Here are some of the most important shortcuts you need to learn:

Command-C: Copy.

Command-V: Paste.

Command-A: Select all.

Command-H: Return to the home screen.

Command-Space: Opens the Spotlight search, like a Mac.

Control-[:[:[:[:Escape.

Control space : Calls the keyboard selector – it's a very important command on which later.

the the most useful keyboard command I use?

Press and hold the commandand you will be rewarded with a list of all keyboard commands for the application you are currently using.

Applications also have shortcuts

This last element is extremely important when you use an iPad Pro to replace a laptop. It changes the difference a lot if you remember that each application can host its own keyboard shortcuts and you will discover what they are by pressing long Order .

There is a lot to learn, for example:

In Word: Command-Control-N(or 1,2,3): to switch from one style to another.

In safari: Command-F : Find an item on the page you are on. Even better, Orderopens a new Safari window in Split View (more information on Split View and other multitasking features of the iPad later in this series).

In the files: Command-Shift-R: To view recent files.

On Twitter: Command-M : Switch to night mode.

Unfortunately, not all app developers have created keyboard shortcuts for their apps, but it's very helpful to get familiar with those who have them. The one I always find useful is Control-Alt-D displaying the Dock is more intuitive than dragging up when typing on a keyboard.

Tips on the iOS keyboard

You may need to type without using your iPad Pro external keyboard. Here are some things to know when you do it:

caps Lock: Activate this by double tap the key key.

Secret characters: Many characters (including the currency) of the iPad Pro's software keyboard also hide alternatives. To find existing alternative characters, simply press any key.

Double tap the spacebar: Add a point. Or Press and hold the period character to access a whole bunch of domain endings.

Use the mouse: Your iPad actually has a touchpad that looks like a mouse. To use it, simply hold down the keyboard anywhere on the keyboard, you can now drag the cursor to the screen.

Use the shared keyboard

You can sometimes find the task a little easier if you use the split keyboard that Apple has hidden inside your iPad – this is very useful when you want to type sitting without a table, for example.

  • To divide your keyboard, open an application and tap a text field, and then hold down the keyboard icon in the lower right corner of the keyboard.
  • Slide to the Detach / splitThe dialog box appears and touch Split.
  • (This does not work on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but on all others.)

The split keyboard also has another talent – just press the T character right and you'll find the invisible Y, H and B keys (left) and the T, V, V (right) keys – you can use them to type a little more fluid.

Use text replacement shortcuts

Automation can increase what you are trying to achieve.

Text replacements are fantastic to set up for everything from headers to technical terms, to forms, etc. They are also useful when you want to enter email addresses, phone numbers, and so on.

  • To create a text replacement, open: Settings> General> Keyboards> Text Replacement.
  • You will see a list of all the shortcuts you can already use.
  • Press + (Plus) to create a new shortcut
  • You will be asked to enter the phrase / word and enter the desired shortcut.

Create shortcuts for:

  • The name and address of your company
  • Phone number of the company.
  • Email of the company.
  • All the standard letters that you use regularly.

In the future, whenever you have to enter one of these words, you just have to type the shortcut for the complete sentence to appear. (In fact, these shortcuts you've created are usually also available on all other Apple devices you use that are connected to your Apple ID.)

Dictée – the underrated gem

Apple does not use a clbadic graphical interface, but adds it to touch, gestures, voice, and so on.

These additional UI elements do not disappear simply when you replace your laptop with an iPad. It is therefore essential that you learn to move smoothly between them, using the best option available to get things done.

Why search for apps when you can ask Siri to open them for you? And why write long documents when you can use the powerful IOS dictation tools to grab them for you?

To activate dictation on your iPad

  • Open Settings> General .
  • Tap the keyboard, and then switch Enable dictation to on (green).

When you want to dictate and use the built-in iOS software keyboard, simply press the microphone button at the bottom left of Space.

Point: When using an external keyboard, press Control space to toggle the keyboard viewer. You can either select the Emoji keyboard and press ABC at the bottom left of this keyboard to access the keyboard toolbar, or stay in the same language as the keyboard you are using to access that bar. 39; tools. Now, press the chevron pointing down to access the virtual keyboard and press the button Dictation tool. I realize that this is a bit complex, but it becomes easier once you have learned how to cope.

The dictation is not stupid (although it lacks the ability to suppress, which is annoying). Sometimes you experience a lag between speaking and displaying words on the page. Try not to talk too fast to give the system a chance to catch up.

Here are some of the commands to know when dictating on an iPad:

  • New line: move to the next line
  • New paragraph: Create a new paragraph
  • Caps on / Caps Off: Capitalize
  • All capital letters: Put the following word in uppercase
  • Space bar: space
  • No space: No space between words.
  • Period / complete stop: Enter a period.
  • Comma: Type a comma.
  • Quotation / End of quote: Type a quotation
  • Exclamation point:!
  • Question mark:?

I've made a handy list of dictation commands that you can download here.

Use predictive text

Predictive Text is Apple's sweet way to help you type faster and more efficiently.

It works like this:

As you type the AI ​​inside your device, try to understand what you mean and suggest the following word that you may want to type. To use this word, you must press it on the screen. Most of the time, I see that I type much faster than the time required to use this feature, but it is very useful when writing complex technical terms.

Predictive Text is always available if you type with the built-in keyboard of the iPad, but if you want to access it using an external keyboard (Apple or anyone else), follow the steps in Dictation above:

  • Press Ctrl H, stay in your current keyboard and use the predictive text elements of the persistent toolbar that is now at the bottom of your iPad Pro's screen.

You can also access the Undo, Redo, Clipboard, Bold, Italic, and Underline tools here, or call the virtual keyboard by tapping the chevron pointing down.

Then:In the next episode, we'll look at the built-in multitasking features of the iPad Pro and come up with some settings you should really know when using one of these powerful machines as a laptop.

I will let you know when I publish the next article in this series: Follow me please on Twitter and join me in the AppleHolic's Bar & Grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe.

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