Workflows

Get the most out of Control Space by learning the tips, tricks and best practices

Control Space has been designed to give you total control over your wayward tabs with slick UI and UX, and more keyboard shortcuts and mouse interactions than you can shake a stick at!

Get started

First look at the popup

Toggle the Control Space popup:

  • hit Cmd+Space (or your chosen shortcut)
  • check the first-use checklist for a few environmental tips

Get to know the display:

  • view active window (border) and active tabs (dark grey, and grey)
  • view notifications and audible tabs
  • scroll the workspace with the trackpad or Shift+Mouse-wheel

Set the display density to your liking:

  • zoom size with Cmd+- / Cmd+ +
  • zoom detail with Cmd+[ / Cmd+] (or use the slider)
  • check the Settings panel (Cmd+5) for more options

First look at panels

Get used to the panels:

  • hover over the Resources panel
    • hover out to close
    • Click pills to change page
  • to lock / unlock panels:
    • Click the panel button
    • Click the lock icon
    • use the shortcut keys Cmd+1/2/3/4/5/Left/Right

To cancel operations:

  • hit Esc consecutively to:
    • close popups
    • close panels
    • clear selection
    • return to the input
    • hide the popup

Switch tabs

Navigate to an open tab:

  • Click any tab to switch to it
  • or, walk the focus into and out of the workspace...
  • ...with Tab , Arrows and Enter

To open new tabs or windows:

  • Cmd+N - new window
  • Cmd+T - new tab

Note that in Control Space, new tabs and windows open next to your current tab, vs the end.

Locate open content

Search for any open or closed tab

  • when you open the popup, the Filter input is focused
  • start typing to filter all open and closed tabs
    • type both site and page (i.e. git dav) to get more specific
    • the most likely Resources will be presented
  • note that:
    • you do not need to be in the Filter input
    • letters, numbers and backspace refocus the Filter

Switch to an open tab:

  • hit Tab to jump to open tabs
  • navigate using Arrows
  • hit Enter to switch

From the Filter input:

  • hit Enter to take the first one
  • hit Cmd+Enter to search the web for that term

Reopen closed content

Switch to a Recent or closed tab:

  • hit ↓ to walk into Recent tabs
  • hit Enter to switch

To view History or Saved tabs:

  • Click the Resources pill buttons
  • use Cmd+1/2/3 to switch panels
  • use Cmd+←/→ to move between panels

Get organised

Organise your workspace

Name your windows so you know what to put in them:

  • click the window title to edit
  • hit Tab to jump to the next one
  • hit Enter to accept

Organise tabs using:

  • drag and drop tabs (to other windows, empty space or Saved tabs)
  • cut (Cmd+X) and paste (Cmd+V)
  • nudge (Alt+Arrows)
  • move (Cmd+M)

Minimise open tabs

Close unneeded tabs with:

  • a click on their close button
  • a middle-click on the tab
  • or hit Delete (Fn+Backspace on a Macbook)

Save tabs for later with:

  • a drag to Saved (be sure to lock the panel open)
  • hit Cmd+S to open the Choose Folder dialog
  • give tabs a title and optional description

Open saved tabs again:

  • open the Saved panel with Cmd+3
  • Click a Saved tab to reopen it
  • Double-Click a Saved folder to open it
  • Drag either to windows or empty space

Advanced usage

Use context menus to reveal additional commands:

  • Right-Click on tabs
    • commands are focus and selection-dependent
  • Click on Windows, Panels or form inputs

Select multiple tabs:

  • one or many tabs using Cmd/ Shift+Click
    • tip: click the icon to avoid switching tabs
  • adjacent tabs using Shift+Arrows
  • all tabs in a Window using Cmd+A

Modify settings:

  • hover over the tools panel then Click the Settings pill
  • press Cmd+5 to go straight to the panel

Best practices

How many tabs is the right amount?

Control Space will support 100s of open tabs, but for that productivity sweet spot, we suggest:

  • 20 - 60 tabs
  • 3 - 5 windows
  • 5 - 15 tabs per window

How should I work with Control Space?

There's no set way, but here's some general advice:

  • you don't need to create a window for everything
  • you don't have to be obsessively organised; just tidy up when you need to
  • you don't need to save open tabs "in case you lose them"; instead, configure Chrome to "start where you left off"

Regarding activity in Control Space vs Chrome:

  • it's OK to switch browser tabs by clicking them
  • it's OK to bookmark pages outside of Control Space

Top tips

Saving time:

  • searching in Control Space can be faster, and complete, and more useful than the URL bar
  • use the keyboard to quickly filter and navigate around the workspace
  • double-click panel pill buttons to switch and lock the panel open

Getting organised:

  • right-click items to view additional options (works with Tabs, Windows and Saved)
  • select multiple tabs, then move, detach, close, or sleep them

Find out what Control Space can do:

  • Click the Help button to see the Help popup
  • Cmd+Click the Help button to browse the 150+ keyboard shortcuts

I have too many or too few tabs

  • if you have many tabs (100+) use Control Space to:
    • close, save or export the ones you don't need now
  • if you have many windows (> 5) you can:
    • scroll in the trackpad
    • scroll horizontally using Shift+Mousewheel
    • just t y p e to filter
    • close them or save them
  • if you have too many tabs in a window (> 20) you can move some:
    • select multiple tabs then drag them to other windows or empty space
    • right-click a tab and choose "Detach from here" or use Shift+Cmd+D
  • if you have too few tabs (< 15)
    • well done! Maybe you don't need Control Space?