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After hitting ⌘-O, how can I navigate my folders and select a file to open using only my keyboard?
In particular, how can I get the focus into the folder list? (From there I can use arrows or start typing the first letters of the desired file/folder.)
In some programs I can rely on hitting TAB 5 times, but this isn't reliable and I figure there must be a better way.
System Prefences > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Enable "Full Keyboard Access: All Controls", then you can use Tab to move between elements until your file list is highlighted, and use the arrows to select your file, in fact you should immediately be able to type a letter or use the keys as the default focus should be on the file list.
TABs or three SHIFT-TABs to navigate through the controls to the file list.
File dialogs should support the same shortcuts as Finder.
You can also press ~, /, or ⇧⌘G to open the Go to Folder sheet.
If Full Keyboard Access is enabled (in the keyboard preferences), ⇧⇥ moves focus from the file browser to the source list.
What you are looking for is control-tab.
In the "Open" dialog, typing a letter will go to the first element with that letter.
In the "Save" dialog, ctrl-tab will jump between the file name and the document list.
Attention: it is not obvious that the document list is active because by default nothing is selected.
You have to type a letter or use the arrow keys to navigate to a folder.
You do not have to modify your system preferences.
