Chapter 03 · Daily driving
Everyday controls
Six small habits that make Claude ten times more useful: point at files, interrupt freely, undo anything, and pick how much it asks.
Point at files with @
Type @ and a filename to make Claude read that exact file before answering. No more "the spreadsheet with the March numbers". It works on any file: documents, CSVs, PDFs, whole folders.
Feed it anything
Claude isn't limited to what's in the folder:
- Paste an image. Screenshot a chart, a table, an error, a design you like; paste it straight into the prompt. Claude sees it.
- Drop a link. Give it a URL ("summarize this article", "compare these two fund fact pages") and it reads the page. It can also search the web when a question needs fresh information.
- Side questions welcome.
/btw what does "basis point" mean here?gets a quick answer without derailing the main task.
Run commands yourself with !
Start a line with ! to run a terminal command directly; the output lands in the conversation so Claude sees it too. Handy for ! ls or ! git status.
Interrupt with Esc
Claude going the wrong way? Press Esc. It stops immediately, keeps what's done so far, and waits for new instructions. Interrupting is not rude; it's the main steering wheel. Correct early and often.
Undo anything with rewind
Claude checkpoints your files automatically as it works. Press Esc Esc (twice, on an empty prompt) or type /rewind to open a menu of past moments. Pick one and choose what to restore:
- Code and conversation — full undo, like it never happened.
- Code only — keep the chat, revert the files.
- Conversation only — keep the files, rewind the chat.
One honest limit: rewind tracks Claude's file edits. It cannot undo terminal commands that deleted things. Claude asks permission before those for exactly this reason.
Permission modes: how much does it ask?
Press Shift+Tab to cycle modes. The current one is shown at the bottom of the screen.
💬 Default
Asks before every change and command. Start here; it's how you learn what Claude actually does.
✎ Accept edits
File edits happen without asking; commands still ask. For when you trust the direction and want speed.
🗺 Plan mode
Claude may only read and think, never change. It ends by proposing a plan you approve. Perfect for big or scary tasks.
⚡ Auto
A separate safety model reviews each action so Claude can run without prompts. Newest mode; only on recent models.
Plan mode, the beginner's superpower
Before any change you're nervous about: Shift+Tab into plan mode, describe the goal, read the plan Claude writes, then approve it. Nothing changes until you say so.
Keep the conversation fresh
Claude's short-term memory (the "context window") fills up as you chat and it reads files. When it's full, Claude gets forgetful. Three commands manage it:
/clear— new topic? Wipe the conversation. Your files are untouched./compact— long session? Summarize the history to free space, keep going./context— curious? See what's taking up space.
The keys that matter
| Press | What happens |
|---|---|
| Esc | Stop Claude, take back control |
| Esc Esc | Open the rewind (undo) menu |
| Shift+Tab | Cycle permission modes |
| Shift+Enter | New line without sending |
| ↑ / ↓ | Reuse earlier prompts |
| Ctrl+C | Emergency stop (works everywhere) |
1. Shift+Tab into plan mode, ask for something ambitious, read the plan
2. Approve it, then press Esc halfway and change your mind
3. Esc Esc — rewind to before it all happened