step 1: go to game options when setting up a skirmish game and go enable cheats then put yes on that option (no ♥♥♥♥)
step 2: once in the game hold down ctrl-shift-~ or sometimes you need to replace the ~ with @

step 3: copy a command from this list in note that a @ means you need to imput and number.

cls----------------------------- clear console
cheat_power@-----------get "n" number of power units
cheat_requisition@------ get "n" number of requisition units
message_hide --------------hide messages
taskbar_hide---------------- hide taskbar
cheat_killself-----------------kill yourself
quit---------------------------- quit game to windows
cheat_revealall--------------reveal the Fog of War
message_show------------- show messages
taskbar_show---------------- show taskbar
getsimrate()------------------- show the game speed
shadow_toggle--------------- toggle shadows

so there you go: now you can acess the cheat codes without going off the game, i made this because i could not find any other cheat guides.