Computer Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard Shortcuts are key combinations that usually invoke a command, either in the computer operating system, or in a specific software program. Shortcuts are generally used to speed up common operations such as copying, printing, or selecting text. Some shortcuts also involve the use of a mouse in addition to holding down a key on the keyboard.
Windows uses a specific set of keyboard shortcuts that are usually standard throughout all software applications used on a Windows computer. This means that many keyboard combinations (such as Ctrl+C to copy) are universal throughout different programs that you use on your computer. Some of the common key combos are:
F1: Help. Displays the Help section of the currently active software.
ALT+TAB. Press and hold the Alt key, then press and release the Tab key to switch between open programs.
*BONUS: Hold down the Shift key in addition to the Alt key, press and release Tab key to move to open programs in reverse order.
**DOUBLE-BONUS: Press the Windows key instead of the Alt key for this shortcut. You will get a 3D representation of the open programs. (Windows Vista only.)
ALT+F4: Press and hold the Alt key, then press and release the F4 key (up on the top of your keyboard, NOT the numeral "4" key) to Quit a program or close a window.
SHIFT+DELETE: Press and hold the Shift key, then press and release the Delete key to Delete an item permanently. This item will not be sent to the Trash Bin and you cannot retrieve the item after this process. Note: This does not mean that the item cannot be recoverable using software.
To select something on a page or a document means to make it active. Often times, something selected will appear "highlighted" or "outlined". You must select text, an image, or another element if you want to copy or alter it in some way.
NOTE: If you want to select everything in the active window, use the CTRL+A combination described below. To select individual elements in the active window, keep reading.
Different types of elements are selected in different ways.
To select text:
1. Click and hold the mouse where you want to place the text cursor, at the beginning of the text you want to copy.
2. While continuing to hold down the mouse button from your original click, move the mouse to the end of the text you want to select.
3. Once you reach the end of the desired text, release the mouse button. The text is highlighted, this is now known as your 'selection'.
To select an image:
Generally, all you have to do to select an image is click on it once.
However, if the image is in a web browser and has a link attached to it, clicking on it will make the browser load a different web page. Instead, you can use the same method as selecting text - although this can be a bit tricky when you first try it. You have to make sure you START your selection on a part of the web page that does not contain a link. How can you tell? Your cursor will change from an arrow pointer to a "hand with a finger" indicated the element is 'clickable'.
Once you have a selection, you can use many different keyboard shortcuts to interact with the selection. If you copy the selection (Ctrl+C, or usually Edit > Copy from a menu), the selected text, image, or other element is held in temporary memory - waiting for you to give further commands about what to do with it.
Here are some keyboard combinations for common operations:
CTRL+A: Select All. Press and hold the Ctrl key, then press A key to grab all of the elements of the active window into memory.
CTRL+C: Copy. Press and hold the Ctrl key, then press and release the C key to copy the selection into memory.
CTRL+X: Cut. Similar to Copy, but you are removing it from the original. Press and hold the Ctrl key, then press and release the X key to copy the selection into memory.
CTRL+V: Paste. Once you have something copied into memory, you can paste into another document, field, or whatever. First, click once in your new document, or in the field you want to paste into. Press and hold the Ctrl key, then press and release the V key to paste the selection that is currently in memory. NOTE: After you paste, the selection is still held in memory. It will be held there until you turn off your computer, or until you copy something else into memory.
CTRL+Z: Undo. Press and hold the Ctrl key, then press and release the Z key. This will "Undo" the previous command. For example, if you paste text in a new document and then change your mind, press Ctrl+Z to undo the paste command. The document will appear as it did before the Paste command was issued.
TEXT SPECIFIC SHORTCUTS - These shortcuts deal ONLY with text and are standard in software applications that use text. Remember, use the steps above to select text before using these shortcuts:
CTRL+B: Bold. After the text is selected, Press and hold the Ctrl key, then press and release the B key to bold the selected text.
CTRL+U: Underline. After the text is selected, Press and hold the Ctrl key, then press and release the U key to underline the selected text.
CTRL+I: Italic. After the text is selected, Press and hold the Ctrl key, then press and release the I key to italicize the selected text.