Useful key strokes
Not a comprehensive guide but some essential strokes that might be useful
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For computer folks and their PC. Macs are very similar
but use the 'apple' key instead of the control key (Ctrl) |
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Keys
You can hold some keys down forever. By themselves they have no effect. They modify the
key pressed when they are held down at the same time
 | Ctrl is control key |
| Shift is like the shift key on old typewriters. Often has
a ^ symbol on it |
| Alt is the key marked Alt standing for alternate which gives another set of key options
for the regular keys |
Action Keys
| Enter - often has a <
on the key or something similar |
| Number lock, Num Lock or just Num - allows some keys to
work as a numeric pad (useful for entering budgets) or to navigate up and
down. A little light will tell you if the keypad is in numeric or navigation mode. |
| 'F' or Function keys - in the days before windows and the
mouse we relied on the function keys to provide short cuts to do frequent
tasks. They are programmed by the software so their function varies from
package to package.
 | But F1 often calls up the help menu for the software you are using.
|
| F2 lets you rename a file. |
| F3 will produce the file search dialogue. |
|
F5 is a useful update key if you are adding or moving files. Press F5
and the list will be updated to reflect the changes. |
|
Useful Combinations for Windows, PCs
| Ctrl A |
Selects all text or files in a browser |
| Ctrl Enter |
Selects one file without cancelling other
selections in a browser |
| Shift Enter |
Selects a continuous block of files
from previous selection but cancels any other
selections in a browser |
| Ctrl Alt Delete |
Provides a possible escape route if the computer locks.
Wait for the computer to respond - If you press it twice it might reboot. |
| Shift PrintScreen (or PrntScr) |
Stores whole screen image in clipboard. You can
then paste it into a document |
| Alt PrintScreen (or PrntScr) |
Stores the current window (i.e. not the whole
screen) in clipboard. You can then paste it into a document |
| Ctrl Alt C |
Produces © |
| Ctrl Alt R |
Produces ® |
| Ctrl Alt T |
Produces ™ |
| Ctrl + C |
Copies marked items to clipboard |
Ctrl + Z |
Undo |
| Ctrl + V |
Pastes contents of clipboard |
Ctrl + Y |
Redo |
| Ctrl + X |
Deletes marked items |
Ctrl + P |
Print |
| Ctrl + N |
Opens a new document |
Ctrl + S |
Save |
Accents
| Press |
To insert |
| Ctrl+`+ the letter |
Grave accent - À |
| Ctrl+'+ the letter |
Acute accent - Á |
| Ctrl+Shift+^+ the letter |
Circumflex - Â |
| Ctrl+Shift+~+ the letter |
Tilde - Ã |
| Ctrl+Shift+:+ the letter |
Umlaut - Ë |
| Ctrl+Shift+@+ the letter |
Å |
| Ctrl+Shift+&+A |
æ |
| Ctrl+Shift+&+O |
œ |
| Alt+Ctrl+Shift+? |
¿ |
Spotty Keys
Have you ever noticed that the keys with the letters F and
J have a spot or some similar imperfection on them? These help skilled
touch-typists to relocate their fingers over the keys without taking their
eyes off the work they are copying. Keyboards with a numeric section normally
have a small imperfection on the central number 5 for the same purpose of
relocating fidgeting fingers.
Have you ever noticed that the keys on a phone and the numbers on a
calculator are inverted? The phone designers did their ergonomic research
and got it right. It is easier to learn and to use a keypad when the numbers
flow from top to bottom and left to right.
Look after your keyboard
© Charles Jones 2001-2005
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