keyboarding
The keyboard can be used for more things that just typing e-mails. As nice as the mouse is, it cannot do everything.
common locations of special keys
Layouts are somewhat standard with desktop keyboards. Laptop layouts will vary due to their reduced size. You may need to make use of the Fn key.
- CTRL
- (Control key) located to left and right of spacebar
- ALT
- (Alt key) located to left and right of spacebar
- WIN
- (Windows logo key) typically between CTRL and ALT keys. Not available on all keyboards.
- PAUSE
- typically located at top right of keyboard
Keyboard shortcut commands
Hold down the first key and then tap the second key. Repeatedly tap the second key to repeat the function.
- cut
- CTRL+X
- copy
- CTRL+C
- paste
- CTRL+V
- open Windows Explorer
- WIN+E
- close the active window
- CTRL+F4
- close a sub-window
- CTRL+W
- open Windows Search
- WIN+F
- minimize all windows
- WIN+D
- minimize all windows except special request windows
- WIN+M
- open the Run... window
- WIN+R
- Cycle through windows
- ALT+TAB
- open the System Properties window
- WIN+PAUSE
- lock the current Windows user session
- WIN+L
an example of cycling through windows
- Hold down the ALT key and then tap the TAB key.
- A window will appear in the center of the screen with a list of all the availble windows.
- Hit the TAB key again (Don't let go of the ALT key!) and you'll notice the selected window will cycle one spot to the right and loop back around when you reach the end.
- Release the ALT key when you've selected the window you want to bring to focus.