ArticlesReader.com Menu

Newest Articles
Most Viewed Articles
ArticlesReader.com RSS
Submit Article
Login
Signup

Search the articles

Articles Main Categories

Advice
Animals
Automobiles
Business
Career
Communications
Computer Programming
Computers
Entertainment
Environment
Family
Fashion
Finance
Food
Health & Medical
Home & Garden
Humor
Internet Business
Internet Marketing
Legal
Leisure & Recreation
Marketing
Other
Politics
Reference & Education
Religion
Self Improvement
Sports
Technology & Science
Travel
Writing

Subscribe

Receive alert message from us when new articles submitted to our site for free.

Syndicate

Related Products

Home::Software

Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Author : Paul van Zyl

When I observe most colleagues and friends working on their PC's they mostly use the mouse as they are unaware of the powerful Windows keyboard shortcuts that will make their lives so much easier. Some people might be aware of the keyboard shortcuts, but they are used to be working mostly with the mouse and old habits are hard to let go.

In this article I will take things step by step so you can learn the keyboard shortcuts that are required to navigate your way around the Windows operating system.

Lets assume your machine is starting up and due to a faulty mouse or some other related problem your system cannot be accessed with the mouse. A user that is not using keyboard shortcuts on a regular basis will be completely lost. Ok its relatively cheap to replace the mouse, but what if you had to quickly perform a task that cannot wait until a new mouse is acquired or the problem is fixed?

Navigating the Start Menu in Windows XP

I will firstly explain how to launch an application without the use of the mouse and instead use keyboard shortcuts. Immediately after system startup if you are required to log in, type out your password and press the Enter key. Once the system have fully initialized you will be presented with the Windows Desktop. As an example we will launch Notepad. Follow the steps exactly as explained below:

Press Ctrl and Esc to show the Start menu or press the Windows Logo key. Now press the Up Arrow until you can see the selection rectangle moving upwards in the Start menu. Once the selection rectangle enters the Start menu press the Left Arrow to move to the left section of the Start menu. Then press the Down Arrow until "All Programs" is selected. Press the Right Arrow to expand the "All Programs" menu. Press the Down Arrow until "Accessories" is selected. Press the Right Arrow to expand the accessories menu. Now press the Down Arrow until the Notepad menu item is selected and the press Enter. This will cause the Notepad application to launch.

Armed with this basic keyboard shortcut knowledge you will be able to launch any application without the use of the mouse.

Moving Around the Desktop

Frequently users place icons on the desktop to quickly access some application, files or folders they regularly use. What now if the mouse packs up and you have to get to that file? Here is how to make use of the Windows keyboard shortcuts to get that done:

Depending on the current situation different steps might be required so keep in mind that you do not have to do all the steps.

Press the Windows Logo key and M simultaneously to minimize all Windows. Press Ctrl and Esc simultaneously and then press Esc again. (Only required under certain conditions so you might only need to perform this step if you do not get the desired results from the step below). Press the Tab key and release it. Keep on pressing and releasing it until you see a "focus rectangle" surrounding one of the icons on the desktop. If there are a lot of icons on the desktop you might need to look carefully if any receives the focus indicated by the focus rectangle. Also occasionally use the arrow keys to see if you can move between different icons if it is difficult to notice the icon with the focus rectangle. Normally the focus will move between the Windows Taskbar and the last icon that had the focus (being selected) on the desktop when the Tab key is pressed. Once you got the "focus rectangle" on any icon on the desktop it is just a matter of moving to the icon of your choice using the arrow keys. When the required icon got the focus or is selected press the Enter key to open the file, folder or launch a program.

Working with Windows

Our next step in this Windows keyboard shortcuts article is to manipulate windows in the context of minimizing, maximizing, moving and closing them. To minimize the currently active window press Alt and Spacebar. The Control Menu for the window will appear. Now press N to minimize the window.

To maximize or get a window to its restored state when it is minimized to the Windows Taskbar hold down Alt and then press and release the Tab key until the desired window is selected. When the window of choice is selected also release the Alt key which will ensure that the window will either be maximized or restored depending on its previous state.

If you want to maximize a window from its restored state press Alt and Spacebar. After the Control Menu appears press X to maximize the window. To restore an maximized window press Alt and Spacebar. When the Control Menu appear press R to get the window from its maximized to restored state.

To move a window press Alt and Spacebar. When the Control Menu appear press M. Now use the arrow keys to move the window to the desired location and press the Enter key to round of this operation.

When you want to re-size a window press Alt and Spacebar. When the Control Menu appear press S. Now press the arrow keys depending on which side you want to size the window from. Right will take you to the right edge of the window for sizing and the Down arrow will take you to the bottom right corner for sizing purposes. When pressing the left key first you will be taking to the window left border to carry out sizing from that side. Once you have selected your sizing location by pressing the left or right arrows and up or down arrows do the sizing by using any of the arrow keys. When finished press Enter to complete this operation. Pressing the Esc key will leave the original size of the window intact.

To close the currently active window press Alt and F4 or press Alt and Spacebar, then press C.

General Use Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Take note that the WINDOWS key is the Windows Logo key on the keyboard.

ALT+TAB

Display list of open programs and switch to next program.

(Press TAB again to advance to the following program).

ALT+SHIFT+TAB

Display list of open programs and switch to previous program.

(Press TAB again to select the pervious program).

WINDOWS or CTRL+ESC

Displays the Windows Start Menu.

WINDOWS+E

Open My Computer.

WINDOWS+D

Toggle between Show Desktop and Show Open Windows.

WINDOWS+M

Minimize All Windows.

F2

Rename selected folder, file or shortcut.

CTRL+N

Create a New document for the active application.

CTRL+O

Display the Open dialog box of the active application.

CTRL+S

Save the current document of the active application.

CTRL+P

Print the current document of the active application.

CTRL+A

Select All content of the current document.

CTRL+X

Cut the selected text or object.

CTRL+C

Copy the selected text or object.

CTRL+V

Paste contents of clipboard into active document.

CTRL+Z

Undo the last operation.

CTRL+Y

Redo the last Undo operation.

CTRL+B

Make selected text bold or remove bold formatting.

CTRL+U

Underline the selected text or remove underline.

CTRL+I

Make selected text italic or remove italic formatting.

CTRL+F

Displays the Find dialog box.

CTRL+H

Displays the Replace dialog box.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com

Paul van Zyl is a programmer and one of numerous applications written by him is Shortcut Wizard. To download keyboard shortcut reference and training software, visit the Shortcut Wizard Page to get 100's of Windows Keyboard Shortcuts at your fingertips. High quality products from other developers is also listed at the Best-of-Computing site.

Spam emails More free articles

More related feeds

Most Useful Windows Shortcut Keys
... Windows Logo+F1 (Display Windows Help); Windows Logo+ L (Lock the keyboard); Windows Logo+R (Open the Run dialog box); Windows Logo+U (Open Utility Manager); Accessibility Keyboard Shortcuts; Right SHIFT for eight seconds (Switch ...

General keyboard shortcuts for Windows XP-3
Use shortcut keys as an alternative to the mouse when working in Windows. You can open, close, and navigate the Start menu, desktop, menus, dialog boxes, and Web pages using keyboard shortcuts. Keyboard shortcuts may also make it easier ...

Best Keyboard Shortcuts
If you have a Microsoft Natural Keyboard, or any other compatible keyboard that includes the Windows logo key and the Application key , you can use these keyboard shortcuts: Display or hide the Start menu. WIN Key ...

windows keyboard shortcuts
here are known windows keyboard shortcut. Read more ». Original post posted on www.configuration-guide.com.

Microsoft windows keyboard shortcuts
... SHIFT five times (Switch the StickyKeys either on or off) * NUM LOCK for five seconds (Switch the ToggleKeys either on or off) * Windows Logo +U (Open Utility Manager) Windows Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts * END (Display the bottom of ...

Open an application using keyboard shortcuts on windows
Related Documents How to Setup Windows Machine For Best Performance How to Use Special Characters in Windows Internet Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts More Internet Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts.

Opera 9.60 Build 10408 Final
Keyboard Shortcuts. Keyboard shortcuts - like mouse gestures - make your browsing faster and more efficient. Read more about all the keyboard shortcuts in Opera. · Tabbed browsing. Surf the Web easier and faster by opening multiple Web ...

A list of professional windows keyboard shortcuts
There are a lot of keyboard shortcuts you can use to perform many tasks in a quick and fancy style. here we go:. Alt-tab: cycle through opened windows. Win-m: minimize all opened windows. win-E: opens my computer(explore). ...

General Keyboard Shortcut
Windows Logo +U (Open Utility Manager) Windows Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts END (Display the bottom of the active window) HOME (Display the top of the active window) NUM LOCK+Asterisk sign (*) (Display all of the subfolders that are ...

How To :: Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts and macros save endless time scrolling threw menus or across screens to switch windows, layers or to even play/pause your music/movie when a client calls. Your efficiency will increase 10+ once you learn even just the ...

Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Related articles