2.3. Keyboard Shortcuts This section lists many useful keyboard accelerators. The listings are organized both by keystroke (alphabetically within groups such as function key, Alt-key combination, and so forth) and by function or context (during startup, in the Recycle Bin, for managing windows, and so forth). The first section lists the key and then the function. The second section lists the desired function and then the required key(s). Note that in addition to the standard keyboard accelerators, you can define accelerators of your own. For example, you can define a Ctrl-Alt combination to invoke any shortcut, whether it's on the Desktop, in the Start menu, or in any other folder. Right-click any Windows shortcut icon (even those right in your Start menu), select Properties, choose the Shortcut tab, and in the Shortcut key field, type the key (not including Ctrl and Alt) to which the shortcut should be linked. For example, to assign Ctrl-Alt-Z to the current shortcut, simply type Z in the field. You can use any key except Esc, Enter, Tab, the Space bar, PrintScreen, Backspace, and Delete. If it conflicts with an accelerator used by any existing application, the accelerator you've just defined will usually override the existing accelerator (test it to make sure). To clear an existing shortcut's accelerator, just empty the Shortcut key field on the shortcut's Properties sheet. These instructions apply to Windows shortcuts only. Internet shortcuts don't support keyboard accelerators. 2.3.1. Keyboard Accelerators Listed by Key Tables 2-1 through 2-7 list keystrokes that will work in Windows Explorer and most of the components that come with Windows Vista. However, some applications (including Microsoft applications) don't always follow the rules. Table 2-1. Function keysKey | Action |
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F1 | Start Help (supported in most applications). | F2 | Rename selected icon or file in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop. | F3 | Open Search (in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop only). | F4 | Open a drop-down list (supported in many dialog boxes)for example, press F4 in a File Open dialog to drop down the Look In list. | F5 | Refresh the view in Windows Explorer, on the Desktop, in the Registry Editor, and some other applications. | F6 | Move focus between panes in Windows Explorer. | F10 | Send focus to the current application's menu. |
Table 2-2. Miscellaneous keysKey | Action |
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Arrow keys | Basic navigation: move through menus, reposition the text cursor (insertion point), change the file selection, and so on. | Backspace | Move up one level in the folder hierarchy (Windows Explorer only). | Delete | Delete selected item(s) or selected text. | Down arrow | Open a drop-down listbox. | End | Go to end of line when editing text, or to the end of file list. | Enter | Activate highlighted choice in menu or dialog box, or insert a carriage return when editing text. | Esc | Close dialog box, message window, or menu without activating any choice (usually the same as clicking Cancel). | Home | Go to beginning of line (when editing text), or to the beginning of file list. | Page down | Scroll down one screen. | Page up | Scroll up one screen. | PrintScreen | Copy entire screen as a bitmap to the Clipboard. | Space bar | Toggle a checkbox that is selected in a dialog box, activate the command button with the focus, or toggle the selection of files when selecting multiple files with Ctrl. | Tab | Move focus to next control in a dialog box or window (hold Shift to go backward). |
Table 2-3. Alt key combinationsKey(s) | Action |
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Alt (by itself) | Send focus to the menu (same as F10). Also turns on the menu in applications where it is no longer used by default, such as Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer. | Alt-x | Activate menu or dialog control, where letter x is underlined (if the underlines are not visible, pressing Alt will display them). | Alt-double-click (on icon) | Display Properties sheet. | Alt-Enter | Display Properties sheet for selected icon in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop. Also switches command prompt between windowed and full-screen display. | Alt-Esc | Drop active window to bottom of pile, which, in effect, activates next open window. | Alt-F4 | Close current window; if Taskbar or Desktop has the focus, exit Windows. | Alt-hyphen | Open the current document's system menu in a multiple document interface (MDI) application. | Alt-numbers | When used with the numbers on the numeric keypad only, inserts special characters corresponding to their ASCII codes into many applications. For example, press the Alt key and type 0169 for the copyright symbol. | Alt-PrintScreen | Copy active window as a bitmap to the Clipboard. | Alt-Shift-Tab | Same as Alt-Tab, but in the opposite direction. | Alt-Space bar | Open the current window's system menu. | Alt-Tab | Switch to the next running applicationhold Alt while pressing Tab to cycle through running applications. | Alt-M | When the Taskbar has the focus, minimize all windows and move focus to the Desktop. | Alt-S | When the Taskbar has the focus, open the Start menu. |
Table 2-4. Ctrl key combinationsKeys | Action |
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Ctrl-A | Select all; in Windows Explorer, selects all files in the current folder. In word processors, selects all text in the current document. | Ctrl-Alt-x | User-defined accelerator for a shortcut, in which x is any key (discussed at the beginning of this chapter). | Ctrl-Alt-Delete | Show the logon dialog when no user is currently logged on; otherwise, switch to the Windows Security dialog, which provides access to Task Manager and Log Off, as well as switching to another user, allowing you to change your password or lock the computer. Use Ctrl-Alt-Delete to access the Task Manager when Explorer crashes or your computer becomes unresponsive. | Ctrl-arrow key | Scroll without moving selection. | Ctrl-click | Use to select multiple, noncontiguous items in a list or in Windows Explorer. | Ctrl-drag | Copy a file. | Ctrl-End | Move to the end of a document (in many applications). | Ctrl-Esc | Open the Start menu; press Esc and then Tab to move focus to the Taskbar, or press Tab again to move focus to the Taskbar, and then cycle through the toolbars on the Taskbar every time you press Tab. | Ctrl-F4 | Close a document window in an MDI application. | Ctrl-F6 | Switch between multiple documents in an MDI application. Similar to Ctrl-Tab; hold Shift to go in reverse. | Ctrl-Home | Move to the beginning of a document (in many applications). | Ctrl-Space bar | Select or deselect multiple, noncontiguous items in a listbox or in Windows Explorer. | Ctrl-Tab | Switch among tabs in a tabbed dialog or Internet Explorer; hold Shift to go in reverse. | Ctrl-C | Copy the selected item or selected text to the Clipboard. Also interrupts some command prompt applications. | Ctrl-F | Open Search (in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop only). | Ctrl-V | Paste the contents of the Clipboard. | Ctrl-X | Cut the selected item or selected text to the Clipboard. | Ctrl-Z | Undo; for example, erases text just entered, and repeals the last file operation in Windows Explorer. |
Table 2-5. Shift key combinationsKey(s) | Action |
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Shift | While inserting a CD, hold to disable AutoPlay. | Shift-arrow keys | Select text or select multiple items in a listbox or in Windows Explorer. | Shift-click | Select all items between currently selected item and item on which you're clicking; also works when selecting text. | Shift-click Close button | Close current folder and all parent folders (Windows Explorer in single-folder view only). | Shift-Alt-Tab | Same as Alt-Tab, but in reverse. | Shift-Ctrl-Tab | Same as Ctrl-Tab, but in reverse. | Shift-Ctrl-Esc | Open the Task Manager. | Shift-Delete | Delete a file without putting it in the Recycle Bin. | Shift-double-click | Open folder in two-pane Explorer view. | Shift-Tab | Same as Tab, but in reverse. |
Table 2-6. Windows logo key (WIN) combinationsKey(s) | Action |
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WIN | Open the Start menu. | WIN-Tab | If the Aero interface is active, this activates Windows Flip 3D. | WIN-Pause/Break | Display System Control Panel applet. | WIN-Space bar | Display the Sidebar. | WIN-D | Minimize all windows and move focus to Desktop. | WIN-E | Start Windows Explorer. | WIN-F | Launch Search. | Ctrl-WIN-F | Search for a computer on your network (requires Active Directory). | WIN-L | Lock computer, requiring password to regain access.[a] | WIN-M | Minimize current window. | Shift-WIN-M | Undo minimize current window. | WIN-R | Display Run dialog. | WIN-U | Open the Ease of Access Center. | [a] |
[a] You can also lock your computer by pressing Ctrl-Alt-Delete and clicking Lock this Computer. Table 2-7. Command Prompt keyboard acceleratorsKey(s) | Action |
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Left/right arrow | Move cursor backward/forward one character. | Ctrl + left/right arrow | Move cursor backward/forward one word. | Home/End | Move cursor to beginning/end of line. | Up/down arrow | Scroll up (and back) through list of stored commands (called the Command Buffer or History). Each press of the up key recalls the previous command and displays it on the command line. | Page Up/Down | Recall oldest/most recent command in buffer. | Insert | Toggle insert/overtype mode (block cursor implies overtype mode). | Esc | Erase current line. | F1 | Repeat text typed in preceding line, one character at a time. | F2 + key | Repeat text typed in preceding line, up to first character matching key. | F3 | Repeat text typed in preceding line. | F5 | Change the template for F1, F2, and F3 (described earlier) so that earlier commands are used as the template; press F5 repeatedly to cycle through the entire command buffer. | F6 | Place an end-of-file character (^Z) at current position of command line. | F7 | Show all entries in Command Buffer (History). | Alt-F7 | Clear all entries in Command Buffer (History). | chars + F8 | Entering one or more characters chars followed by F8 will display the most recent entry in the Command Buffer beginning with chars. Pressing F8 again will display the next most recent matching command, and so on. If no characters are specified, F8 simply cycles through existing commands in buffer. | F9 + command# | Display designated command on command line; use F7 to obtain numbers. | Ctrl-C | Interrupt the output of most Command Prompt applications. |
2.3.2. Keyboard Accelerators Listed by Function Table 2-8 lists keys that operate in most contextsin other words, on the Desktop, in the Explorer, and within most applications and dialogs. Functions are listed alphabetically, except where a logical order might make more sense. Note also that there is essentially a limitless combination of keystrokes that you can use to activate any particular feature in a given application, all of which you can form by combining the various keystrokes listed in this chapter. For example, you can press Alt-F to open an application's File menu, then press P to Print, then press Enter to begin printing. Or press Ctrl-Esc to open the Start menu, Alt-Enter to open the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties, Ctrl-Tab to open the Taskbar tab (if necessary), and Alt-L to lock (or unlock) the Taskbar. Table 2-8. Keyboard accelerators listed by functionKey(s) | Action |
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Space bar | Checkbox, toggle on or off | Ctrl-C | Clipboard, copy | Alt-PrintScreen | Clipboard, copy current window as a bitmap | PrintScreen | Clipboard, copy entire screen as a bitmap | Ctrl-X | Clipboard, cut | Ctrl-V | Clipboard, paste | Ctrl-F4 | Close current document | Alt-F4 | Close current window | Esc | Close dialog box, message window, or menu | Space bar | Command button, click | Shift-F10, or context menu key on some keyboards | Context menu, open | Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse) | Controls cycle focus on a dialog box | Ctrl-C | Copy selected item or selected text to the Clipboard | Ctrl-X | Cut selected item or selected text to the Clipboard | Windows Logo Key-B, Space bar | Puts you in the notification area (Windows Logo Key-B), then reveals hidden icons (Space bar) | Shift-Delete or Shift-drag item to Recycle Bin | Delete a file without putting it in the Recycle Bin | Delete | Delete selected item | Ctrl-Esc (or Windows Logo Key), then Esc, Tab, Tab, Tab | Desktop, activate | Windows Logo Key-D, or click empty portion of Taskbar and press Alt-M | Desktop, activate by minimizing all windows | Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse) | Dialog box, cycle through controls | Ctrl-Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse) | Dialog box, cycle through tabs | Ctrl-F4 | Document, close | Ctrl-Home | Document, move to the beginning | Ctrl-End | Document, move to the end | Ctrl-F6 or Ctrl-Tab | Document, switch between | Down Arrow or F4 | Drop-down listbox, open | Alt-F4 | Exit an application | Ctrl-Esc, then Alt-F4 | Exit Windows | Shift-Delete | File, delete without moving to Recycle Bin | Windows Logo Key-F (or F3 or Ctrl-F in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop) | File, search | Ctrl-Windows Logo Key-F | Find a computer on your network | Windows Logo Key-F (or F3 or Ctrl-F in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop) | Find files or folders | Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse) | Focus, move among controls on a dialog box | Shift-click Close button | Folder, close current and all parents (Windows Explorer in single-folder view only) | Right and left arrows | Folder, expand and collapse folders in tree | Shift-double-click | Folder, open in two-pane Explorer view | Windows Logo Key-F (or F3 or Ctrl-F in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop) | Folder, search | F1 | Help (in most applications) | Down arrow or F4 | Listbox, drop-down | Ctrl-click | Listbox, select multiple items | Ctrl-Space bar | Listbox, select or deselect items | Windows Logo Key-L (or press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and then Space bar) | Lock computer | Alt-x if menu doesn't have focus, x by itself if menu has focus | Menu, activate specific item with letter x underlined | Arrow keys | Menu, basic navigation | Esc | Menu, close | F10 or Alt (by itself) | Menu, move focus to | Shift-F10, or context menu key on some keyboards | Menu, open context menu | Windows Logo Key-D, or click empty portion of Taskbar and press Alt-M | Minimize all windows and move focus to Desktop | Windows Logo Key-M (hold Shift to undo) | Minimize current window | F6 | Panes, move focus between | Backspace | Parent folder, move to (in Windows Explorer) | Ctrl-V | Paste the contents of the Clipboard | Alt-double-click, or select and then press Alt-Enter | Properties, display for an icon | F5 | Refresh (in Windows Explorer, on the Desktop, and some other applications) | F2 | Rename selected icon or file in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop | Windows Logo Key-R | Run | Alt-PrintScreen | Screenshot, copy current window as a bitmap to the Clipboard | PrintScreen | Screenshot, copy entire screen as a bitmap to the Clipboard | Page Down | Scroll down one screen | Page Up | Scroll up one screen | Ctrl-arrow key | Scroll without moving selection | Windows Logo Key-F | Search for files or folders | F3 or Ctrl-F | Search for files or folders (in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop only) | Ctrl-A | Select all | Alt-drag file | Shortcut, create | Windows Logo Key or Ctrl-Esc | Start menu, open | Alt-Tab or Ctrl-Esc (hold Shift to go in reverse) | Switch to next application | Ctrl-F6 or Ctrl-Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse) | Switch to next document window | Alt-hyphen | System menu, show for current document | Alt-Space bar | System menu, show for current window | Windows Logo Key-Pause/Break | System Properties, open | Ctrl-Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse) | Tabs, switch between tabs | Shift-Ctrl-Esc (or press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and click Task Manager) | Task Manager, open | Ctrl-Esc, then Alt-Enter | Taskbar and Start Menu Properties, open | Windows Logo Key-Tab | Launches Flip 3D | Ctrl-Z | Undo | Alt-Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse) | Window, activate next | Alt-F4 | Window, close | Alt-Esc | Window, drop to bottom of pile | Windows Logo Key-M (hold Shift to undo) | Window, minimize | Windows Logo Key-D (hold Shift to undo) | Window, minimize all | Alt-Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse) | Window, switch to | Windows Logo Key-E | Windows Explorer, open | F6 | Windows Explorer, switch between panes |
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