Windows Basics
This section includes background information on the Windows Operating Systems for users who are unfamiliar with Windows. For any questions concerning Windows behavior not covered here, refer to your Microsoft Windows User’s Guide.

Keyboard Shortcuts

The following are keyboard shortcuts and their associated actions in the Microsoft Windows environment. Throughout the system (and, all of Windows) these keys will have these functions unless otherwise noted.

Click on a topic link below to view help for that topic.

  • System Keys
  • Menu Keys
  • Dialog Box Keys
  • Cursor Movement Keys
  • Editing Keys

    System Keys -- Top

    The following keys can be used in a window or a full screen, regardless of the application. The + between two or more keys indicates the keys must be pressed at the same time. A comma between two keys indicates the second key can be pressed after the first key has been pressed.

    <F1>
         		Start Help (if available).
    <Ctrl> + <Alt> + <Del>
         		Switch to Task List in Windows 98, 2000, and XP.
    <Alt> + <Tab>
         		Switch to the application last used. Or, switch to the next application, by pressing and holding down <Alt> while repeatedly pressing <Tab>. To return to your original application, hold down the <Alt> key and press <Esc>.
    <Shift> + <Alt> + <Tab>
         		Switch to previous applications by pressing and holding down <Alt> + <Shift> while repeatedly pressing <Tab>. To return to your original application, hold down the <Alt> key, and press <Esc>.
    <Print Screen>
         		Copy an image of the screen onto the Clipboard. (This works for non-Windows applications only if they are running in text mode.)
    <Alt> + <Print Screen>
         		Copy an image of the active window onto the Clipboard.
    <Alt> , <Space Bar>
         		Open the Control menu for an application window. This menu is found in the upper left hand corner of the screen.
    <Alt> , <Hyphen(-)>
         		Open the Control menu for a document window. This control menu is found in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.
    <Alt> + <Spacebar>
         		Opens the Control menu for a non-Windows application running in a window.
    <Alt> + <F4>
         		Quit an application or close a window.
    <Ctrl> + <F4>
         		Close the active group window or document window.
    <Alt>+<Enter>
         		Switch a non-Windows application between running in a window and running in a full screen.
    Arrow Keys
         		Move a window after choosing Move from the Control menu. Or change the size of a window after choosing Size from the Control menu.

    Menu Keys -- Top

    Use the following keys to select menus and choose commands.

    <Alt> or <F10>
         		Select or cancel selection of the first menu on the menu bar.
    A character key.
         		Choose the menu or command whose underlined letter or number matches the one typed (after pressing <Alt>).
    Left or right arrows.
         		Move between menus.
    Up or down arrows.
         		Move between commands in a menu selection.
    <Enter>
         		Choose the selected menu name or command.
    <Esc>
         		Cancel the selected menu name or close the open menu.

    Dialog Box Keys -- Top

    Use the following keys when working in a dialog box.

    <Tab>
         		Move from option to option (generally left to right and top to bottom).
    <Shift> + <Tab>
         		Move from option to option in reverse order.
    <Alt> + character key
         		Move to the option or group whose underlined letter or number matches the one you type. These underlined letters are called hot-keys.
    Arrow keys.
         		Move the selection cursor from option to option within a group of options. Move the cursor left, right, up or down within a list or text box.
    <Home>
         		Move to the first item or character in a list or text box.
    <End>
         		Move to the last item or character in a list or text box.
    <Page Up> or <Page Down>
         		Scroll up or down in a list, one screen at a time.
    <Alt>+<Down Arrow>
         		Open a list or combo box.
    <Space Bar>
         		Select an item or cancel a selection in a list.
    <Ctrl> + < / >
         		Select all items in a list (when you can select multiple items).
    <Ctrl> + < \ >
         		Cancel all selections except the current selection.
    <SHIFT> + an arrow key
         		Extend or cancel the selection in a text box one character at a time.
    <Shift> + <Home>
         		Extend or cancel the selection to the first character in a text box.
    <Shift> + <End>
         		Extend or cancel the selection to the last character in a text box.
    <Enter>
         		Carry out a command.
    <Esc> or <Alt> + <F4>
         		Close a dialog box without completing the command.

    Cursor Movement Keys -- Top

    Use the following keys where applicable to move the cursor or insertion point in text boxes and other places where you can type text.

    <Up Arrow>
         		Up one line.
    <Down Arrow>
         		Down one line.
    <Right Arrow>
         		Right one character.
    <Left Arrow>
         		Left one character.
    <Ctrl> + <Right Arrow>
         		Right one word.
    <Ctrl> + <Left Arrow>
         		Left one word.
    <Home>
         		To the beginning of the line.
    <End>
         		To the end of the line.
    <Page Up>
         		Up one screen.
    <Page Down>
         		Down one screen.
    <Ctrl> + <Home>
         		To the beginning of the document.
    <Ctrl> + <End>
         		To the end of the document.

    Editing Keys -- Top

    Use the following keys to edit text in a dialog box or window.

    <Back Space>
         		Delete one character to the left of the insertion point; or delete selected text.
    <Del>
         		Delete the character to the right of the insertion point; or delete selected text.
    <Ctrl> + <Ins> or <C>
         		Copy the selected text and place it on the Clipboard.
    <Shift> + <Del> or <Ctrl> + <X>
         		Delete the selected text and place it onto the Clipboard.
    <Shift> + <Ins> or <Ctrl> + <V>
    		 Paste text from the Clipboard into the active window at the insertion point.
    <Ctrl> + <Z> or <Alt> + <Back Space>
         		Undo the last editing action.

    *This information is an excerpt from the Microsoft Windows User’s Guide and is Copyright the Microsoft Corporation.

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