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Microsoft Keyboard Shortcuts

For some great information see the following link:

Keyboard Shortcuts in Microsoft Products

In depth coverage of all the Windows keyboard shortcuts and all of the special keys and key combinations in all Microsoft products.
http://www.microsoft.com/enable/products/keyboard.aspx

The major categories in this Microsoft Keyboard Shortcuts Module are:

Windows Operating System Shortcuts

Subcategories include: Control Key Combinations , Alt Key Combinations , Function Keys , Windows Logo Key Combinations , Shift Key Combinations, Miscellaneous Keys

Office Suite Shortcuts

Internet Explorer Shortcuts

Windows Operating System Shortcuts

Typically these keyboard shortcuts do not change much from operating system to operating system. The link above to the Microsoft Accessibility site has information about the shortcuts in each Windows OS.

Control Key Combinations

Key or Combination

Function

Notes / Learning Tools
Control + Alt + Delete
Brings up the Task Manager.
In the old days it was called the "three finger salute" by angry geeks when their Windows computer had locked up.
Control + Down Arrow
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph.
.
Control + Up Arrow
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
.
Control + Up Arrow
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
.

Control + Left Arrow
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word.
.
CTRL + A
Highlights all the text, images, files, etc. in the location of focus.
remember "control all"

 CTRL + C
Copy

copies highlighted material to the Clipboard

remember C for Copy
 CTRL + X
Cut

removes highlighted material from the text and copies it to the Clipboard

remember X as in X it out
 CTRL + V
Paste

Pastes material from the Clipboard

remember V looks like the symbol "insert here"

 CTRL – Z
Undo

 just like the Undo button on the Menu Bar, it will undo the last action performed
 CTRL - Y
Redo

 just like the Redo button on the Menu Bar
CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item
Create shortcut to selected item.
.
CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys
Highlight a block of text.
.
CTRL+TAB
Move forward through tabs in a dialog box.
.
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB
Move backward through tabs in a dialog box.
.

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Alt Key Combinations

Key or Combination

Function

Notes / Learning Tools
Alt
Will put focus on the File Menu.
This will also underline the Menu shortcut letters is they are not already indicated.
ALT + TAB
Switching Applications
Tapping the TAB key to cycle between open applications.
Left ALT +left SHIFT +NUM LOCK
Switch MouseKeys on and off.
.
Left ALT +left SHIFT +PRINT SCREEN
Switch High Contrast on and off.
.
ALT+F4
Close the active item, or quit the active program.
Very important closing mechanism for non-mouse users
ALT+ENTER
View properties for the selected item
.
ALT+SPACEBAR
Display the System menu for the active open window.
Opens the same menu that a mouse click in the upper left corner of the Window title bar would.
ALT+TAB
Switch between open items.
.
ALT+Underlined letter
Critical option for using Microsoft Menus without a mouse
Carry out the corresponding command or select the corresponding option in a dialog box.
ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name
Display the corresponding menu.
Critical option for using Microsoft Menus without a mouse

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Function Keys

Key

Function

Notes / Learning Tools
F1
Display Help in a dialog box.
.
F2
Rename selected item.
.
F3
Search for a file or folder.
.
F4
Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
.
F4
Display the items in the active list in a dialog box.
.
F5
Refresh the active window.
.
F6
Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop.
.
F10
Activate the menu bar in the active program.
.
SHIFT + F10
Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.
.

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Windows Logo Key Combinations

Key or Combination

Function

Notes / Learning Tools

Windows Key


(Win Logo Key)
Start Menu

Opens the Start Menu.

Hit the Windows key again and it will close the Start Menu.

Windows Key + E
Windows File Explorer or My Computer

opens Windows File Explorer/My Computer

remember E for Explorer
Windows Key + F
Windows Search
opens the Windows Search for... applet

remember F as in Find
Windows Key + M
Minimize all open windows

minimizes all open windows and places focus on the desktop, remember M for minimize

hit any letter on the keyboard and the focus will go to an icon starting with that letter

after getting to program that you want, hit the enter button to open it

Windows Key + Shift + M
Restores minimized windows.
restores minimized windows
Windows Key + D
Show the desktop.
takes you to the Desktop, minimizing all windows, remember D for Desktop
Windows Key + F1
Display Windows Help.
.
Windows Key + R
Open the Run dialog box.
remember R for Run
Windows Key + U
Opens Utility Manager.
this Utility Manager controls Microsoft Accessibility Applets, remember U for Utility
Windows Key + B
Sets focus on a notification.
.

Windows Key +

Pause | Break

Opens the System Properties Box
.

 

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Shift Key Combinations

Key or Combination

Function

Notes / Learning Tools
Right SHIFT for eight seconds
Switch FilterKeys on and off.
Filter Keys is an accessibility feature
SHIFT five times
Switch StickyKeys on and off.
Sticky Keys is an accessibility feature
SHIFT when you insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive
Prevent the CD from automatically playing.
This turns off the AutoRun feature
SHIFT with any of the arrow keys
Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document.
.
SHIFT + DELETE
Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin.
Beware...this removes the item completely.
SHIFT + TAB
Move backward through options in a dialog box.
.

Miscellaneous Key Shortcuts

Key

Function

Notes / Learning Tools
Arrow keys
Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons in a dialog box.
.
BACKSPACE
View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
.
BACKSPACE
Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box in a dialog box.
.
DELETE
Delete.
deletes the highlighted item or text
HOME
Display the top of the active window.
takes focus to the beginning
END
Display the bottom of the active window.
takes focus to the end
ENTER
Carry out the command for the active option or button in a dialog box.
example: if focus is on a shortcut for a program, Enter will run that program
ESC
Cancel the current task.
.
LEFT ARROW
Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu.
.
LEFT ARROW
Collapse current selection if it's expanded, or select parent folder.
.

Application key

Displays the sub-context menu for the selected item.

this key is located to the right of the right Windows key

this acts like a right click on the selected item, it opens the sub-context menu for that item
NUM LOCK for five seconds
Switch ToggleKeys on and off.
ToggleKeys is an Accessibility feature
NUM LOCK + ASTERISK on numeric keypad (*)
Display all subfolders under the selected folder.
.
NUM LOCK + MINUS SIGN on numeric keypad (-)
Collapse the selected folder.
.
NUM LOCK + PLUS SIGN on numeric keypad (+)
Display the contents of the selected folder.
.

 

Office Suite Shortcuts

Key Combinations

Key or Combination

Function

Notes / Learning Tools

Internet Explorer Shortcuts

Key Combinations

Key or Combination

Function

Notes / Learning Tools