Learn how to efficiently use keyboard shortcuts in Windows and save time to accomplish tasks.
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.
Let’s 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 it’s 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.
