WINDOWS SOFTWARE TIPS

1) Accessing Characters and Commands on a Keyboard

Each key on a keyboard can have up to 5 different behaviours or commands. The normal behaviour for a key is to type a character, however keys can also be assigned actions such as printing. These additional behaviours are accessible by holding down one of four special keys (called modifier keys) first while pressing a normal key. The four modifier keys that access the alternative behaviours of a normal key are:

Modifier Key	Key Identification	Typical Use in Conjunction with Other Keys
Shift key	Upward hollow arrow	Typically used to access characters printed above the main key characters or a character's alternative case
Alternative key	Alt	Typically used to access a program's menu and its menu commands via the menu itself
Control key	Ctrl	Typically used to access menu commands directly for commands common to all or many programs
Windows key	Windows logo	Used to access the Windows operating system commands

The Alt Key

As mentioned above, the Alt key is typically used to access a program's (aka application) menu commands by activating the menu. To remember the main use of the Alt key, remember "A for Alt, A for application menu".
The Alt key pressed by itself activates a program's menu for subsequent access via the keys indicated by the main menu items' underlined letters, or via the four arrow navigation keys.
The Alt key pressed in conjunction with a letter accesses the program's main menu item as indicated by the underlined letter for that main menu item. To access sub-menu items, just independently press the underlined letter of the sub-menu item.

The Ctrl Key

As mentioned above, the Ctrl key is typically used for direct access to commands (i.e.without activating the program's menu) that are common to all or many programs. To remember the main use of the Ctrl key, remember "C for Ctrl, C for common commands".

Examples of Key Combinations

To access the percentage sign, hold down the Shift key and then press the 5 key on the main part of the keyboard (written SHIFT + 5)
To access the upper case letter R when the Caps Lock is off, hold down the Shift key and then press the R key (written SHIFT + R)
To access the lower case letter r when the Caps Lock is on, hold down the Shift key and then press the R key (written SHIFT + R)
To access a program's file menu, hold down the Alt key and then press the F key (written ALT + F)
To close a program, hold down the Alt key and then press the F4 key (written ALT + F4)
To access the document print function, hold down the Control key and then press the P key (written CTRL + P)

2) Windows and Windows Programs' Keyboard Shortcut Commands

All the commands for a program such as Microsoft Word are accessible through the program's menu. Some of these commands are also accessible via the program's various toolbars. Many of the commands also have a keyboard shortcut command to save time in switching from the keyboard to the mouse to access the menu or the toolbars.

There are standard keyboard shortcut commands that apply across most of Windows programs including the office suite of programs as well as Microsoft Windows itself. A useful selection of these keyboard shortcut commands are shown in the following table:

Action	Keyboard Command	Microsoft Windows	Microsoft Office Programs (e.g. Word, Excel, Powerpoint)

General Windows Actions
Help	F1	yes	yes
Select all items or document contents	CTRL + A	yes	yes
Find	CTRL + F	yes	yes
Print	CTRL + P	yes	yes
Close a program	ALT + F4	yes	yes
Cycle through open programs (task bar items)	ALT + Tab	yes	-
Open Windows Start menu	WINKEY	yes	-
Show the Windows desktop	WINKEY + D	yes	-
Open Windows Explorer	WINKEY + E	yes	-
Lock the computer	WINKEY + L	yes	-

Copying and Moving Actions
Cut	CTRL + X ('scissors')	yes	yes
Copy	CTRL + C	yes	yes
Paste	CTRL + V	yes	yes

Undo Actions
Undo last action	CTRL + Z	yes	yes
Redo last action	CTRL + Y	yes	yes

Document Actions
Create new document	CTRL + N	-	yes
Open existing document	CTRL + O	-	yes
Save document	CTRL + S	-	yes
Close a document	CTRL + F4	-	yes

Document Text Actions
Replace text	CTRL + H	-	yes
Spell check document	F7	-	yes

Document Text Font Actions
Toggle bold font on and off	CTRL + B	-	yes
Toggle italic font on and off	CTRL + I	-	yes
Toggle font underline on and off	CTRL + U	-	yes

If you require training in Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office or general Windows software, please get in touch.

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