The keyboard isn't just for typing text. Experienced Windows users use keystrokes instead of the mouse to issue commands. Windows provides hundreds of keyboard shortcuts that replicate almost every common mouse maneuver. You can use keyboard shortcuts to open, close, and navigate the Start menu, desktop, menus, windows, dialog boxes, programs, documents, and webpages. Using a keyboard shortcut usually is faster than using the mouse to do the same thing.

In addition to keys for letters, numbers, and symbols, your keyboard has other types of keys:

• Modifier keys alter the meaning of the other key(s) being pressed (Table 1.4).
• Function keys are the keys along the keyboard's top or left side labeled F1, F2, and so on. Their functions depend on the program that you're using.
• Navigation keys scroll windows and move things around (Table 1.5).

To use a keyboard shortcut:

2. Press the specified letter, number, symbol, or function key.

3. Release all the keys.

Tips

• For a list of keyboard shortcuts, choose Start > Help and Support; then search for keyboard shortcuts.
• Alt behaves a little differently from Shift and Ctrl. Shift or Ctrl does nothing when pressed by itself, but Alt pressed by itself activates the menu bar or ribbon. (If you press Alt accidentally, press Alt again to get back to normal.)
• Most PC keyboards have extra Windowsspecific keys on either side of the spacebar.

Press the Windows logo key alone to open the Start menu or press it in combination with letter keys for other actions, which I discuss where they're appropriate.

The Application key displays the shortcut menu for the selected item (the same as right-clicking).


• Some keyboard shortcuts are consistent across all programs (F1 for help and Ctrl+C to copy, for example), but programs also define custom shortcuts.
• Some keyboard shortcuts won't work if Sticky Keys is turned on in Ease of Access Center. See "Accommodating Disabled Users" in Chapter 4.

Modifier keys also work with mouse clicks.

To Shift-click:

• Hold down Shift; then click before releasing the key.

To Shift-drag:

• Hold down Shift; then drag and drop before releasing the key.

Tip

• Windows also has Ctrl+click, Alt+click, Ctrl+drag, and Alt+drag commands for file operations.

Table 1.4

Modifier Keys
Key	Pr e s s To
Shift	Type symbols or uppercase letters, or extend the selection when used with the mouse.
Ctrl	Modify the function of other keys. (Ctrl stands for Control.)
Alt	Access menus or modify the function of other keys. (Alt stands for Alternate.)

Table 1.5

Navigation Keys
Key	Pr e s s To
Home	Scroll to the beginning or move to the start of a line or row
End	Scroll to the end or move to the end of a line or row
Page Up	Scroll up one page or windowful
Page Down	Scroll down one page or windowful
Arrow keys	Scroll in that direction, move the insertion point or selected item(s), or select the adjacent item.