image of CLB logo Tips and Tricks
 

Microsoft has released a guide to the keyboard commands of Windows 95 and Windows NT.
This guide also works well for Windows 98 and Windows 2000. Since mouse navigation

is difficult for people with visual, manual, or other disabilities, this may be a
helpful learning aid for many.

This document presents basic keyboard navigation for Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 95
and Microsoft Windows NT(R) 4.0. For general Windows concepts and descriptions of
the interface, consult online Help or the documentation supplied with your operating system.

Developers may also find The Windows Interface Guidelines for Software Design
by Microsoft Press to be useful.

This document describes conventions that are supported by most applications designed for
Windows 95 or Windows NT. However, different applications and different contexts do vary

slightly. Also, while we recommend that applications generate a warning sound
when unsupported keystrokes are used, many do not.

Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 provide Accessibility Options that can make typing
easier for people who have difficulty using the keyboard or pressing more

than one key at a time. Consult online Help for details.

1. General Windows Keys

The following keys work throughout Microsoft Windows.

Table with 2 columns and 24 rows

Key
Action

F1
Displays Help information for the active object or the window as a whole.

Windows logo key or CTRL+ESC
Opens the Start menu located on the taskbar.

CTRL+ALT+DELETE
In Microsoft Windows 95, opens the Close Program dialog box that contains a list box of
applications to be closed and command buttons for Ending Task, Shutting Down, and Cancel.

In Microsoft Windows NT, opens the Windows NT Security dialog box, with the following options:
Lock Workstation, Logoff, Shut Down, Change Password, Task Manager, and Cancel.

If you are not logged on, brings up the logon dialog box.

DELETE
Deletes the selected item(s). If the items are files, moves them to the Recycle Bin.

DELETE+SHIFT
Delete the selected item(s). If the items are files, destroys them immediately without
moving them to the Recycle Bin.

CTRL+N
Opens the New dialog box. (This can also be opened from the File menu.)

CTRL+O
Opens the Open dialog box. (This can also be opened from the File menu.)

CTRL+P
Opens the Print dialog box. (This can also be opened from the File menu.)

CTRL+S
Opens the Save dialog box. (This can also be opened from the File menu.)

CTRL+X
Cuts the selected item(s) to the clipboard. (This can also be opened from the Edit menu.)

CTRL+INSERT OR CTRL+C
Copies the selected item(s) to the clipboard. (This can also be opened from the Edit menu.)

SHIFT+INSERT OR CTRL+V
Pastes the copied items(s) from the clipboard. (This can also be opened from the Edit menu.)

ALT+BACKSPACE OR CTRL+Z
Undoes the last action. Note that not all actions, such as shutting down, can be undone.
(This can also be opened from the Edit menu.)

ALT+SHIFT+BACKSPACE
Redoes the previously undone action. (This can also be opened from the Edit menu.)

Windows logo key+M
Minimizes all open windows. The keyboard focus goes to the least recently selected icon
on the desktop. Add SHIFT to expand previously opened windows and

return focus to the most recently used application.

Windows logo key+E
Opens the Windows Explorer. (This can also be opened from the Program item in the Start menu.)

Windows logo key+F
Opens the Find: All Files dialog box. (This can also be opened from the Find item in the Start menu.)

Windows logo key+R
Opens the Run dialog box. (This can also be opened from the Run item in the Start menu.)

Windows logo key+BREAK
Opens the System Properties dialog box. (This can also be opened
from the Systems item in Control Panel.)

Windows logo key+CTRL+F
Opens the Find Computer dialog box. (This can also be opened from the Find item
in the Start menu.)

Windows logo key+number
Reserved for use by computer manufacturers.

SHIFT+F10 or Application key (also the right mouse click)
Opens the shortcut menu for the active item. This can be selected text, a toolbar
button, a taskbar button, or other item.

SHIFT
Press down and hold the SHIFT key while you insert a CD-ROM to bypass the AutoPlay
feature. Hold down the SHIFT key while Microsoft Word is loading to suppress

the AutoExec macro.

2. Selecting Items by Access Key or by Name

Most dialog box controls, menu titles, and menu items have underlined access keys.
You can press ALT along with the access key to activate the control or

menu anywhere within the active window. If an item doesn't have
an underlined character, its access key is the first character in its name.

Access keys can sometimes be used without the ALT key for choosing controls or menu
items. Use access keys without ALT to select items from an open menu.

You can choose a dialog box control by typing its access key alone,
except when the focus is on an edit box, a list box, or another control that expects

typed characters. Therefore, using the ALT is a more reliable method.

Choosing controls in this way normally activates them, except when more than one item
has the same access key. In that case, it will navigate to the next

item assigned that key, but will not activate it. You must then press
ENTER to activate it.

Within a list box, list view, tree view, or on the desktop, you can select an
item by typing the first one or more characters in its name. You can begin

typing a new name by pausing, and in some cases by pressing BACKSPACE.
Pressing the same character more than once at the beginning of a name will select

the next item beginning with that character.

3. Desktop and Taskbar Navigation Keys

Depending on your setup, various items appear on your desktop when you start
Microsoft Windows. For example, the My Computer icon provides access to a list

of the drives and files on your computer. You can use the ARROW KEYS to
move from one icon to another, or you can select items by typing their names.

By default, the Start button and the taskbar are located at the bottom of your screen
when you start Windows and are always visible when Windows is running.

Every time you start a program or open a window, a button representing that window
appears on the taskbar. When you close a window, its button disappears

from the taskbar. The taskbar it has status indicators, including the time,
shown at the rightmost end.

Table with 2 columns and 9 rows

Key
Action

Windows logo key+M
Minimizes all open windows. The keyboard focus goes to the most recently
selected icon on the desktop. Add SHIFT to expand previously opened windows and

return focus to the most recently used application.

ARROW KEY
Selects the adjacent icon or taskbar button in the direction of the arrow.

Any printing character
Selects the next icon with the specified name or initial letter.

Windows logo key or CTRL+ESC
Opens the Start menu from the taskbar. Press ESC again to place the keyboard focus on the
Start button.

TAB
Moves between the last selected icon on the desktop, the Start button on the taskbar,
and the taskbar as a whole. There is no visual indication of the focus

on the taskbar, but you can use the ARROW KEYS to move between the taskbar buttons.
You can also use SHIFT+F10 to bring up the shortcut menu for the taskbar.

Windows logo key+TAB
Cycles through the taskbar buttons.

F2
Rename a selected item. A bold rectangle appears around the title creating a text box.
Type the new name and press ENTER. Press ESC to cancel. Some icons on the desktop

cannot be renamed.

F3
Opens the Find: All files dialog box.
table end

It is often easier to use the Windows Explorer to manipulate objects that are on the desktop
and in My Computer. The desktop is treated as the highest level directory on your computer

in Windows Explorer, above the My Computer icon. Using the real desktop is often
inconvenient because you have to minimize all other windows to be able to see it,

but you can easily switch between Windows Explorer displaying the desktop group
and any other application windows.

Like the desktop, one normally doesn't need to use the task bar except for the Start menu which
can be accessed at all times by CTRL+ESC. The following section describes keystrokes for

switching between windows that can be used in place of the taskbar buttons.

4. Window manipulation keys

Application windows contain running applications. At the top of the window is a title bar with
the name of the application and the associated document. The title bar of the window you

are currently using is usually a different color than those of the inactive windows.
The application's menu bar is located directly below the title bar. Application windows

can be positioned anywhere within the desktop borders. Since the active window
always appears in the foreground it might overlap inactive windows, partially or completely

obscuring them.

Windows can be arranged on the desktop through the taskbar shortcut menu. To reach this
menu, use this sequence of keys: CTRL+ESC, ESC, TAB, SHIFT+F10.

The following options are on the shortcut menu and may be reached using
ARROW KEYS or the underlined keys: Cascade, Tile Horizontally, Tile Vertically,

Minimize all, Undo minimize all, Properties.

To move a window, choose the Move command from the leftmost icon on the title bar. Use
ARROW KEYS to move the window, followed by ENTER to accept or ESC

to cancel. To resize a window, choose the Size command then use an ARROW KEY
to choose which window border you want to move, then move it with the appropriate

ARROW KEYS, finally ending with ENTER to accept or ESC to cancel

Table with 2 columns and 8 rows

Key
Action

ALT+F4
Closes the active application window. (This can also be opened from the Program
menu of the active application.)

ALT+SPACE
Opens the Program menu from the leftmost icon on the title bar of the active window.
The Program menu typically contains the following commands: Restore, Move, Size, Minimize,
Maximize and Close.

ALT+TAB
Switches to the most recently used application window. To select an application from a list,
continue to hold ALT down and press TAB more than once to move through the list.

Add SHIFT to reverse direction through the list.

ALT+ESC
Switches keyboard focus to next application window, including minimized windows
on the taskbar. Press ESC more than once to switch through successive windows

and add SHIFT to reverse the direction.

ALT+ENTER
Switches a MS DOS-based application between full-screen and windowed modes.

PRINT SCREEN
Copies an image of the screen to the clipboard.

ALT+PRINT SCREEN
Copies an image of the active window to the clipboard.
table end

Applications can have multiple document windows. Document windows appear within
the applications windows, and like application windows may tile or overlap.

Document windows have their own title bars unless they are maximized. When
maximized, they fill the application workspace and share the application window's

title bar and the document name is included with the name of the application
on a shared title bar. The document window's document icon is added to the application

menu bar on the far left. For example, in Microsoft Word the title bar says
"Microsoft Word - Name of Document" when the document window is maximized.

Commands that affect the application window affect the document window as well.

Table with 2 columns and 4 rows

Key
Action

CTRL+F4
Closes the active document window.

CTRL+F6
Switches to next document window in the active application. Add SHIFT to switch to
the previous document window.

ALT+HYPHEN
Opens the Document menu from the leftmost icon on the title bar of the active
document window. The Document menu typically contains the following commands:

Restore, Move, Size, Minimize, Maximize and Close.
table end

For some applications, the application and document windows can be divided into two
or more separate viewing areas called panes. This is useful when moving

or copying information from one document to another or from one part of a
document to another. Panes are also used when viewing both the body of the documents

and the footnotes or annotations.

To split a window into two panes, open the Window menu and choose the Split
command. The Split Bar appears in the middle of the window with the keyboard

focus indicated by arrows. Move the split bar to the desired location using the
ARROW KEYS. Press ENTER to set the split bar in the desired location. Use

F6 or TAB to move between panes in a clockwise direction; add SHIFT
to reverse direction.

5. Menu commands

Applications frequently include commands that are listed in menus. Menus are
represented by names on a menu bar at the top of each application window. In

Microsoft Windows, you select a menu, and then choose a command
from that menu. Choosing the command initiates the action. An ellipsis (...) after the

menu indicates that a dialog box will appear after the command is chosen
to ask for information that the application needs to carry out the command.

Table with 2 columns and 12 rows

Key
Action

Windows logo key or CTRL+ESC
Opens the Start menu on the taskbar.

F10 or ALT
Activates the menu bar of the active window. The leftmost menu name is selected.
(When you have a maximized document window, the leftmost menu has an icon

instead of a name and there is no visual indication that it is selected.)
Press F10 or ALT again to toggle the focus back to where it was previously.

LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW
Moves the focus between menus on the menu bar in the direction of the arrow.
If the original menu was open, the target menu will be opened and the focus

on the first item.

UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW
Opens the selected menu. DOWN ARROW selects the next command in
the list. UP ARROW selects the previous command in the list.

ENTER
Opens the selected menu when focus is on the menu title, but it activates a menu item
when focus is on a menu item. If the selected menu item is unavailable,

ENTER closes the menu.

ALT+SPACE
Opens the Program menu from the leftmost icon on the title bar of the
active window. The Program menu typically contains the following commands:
Restore, Move, Size, Minimize, Maximize and Close.

ALT+HYPHEN
Opens the Document menu from the leftmost icon on the title bar if the active document
window. The Document menu typically contains the following commands:

Restore, Move, Size, Minimize, Maximize and Close.

ESC
Closes an open menu and moves the focus back to the parent menu if there is one.
Otherwise it returns the focus to the menu title. If the focus was already

on the menu title, focus moves back to wherever it was before activating the menu bar.

ALT+Any printing character
Chooses the menu with the underlined character (access key) on the main menu bar.

Any printing character
Chooses the command with the underlined character (access key) on an open menu.

SHIFT+F10 or Application key (also the right mouse click)
Opens the shortcut menu for the active item. This can be selected text, a toolbar button,
a taskbar button, or other item.

table end

6. Windows Explorer keys

The Windows Explorer displays the contents of a computer, drive or directory. The Windows
logo key+E opens the Windows Explorer at any time, and it can also be started

from Programs on the Start menu. It normally has two panes, the left pane
showing a tree view of your folders, and the right pane showing

the contents of one folder.

Windows Explorer can also show a single-pane, without the tree view. In this case it
normally hides the toolbar unless you explicitly turn it on using the

View menu. The same information is can be accessed using the My
Computer icon from the desktop, and in the standard Open and Save As dialog boxes.

In the View menu offers a choice of icon displays. The Large Icons view displays the
contents of a drive or directory as large icons in horizontal rows.

The Small Icons view displays the same information in small icons in horizontal
rows. The List menu item displays directories and files as small icons in vertical

columns. The Details view displays files as a single column of icons
with multiple columns of information about each file.

Files and folders can be moved or copied by using the Cut, Copy, and Paste commands
from the Edit menu or by shortcut keys. Moving a program icon does not

change the performance of the program. Deleting a program icon does not
delete all the files associated with the program, so install or delete programs
using the Add/Remove Programs option in Control Panel.

6.1 View Control Keys

Table with 2 columns and 24 rows

Key
Action

ARROW KEYS
Select the next item in the indicated direction. Add SHIFT to select or deselect additional
items. Add CTRL to move to the item without selecting it. In Details View there is only one

column so RIGHT and LEFT ARROW scrolls the window a small amount
to the right or left. In List View the UP and DOWN ARROW

keys wrap between columns.

PAGE UP or PAGE DOWN
Moves to the bottom or top item on the screen. Use a second time to select the item one
screen above or below. Add SHIFT to select additional items. Add CTRL to move to the item
without selecting it.

HOME or END
Selects the first or last item in the list. Add SHIFT to select or deselect additional items.
Add CTRL to move to the item without selectingit.

Any printing character
Selects the next icon with the specified name or initial letter. SPACE behaves this way when
it is typed as part of a name.

ENTER
Opens the selected item. This may open a new window, depending on the options you
have selected. (This can also be opened from the File menu.)

BACKSPACE
Displays the contents of the parent directory. This may open a new window,
depending on the options you have selected.

SPACE
When typed alone, selects the current item if it is not already selected. Use after
moving with the CTRL key to select separate groups of items.

CTRL+SPACE
Selects or deselects the current item. Use after moving with the CTRL key
to select separate groups of items.

SHIFT+SPACE
Extends the selection to the current item. If you have already selected more than
one item, it selects only the items from the first item you selected to the current item.

CTRL+Z
Undoes the last action. Some actions cannot be undone. (This can also be opened from
the Edit menu.)

CTRL+X
Cuts the selected item(s) to the clipboard. (This can also be opened from the Edit menu.)

CTRL+C
Copies the selected item(s) to clipboard. (This can also be opened from the Edit menu.)

CTRL+V
Pastes the copied item(s) from clipboard. (This can also be opened from the Edit menu.)

CTRL+A
Selects all the items in the current window. (This can also be opened from the Edit menu.)

CTRL+G
Opens Go To Folder dialogue. (This can also be opened from the Tools menu).

CTRL+F or F3
Opens Find: All Files dialog box. (This can also be opened from the Tools menu).

DELETE
Deletes the selected item(s) to the Recycle Bin. (This can also be opened from the File menu.)

SHIFT+DELETE
Delete the selected item(s) immediately without moving the item(s) to the Recycle Bin.

ALT+ENTER
Displays the properties of the selected item. (This can also be opened from the Files menu.)

F2
Renames a selected item. A bold rectangle appears around the item. Type
the new name and press ENTER. Press ESC to cancel. (This can also be opened from

the File menu.)

F4
Opens the drop-down list box on the toolbar. Pressing F4 again moves the keyboard
focus back to the previously used item..

F5
Refreshes the current window. (This can also be opened from the View menu.)

F6 or TAB
Switches between panes and the toolbar.
table end

6.2 Tree View Control Keys

Tree views display a set of objects as an indented outline based on their hierarchical
relationships. For example, the All Folders pane in the Windows Explorer

is a tree view. Files and folders can be moved or copied in tree view by
using the Cut, Copy, and Paste commands. Tree view only supports single
selection of items.

Table with 2 columns and 11 rows

Key
Action

RIGHT ARROW
Opens a branch, or selects the first item in the branch.

LEFT ARROW
Closes a branch, or selects the parent of the current item.

ASTERISK (on the numeric keypad)
Expands everything under the current selection.

MINUS SIGN (on the numeric keypad)
Closes everything under the current selection.

PLUS SIGN (on the numeric keypad)
Expands everything under the current selection back to a previously opened state,
or opens only one level if it has not previously been opened.

UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW
Selects the next visible object above or below.

PAGE UP or PAGE DOWN
Moves to the top or bottom item on the screen. Use a second time to move up or down
one screen.

HOME or END
Selects the first or last item on the tree.

Any printing character
Selects the next icon with the specified name or initial letter. Repeating the character
selects successive items beginning with the same character.

BACKSPACE
Chooses the parent directory
table end

7. Dialog Boxes

A dialog box is a window that appears temporarily on top of your application window to
request information. Message boxes are simple dialog boxes that appear to

display additional information, warnings, or to explain why a requested
task could not be accomplished. Dialog boxes often contain groups of controls

necessary to set options or settings for programs. A typical dialog box
might contain some text, a set of radio buttons, and OK and Cancel push buttons.

Controls that have an access key in their titles can be selected or
chosen by typing ALT+the underlined letter at any time when the dialog box is active.

TAB will move the keyboard focus between controls, but which items are
visited by TAB and their order may vary between applications. Typically, items that

cannot be changed are not visited by the TAB key. ARROW KEYS are used
to move within a list box, groups of option controls, or groups of page tabs. ARROW

KEYS can move the keyboard focus between other controls but this behavior
is not reliable. Options that are unavailable appear dimmed and cannot be selected.

While the controls described here are typically found on dialog boxes, they can also occur
in other contexts.

Command buttons (also known as push buttons) initiate an immediate action. One
command button in each dialog box carries out the command you choose, using

the information supplied in the dialog box. This is normally labeled "OK".
Other command buttons let you cancel the command or choose from additional options.

Command buttons marked with an ellipsis (...) open another dialog box
so you can provide more information or confirm an action. Command buttons marked
with a pair of greater-than symbols (>>) expand the current dialog box to show
more controls. Command buttons marked with an arrow display a menu.

The default button is initially indicated by a dark border. Press ENTER at any time
to choose the button with a dark border. Use TAB to move the keyboard focus to the

next control, and add SHIFT to reverse the direction. When you move the
keyboard focus to a command button it temporarily takes the dark border,

but when the keyboard focus is not on a command button the dark border
returns to the default button. Press SPACE to choose the command button you

selected with TAB. Use ESC to immediately choose the Cancel button if
there is one. Typing the access key for a push button will immediately carry
out the command.

Check boxes may be selected or cleared to turn on or off an option. Check boxes
may have two states (checked and unchecked) or three states (checked, unchecked,

and indeterminate). Check boxes are often displayed in sets of related options, for
example in setting Font Effects in Microsoft Word the check boxes offer

Strikethrough, Superscript, Subscript, Hidden, Small caps, and All caps.

Use TAB to move between boxes and SPACE to change the check box to the next state.
Typing the access key for a check box will also move the focus to the

box and change its state.

Option controls (also known as radio buttons) are used to select only one option
from a group of options. (Like check boxes, option buttons may represent

two or three states.) Use the ARROW KEYS to select the next or previous buttons
within the group. In some applications, you can add CTRL to move to the

button without selecting it, then use SPACE to choose the currently selected
option button. Typing the access key for an option control will also move

the focus to the control and select it.

Tabbed pages are used to fit many options into a single dialog box. They appear
visually similar to dividers from a notebook. Each page contains separate

groups of controls such as check boxes or option controls. Use TAB to
move the focus to the tab for the currently visible page. Typing the access key for

a page tab will also move the focus to the tab and display its page.

Table with 2 columns and 5 rows

Key
Action

CTRL+PAGE DOWN or CTRL+TAB
Switches to the next tab and displays the page.

CTRL+PAGE UP or CTRL+SHIFT+TAB
Switches to the previous tab and displays the page.

RIGHT ARROW or LEFT ARROW
When the focus is on a tab selector, chooses the next or previous tab in the current
row and displays the page.

DOWN ARROW OR UP ARROW
Chooses the tab in the next or previous row and displays the page.
table end

Sliders appear as an indicator on a vertical or horizontal gauge. The slider
both displays and sets a value from a continuous range, such as speed, brightness,

or volume. Use TAB or the appropriate access key to move the focus to the slider.

Table with 2 columns and 6 rows

Key
Action

RIGHT ARROW or DOWN ARROW
Selects the next higher setting.

LEFT ARROW or UP ARROW
Selects the next lower setting.

HOME or END
Selects the lowest or highest setting.

PAGE DOWN
Selects a somewhat lower or higher setting depending on the application. (This is
the equivalent of pressing an ARROW key many times.)

PAGE UP
Moves in the reverse of the PAGE DOWN.
table end

Spin boxes appear as a text box with up and down arrows used to select from
a list of fixed values. Use TAB to move the keyboard focus to the text box,

then enter a valid value in the box or use the UP ARROW or DOWN
ARROW keys to select the next higher or lower values.

List boxes display a column of available choices. If there are more choices than can fit
in the open list box, moving the selection through the list will cause more choices to

scroll into view. Use TAB or type the appropriate access key to move the focus
to the list box.

Single selection list boxes allow only one item to be selected from the list
at a time. Items are selected when navigating to them, and moving to a second

item will automatically deselect all other items.

Drop-down list boxes show only the selected item. There is a small button
to the right of the control that shows a downward-pointing arrow. This displays

more items from the list box while you make your selection. You can also show
or hide the list using ALT+DOWN ARROW, ALT+UP ARROW, or F4. In all other

respects it behaves like a normal single- selection list box.

Extended selection list boxes support selecting single items, blocks of items, or
combinations of the two. After selecting an item as in a single-selection

list box, hold down SHIFT+Navigation keys to select or deselect more items.

Multiple selection list boxes typically have comparatively long lists and more of these
items are expected to be chosen individually (not in blocks). Navigating

to items does not automatically select them nor does selecting an item
change the status of other selections. Press SPACE to select or deselect an item.

Combo-boxes and drop-down combo boxes are list boxes with attached edit
boxes. You can make your selection by either typing in the edit box or using the

standard commands to select from the list.

Table with 2 columns and 8 rows

Key
Action

UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW
Selects the previous or next item. In an extended selection list box,
add SHIFT to select additional items and add CTRL to move to an item without selecting

it. In an multiple selection list box, moves without changing the selection.

PAGE UP or PAGE DOWN
Selects the item up or down one screen. In an extended selection list box,
add SHIFT to select additional items and add CTRL to move to an item without

selecting it. In an multiple selection list box, moves without changing the selection.

HOME OR END
Selects the first or last item in the list box. In an extended selection list box,
add SHIFT to select additional items and add CTRL to move to an item

without selecting it. In an multiple selection list box, moves without changing the selection.

Any printing character
Moves to the next item matching the characters being typed. Use BACKSPACE
to change. In an multiple selection list box, moves to an item without selecting it.

SPACE or CTRL+SPACE
Selects or deselects the current item in an extended-selection list box.

SHIFT+SPACE
Extends the selection from the last selected item to the current item in an extended
selection list-box.

SHIFT+F8
In extended selection list boxes, pressing SHIFT+F8 allows you to move
without changing the selection. You can then press CTRL+SPACE or SHIFT+SPACE to select

additional items. The list box returns to normal operation when you press
SHIFT+F8 a second time or switch to another window or control.

table end

Edit controls are rectangular boxes used for displaying or editing text. See the following
section for more information. Use TAB or the appropriate access

key to move the focus to the edit control and select the text.

8. Text Navigation and Editing Keys

When you open a document window in a word processing (or similar) program,
a pointer appears in the upper-left corner of the window. The text you enter

will appear at the pointer. In insertion mode, the new text is inserted into the
existing text--the existing text is automatically pushed back to follow the new

text. In overwrite mode, the new text overwrites the existing text. The following
keys automatically scroll the window to keep the pointer in view when it is necessary.
These keys also work in the text boxes of dialog boxes and list boxes.

Table with 2 columns and 8 rows

Key
Action

INSERT
Toggles between overtype and insertion modes. (Edit controls only support insert mode.)

ARROW KEY
Moves the pointer one character in the direction of the ARROW KEY. If there
is selected text, moves the pointer to the end of the selection and deselects the text.

HOME OR END
Moves the pointer to the beginning or end of the current line.

PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN
Moves the pointer up or down one screen or to the first or last line.

CTRL+RIGHT or CTRL+LEFT
Moves the pointer to the beginning of the next or previous word.

CTRL+UP or CTRL+DOWN
Moves the pointer to the beginning of the preceding or next paragraph.
(Not supported in edit controls.)

CTRL+HOME OR CTRL+END
Moves the pointer to the beginning or the end of the document. (Not
supported in edit controls.)

table end

Press SHIFT with the above text navigation keys to select blocks of text
for editing. For example, press SHIFT+END to select text from the pointer to the

end of the line. SHIFT toggles, in other words you can also use SHIFT+the
above navigation keys to both select and deselect text.

Table with 2 columns and 7 rows

Key
Action

DELETE
Deletes the next character or the selected text.

BACKSPACE
Deletes the previous character or the selected text.

ALT+BACKSPACE or CTRL+Z
Undoes the last action.

CTRL+INSERT or CTRL+C
Copies selected text to clipboard.

SHIFT+DELETE or CTRL+X
Cuts the selected text to the clipboard.

SHIFT+INSERT or CTRL+V
Pastes copied text from clipboard.
table end

9. Accessibility Keys

Use the Control Panel to turn on these keys for both Microsoft Windows 95
and Microsoft Windows NT 4.0. Under previous versions of Windows, Windows NT and

MS-DOS the Accessibility features were not on the system until the Access Pack
has been installed. Once Access Pack is installed, the hot keys are on by

default. These features are not available on Windows NT 3.1.

Table with 2 columns and 8 rows

Key
Action

Five taps on SHIFT
Toggles the StickyKeys feature on and off. Use StickyKeys if you want to use the
SHIFT, CONTROL, or ALT keys one key at a time in combination with other keys.

Left ALT+Left SHIFT+NUM LOCK
Toggles the MouseKeys feature on and off. Use MouseKeys if you want
to control the mouse pointer with the numeric keypad.

Hold NUM LOCK for 5 seconds
Toggles the ToggleKeys feature on and off. Use ToggleKeys if you
want to hear tones when pressing CAPS LOCK, NUM LOCK and SCROLL LOCK.

Hold Right SHIFT for 8 seconds
Three beeps followed by a sliding beep signals eight seconds. Toggles the
FilterKeys features (SlowKeys, BounceKeys and RepeatKeys) on and off. Use FilterKeys

if you want Windows to ignore brief or repeated keystrokes or to slow the
repeat rate. SlowKeys ignores keys that are pressed accidentally or for a short

time. BounceKeys ignores keys that are pressed more than once too quickly.
RepeatKeys adjusts or disables the keyboard repeat rate.

Hold Right SHIFT for 12 seconds
Three beeps followed by a sliding beep followed by a double beep signals
twelve seconds. Turns on the BounceKeys feature with the most conservative settings.

Hold Right SHIFT for 16 seconds
Three beeps followed by a sliding beep followed by a double beep followed by a
triple beep signals sixteen seconds. Turns the SlowKeys feature on with the most
conservative settings.

Left ALT+Left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN
In Microsoft Windows 95, toggles the High Contrast Mode feature on and off. Use this
option if you want Windows to display colors and fonts designed for easy reading.

In Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, use Control Panel to select from several High
Contrast schemes in the Appearance page under the Display option.

table end

10. Shortcut Keys for Applications or Documents

Shortcuts provide easy access to the documents and programs you use most often.
You can put shortcuts to any program or document on your desktop or on your

Start menu and give them shortcut keys. Typing a shortcut key at any time
will switch to the application or document, or start it if it is not already running.

The items on your Start menu are shortcuts and you can assign them shortcut
keys. The Start menu is also a convenient place to put shortcuts you create.

To create a shortcut and place it in the Start menu:

Table with 2 columns and 13 rows

Action
Result

Press CTRL+ESC.
The Start menu appears.

Choose Programs from the Start menu.
The Programs menu opens.

Choose Windows Explorer from the Programs menu.
The Windows Explorer opens with the contents of 'Start Menu' in the Contents
pane on the right.

Press F6 and ARROW KEYS.
Use F6 to switch panes and the ARROW KEYS to navigate to the program or
document to which you are assigning a shortcut.

Press CTRL+C.
Copies the selected item to the clipboard.

Press CTRL+ESC.
The Start menu appears again.

Press ESC.
The keyboard focus moves to the Start button on the taskbar.

Press SHIFT+F10.
The shortcut menu for the Start button appears.

Press E.
Chooses the Explore command. A second copy of Windows Explorer opens with the
contents of 'Start Menu' in the Contents pane on the right. The keyboard focus

is on the first item in the pane.

Press ALT+E.
The Edit menu opens.

Press S.
Chooses the Paste Shortcut command. The new shortcut icon appears at the end
of the list of icons in the Contents of "Start Menu" pane.

Choose Close from the File menu.
Closes the second copy of the Windows Explorer. Repeat to close the first copy.
table end

You can also place shortcuts on the desktop through the Windows Explorer.

To assign a shortcut key to a shortcut:

Table with 2 columns and 7 rows

Action
Result

Select the shortcut on the desktop or in the Windows Explorer.
You can assign shortcut keys only to shortcuts on the Desktop or in the Start menu.
(To assign shortcut keys to shortcuts on he Start menu you will need to go through Explorer.)

Press ALT+ENTER.
Displays the Properties tabbed page.

Press CTRL+TAB.
Chooses the Shortcut page tab.

Press ALT+K or TAB.
Chooses the Shortcut Key edit box.

Press any key combination.
Enter your shortcut and it will appear in the edit box. Shortcut keys must
include CTRL or ALT, or both, and one other key. For example, CTRL+SHIFT+Y. You

cannot use ESC, ENTER, TAB, SPACEBAR, PRINT SCREEN, or BACKSPACE. Be
careful, because no other program will be able to use this key combination while it

is defined as a shortcut key. Press BACKSPACE to delete an existing shortcut
keyor change your entry in the text box.

Press ENTER.
Chooses the OK button. Press ESC to cancel.
table end

By Maryanne K. Snyder and Gregory C. Lowney. Last modified October 16, 1996.

Copyright (C) 1996 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Microsoft, Windows, Windows 95, Windows NT, and MS-DOS are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

The information contained in this document represents the current view of
Microsoft Corporation on the issues discussed as of the date of publication. Because

Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be
interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee

the accuracy of any information presented after the date of publication.

This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO
WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS DOCUMENT.

 

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