| Windows+Tab or Alt+Tab |
The Windows+Tab combination cycles through the taskbar buttons. When the program you want is selected, hit Enter to switch to that window. If more than one program is running, Alt+Tab brings up the task-switching window. Immediately releasing the keys switches you to the previous application. To jump to one of the other running programs instead, release Tab, but keep Alt held down. Each succeeding press of Tab moves the program selection box to the next application. Releasing the Alt key switches you to the selected program. If only two applications are running, Alt+Tab toggles between them. |
| Ctrl+Esc or Windows |
You can use either Ctrl+Esc or Windows to open the Start menu. Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to move through the menu, and the Enter key to choose an item. The two shortcuts vary slightly depending on your version of Windows. Ctrl+Esc, Esc leaves the Start button selected but not pressed. In Windows 95, 98, and NT 4.0 (but not Windows 2000 and Me), Windows, Esc will return you to the window or desktop selection you were working with previously. |
| Windows+M or Windows+D |
Use Windows+M or Windows+D to minimize all open Windows and reveal the desktop. It's easy to remember this one: M for Minimize all and D for desktop. Note that Windows+D doesn't work under Windows 95, but Windows+M does. |
| Tab, then Arrow, followed by Enter |
Move within the Windows Desktop and select items with Tab, then Arrow, and then Enter. Once at the desktop, use the Tab key to cycle through the Start button, Quick Launch toolbar, other toolbars, taskbar button area, and icons on the desktop (and those in the system tray in Windows 2000). Use the Arrow keys to move around within any of these areas of the desktop or taskbar. Use the Enter key to select items. You must, for example, select the Start button to open the Start menu. |
| Windows+R |
Windows+R opens the Run dialog box. Mnemonic: The Windows Run dialog. |
| Windows+E |
Windows+E starts Windows Explorer. Mnemonic: Windows Explorer. |
| Windows+F or F3 |
Windows+F or F3 finds a file from the Windows desktop. Mnemonic: Windows Find file dialog box. |
| Windows+Break |
Windows+Break opens the System Properties Dialog box. Mnemonic: Windows is broken; check the system properties. |
| F2 |
F2 renames the selected object. Mnemonic: This is the same command Excel uses for editing the currently selected cell. This command and the next one work within programs, too. For example, you can use these commands when working in the File > Open dialog box in Word or Excel. Note that after you select text in Word, F2 begins the operation of moving the current selection. You then move the insertion cursor to the desired location and hit Enter. |
| Shift+Delete |
Shift+Delete deletes selected objects without sending them to the Recycle Bin. Mnemonic: A slightly shifted version of what happens when you hit Delete, which sends the objects to the Recycle Bin. Be careful with this command. Under some conditions, it will delete a file without asking for confirmation first. |
| Shift key |
Hold down the Shift key while you insert the disk to bypass the CD-ROM AutoRun feature. This is an invaluable tool when you have to remove a disk during installation (to read the CD key, for example), then reinsert the disk. |
| Alt+Enter |
Press Alt+Enter to view the Properties dialog for a selected object. This works for such disparate objects as icons on the desktop, printers, hard drives, and the taskbar. |
| Alt+Spacebar, then letter key or Alt+Spacebar, then Arrow, followed by Enter |
Alt+Spacebar opens the System menu, which will appear on-screen even if the application window is mostly off-screen. Once the System menu is open, you can hit R to restore, M to move, S to size, N to minimize, X to maximize, or C to close the main window. You can also use the Arrow keys to manipulate the application. |
| Alt+hyphen, then letter key, or Alt+hyphen, then Arrow, followed by Enter |
To restore, move, size, minimize, maximize, or close the currently selected window within a program, use Alt+hyphen to open the menu. Then, use the letter key or the Arrow keys. |
| Shift+F10, then letter key, or Shift+F10, then Arrow, followed by Enter. |
Shift+F10, then letter key or Shift+F10, then Arrow keys, followed by Enter opens a context menu. This is particularly useful in a program like Word when, for example, you want to call up the editing context menu but don't want to take your fingers from the keys to right-click. |
| Alt+Down Arrow. |
Alt+Down arrow opens a drop-down list box. Mnemonic: Down box, Down Arrow. This is especially helpful when you're filling in database forms (in Microsoft Access, for example). It's also useful when working in a dialog box. |
| Ctrl+Shift+Tab |
Cycle through the tabs in a dialog box with Ctrl+Tab or Ctrl+Shift+Tab. Mnemonic: Control your way from tab to tab. Ctrl+Tab goes from left to right, Ctrl+Shift+Tab moves from right to left. |
| Alt+F6 |
Alt+F6 switches from window to window within the same program. However, this won't work with all windows. It will, for example, toggle between a Find window and a document window in Microsoft Word, but it won't toggle between one document window and another. The command in Word for cycling through the open document windows is Ctrl+F6. |
| Ctrl+B, Ctrl+U, Ctrl+I |
Use Ctrl+B for bolded font, Ctrl+U for underlined font, and Ctrl+I for italicized font. You probably know these work in the Office programs you use, but try them in other programs as well; they may work. |
| Ctrl+Z |
Ctrl+Z undoes any action. Mnemonic: Zap that. Again, this works throughout Windows, if not in every program |
| Ctrl+C |
Ctrl+C copies text or images. Mnemonic: Zap that. Again, this works throughout Windows, if not in every program |
| Ctrl+X |
Ctrl+X cuts text or images. Mnemonic: Zap that. Again, this works throughout Windows, if not in every program |
Ottawa, Canada - Welcome to the Heritage College Information Training Systems Ecom 4 class website. There are a few motivations for creating this site. One , is for a general meeting area for our class. Soon, I will be implementing the Ulitmate Bulletin Board so we can post threads and discuss modules that we are learning and also for students to get assistance if they need it. The site also contains basic computer tips and tricks and links to interesting sites. As well, we have the joke of the day to keep morale up. If you want to make some suggestions or comments please feel free to send mail here