Using your keyboard
In this article
- How the keys are organized
- Typing text
- Using keyboard shortcuts
- Using navigation keys
- Using the numeric keypad
- Three odd keys
- Other keys
- Tips for using your keyboard safely
Whether you're writing a letter or calculating numerical data,
your keyboard is the main way to enter information into your computer. But did
you know you can also use your keyboard to control your computer? Learning just
a few simple keyboard commands (instructions to your
computer) can help you work more efficiently. This article covers the basics of
keyboard operation and gets you started with keyboard commands.
How the keys are organized
The keys on your keyboard can be divided into several groups based
on function:
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Typing (alphanumeric) keys. These keys include the same letter, number, punctuation, and symbol keys found on a traditional typewriter.
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Control keys. These keys are used alone or in combination with other keys to perform certain actions. The most frequently used control keys are Ctrl, Alt, the Windows logo key , and Esc.
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Function keys. The function keys are used to perform specific tasks. They are labeled as F1, F2, F3, and so on, up to F12. The functionality of these keys differs from program to program.
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Navigation keys. These keys are used for moving around in documents or webpages and editing text. They include the arrow keys, Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, Delete, and Insert.
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Numeric keypad. The numeric keypad is handy for entering numbers quickly. The keys are grouped together in a block like a conventional calculator or adding machine.
The following illustration shows how these keys are arranged on a
typical keyboard. Your keyboard layout might be different.
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| keyboard shortcuts |
Typing text
Whenever you need to type something in a program, e‑mail message,
or text box, you'll see a blinking vertical line (I). That's the
cursor, also called the insertion
point. It shows where the text that you type will begin. You can move the
cursor by clicking in the desired location with the mouse, or by using the
navigation keys (see the "Using navigation keys" section of this article).
In addition to letters, numerals, punctuation marks, and symbols,
the typing keys also include Shift, Caps Lock, Tab, Enter, the Spacebar, and
Backspace.
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| keyboard shortcuts |
Using keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts are ways to perform
actions by using your keyboard. They're called shortcuts because they help you
work faster. In fact, almost any action or command you can perform with a mouse
can be performed faster using one or more keys on your keyboard.
In Help topics, a plus sign (+) between two or more keys indicates
that those keys should be pressed in combination. For example, Ctrl+A means to
press and hold Ctrl and then press A. Ctrl+Shift+A means to press and hold Ctrl
and Shift and then press A.
Find program shortcuts
You can do things in most programs by using the keyboard. To see
which commands have keyboard shortcuts, open a menu. The shortcuts (if
available) are shown next to the menu items.
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| keyboard shortcuts |
Choose menus, commands, and options
You can open menus and choose commands and other options using
your keyboard. In a program that has menus with underlined letters, press Alt
and an underlined letter to open the corresponding menu. Press the underlined
letter in a menu item to choose that command. For programs that use the Ribbon,
such as Paint and WordPad, pressing Alt overlays (rather than underlines) a
letter that can be pressed.
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| keyboard shortcuts |
This trick works in dialog boxes too. Whenever you see an
underlined letter attached to an option in a dialog box, it means you can press
Alt plus that letter to choose that option.
Useful shortcuts
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Press this
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To do this
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|---|---|
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Windows logo key
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Open the Start menu
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Alt+Tab
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Switch between open programs or windows
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Alt+F4
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Close the active item, or exit the active program
|
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Ctrl+S
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Save the current file or document (works in most
programs)
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Ctrl+C
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Copy the selected item
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Ctrl+X
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Cut the selected item
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Ctrl+V
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Paste the selected item
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Ctrl+Z
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Undo an action
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Ctrl+A
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Select all items in a document or window
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F1
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Display Help for a program or Windows
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Windows logokey +F1
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Display Windows Help and
Support
|
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Esc
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Cancel the current task
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Application key
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Open a menu of commands related to a selection in a program.
Equivalent to right-clicking the selection.
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Using navigation keys
The navigation keys allow you to move the cursor, move around in
documents and webpages, and edit text. The following table lists some common
functions of these keys.
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Press this
|
To do this
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|---|---|
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Left Arrow, Right Arrow, Up Arrow, or Down Arrow
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Move the cursor or selection one space or line in the direction of
the arrow, or scroll a webpage in the direction of the arrow
|
|
Home
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Move the cursor to the beginning of a line or move to the top of a
webpage
|
|
End
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Move the cursor to the end of a line or move to the bottom of a
webpage
|
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Ctrl+Home
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Move to the top of a document
|
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Ctrl+End
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Move to the bottom of a document
|
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Page Up
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Move the cursor or page up one screen
|
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Page Down
|
Move the cursor or page down one screen
|
|
Delete
|
Delete the character after the cursor, or the selected text; in
Windows, delete the selected item and move it
to the Recycle Bin
|
|
Insert
|
Turn Insert mode off or on. When Insert mode is on, text that you
type is inserted at the cursor. When Insert mode is off, text that you type
replaces existing characters.
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Using the numeric keypad
The numeric keypad arranges the numerals 0 though 9, the
arithmetic operators + (addition), -
(subtraction), * (multiplication), and / (division), and the decimal point as they would appear on a
calculator or adding machine. These characters are duplicated elsewhere on the
keyboard, of course, but the keypad arrangement allows you to rapidly enter
numerical data or mathematical operations with one hand.
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| keyboard shortcuts |
To use the numeric keypad to enter numbers, press Num Lock. Most
keyboards have a light that indicates whether Num Lock is on or off. When Num
Lock is off, the numeric keypad functions as a second set of navigation keys
(these functions are printed on the keys next to the numerals or symbols).
You can use your numeric keypad to perform simple calculations
with Calculator.
Three odd keys
So far, we've discussed almost every key you're likely to use. But
for the truly inquisitive, let's explore the three most mysterious keys on the
keyboard: PrtScn, Scroll Lock, and Pause/Break.
PrtScn (or Print Screen)
A long time ago, this key actually did what it says—it sent the
current screen of text to your printer. Nowadays, pressing PrtScn captures an
image of your entire screen (a "screen shot") and copies it to the Clipboard
in your computer's memory. From there you can paste it (Ctrl+V) into Microsoft
Paint or another program and, if you want, print it from that program.
More obscure is SYS RQ, which shares the key with PrtScn on some
keyboards. Historically, SYS RQ was designed to be a "system request," but this
command is not enabled in Windows.
Tip
-
Press Alt+PrtScn to capture an image of just the active window, instead of the entire screen.
ScrLk (or Scroll Lock)
In most programs, pressing Scroll Lock has no effect. In a few
programs, pressing Scroll Lock changes the behavior of the arrow keys and the
Page Up and Page Down keys; pressing these keys causes the document to scroll
without changing the position of the cursor or selection. Your keyboard might
have a light indicating whether Scroll Lock is on.
Pause/Break
This key is rarely used. In some older programs, pressing this key
pauses the program or, in combination with Ctrl, stops it from
running.
Other keys
Some modern keyboards come with "hot keys" or buttons that give
you quick, one-press access to programs, files, or commands. Other models have
volume controls, scroll wheels, zoom wheels, and other gadgets. For details
about these features, check the information that came with your keyboard or
computer, or go to the manufacturer's website.
Tips for using your keyboard safely
Using your keyboard properly can help avoid soreness or injury to
your wrists, hands, and arms, particularly if you use your computer for long
periods of time. Here are some tips to help you avoid problems:
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Place your keyboard at elbow level. Your upper arms should be relaxed at your sides.
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Center your keyboard in front of you. If your keyboard has a numeric keypad, you can use the spacebar as the centering point.
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Type with your hands and wrists floating above the keyboard, so that you can use your whole arm to reach for distant keys instead of stretching your fingers.
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Avoid resting your palms or wrists on any type of surface while typing. If your keyboard has a palm rest, use it only during breaks from typing.
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While typing, use a light touch and keep your wrists straight.
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When you're not typing, relax your arms and hands.
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Take short breaks from computer use every 15 to 20 minutes.
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