Table B-8 lists keys that operate in most contextsin other words, on the Desktop, in the Explorer, and within most applications and dialogs. Functions are listed alphabetically, except where a logical order might make more sense.
Note also that there is essentially a limitless combination of keystrokes that you can use to activate any particular feature in a given application, all of which you can form by combining the various keystrokes listed in this appendix. For example, you can press Alt-F to open an application's File menu, then press P to Print, then press Enter to begin printing. Or press Ctrl-Esc to open the Start menu, Alt-Enter to open the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties, Ctrl-Tab to open the Taskbar tab (if necessary), and Alt-L to lock (or unlock) the Taskbar.
Table B-8. Keyboard accelerators listed by function
Key(s) | Action |
|---|
Space bar | Checkbox, toggle on or off |
Ctrl-C | Clipboard, copy |
Alt-PrintScreen | Clipboard, copy current window as a bitmap |
PrintScreen | Clipboard, copy entire screen as a bitmap |
Ctrl-X | Clipboard, cut |
Ctrl-V | Clipboard, paste |
Ctrl-F4 | Close current document |
Alt-F4 | Close current window |
Esc | Close dialog box, message window, or menu |
Space bar | Command button, click |
Shift-F10, or context menu key on some keyboards | Context menu, open |
Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse) | Controls cycle focus on a dialog box |
Ctrl-C | Copy selected item or selected text to the Clipboard |
Ctrl-X | Cut selected item or selected text to the Clipboard |
Windows Logo Key-B, Space bar | Puts you in the notification area (Windows Logo Key-B), then reveals hidden icons (Space bar) |
Shift-Delete or Shift-drag item to Recycle Bin | Delete a file without putting it in the Recycle Bin |
Delete | Delete selected item |
Ctrl-Esc (or Windows Logo Key), then Esc, Tab, Tab, Tab | Desktop, activate |
Windows Logo Key-D, or click empty portion of Taskbar and press Alt-M | Desktop, activate by minimizing all windows |
Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse) | Dialog box, cycle through controls |
Ctrl-Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse) | Dialog box, cycle through tabs |
Ctrl-F4 | Document, close |
Ctrl-Home | Document, move to the beginning |
Ctrl-End | Document, move to the end |
Ctrl-F6 or Ctrl-Tab | Document, switch between |
Down Arrow or F4 | Drop-down listbox, open |
Alt-F4 | Exit an application |
Ctrl-Esc, then Alt-F4 | Exit Windows |
Shift-Delete | File, delete without moving to Recycle Bin |
Windows Logo Key-F (or F3 or Ctrl-F in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop) | File, search |
Ctrl-Windows Logo Key-F | Find a computer on your network |
Windows Logo Key-F (or F3 or Ctrl-F in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop) | Find files or folders |
Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse) | Focus, move between controls on a dialog box |
Shift-click Close button | Folder, close current and all parents (Windows Explorer in single-folder view only) |
Right and left arrows | Folder, expand and collapse folders in tree |
Shift-double-click | Folder, open in two-pane Explorer view |
Windows Logo Key-F (or F3 or Ctrl-F in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop) | Folder, search |
F1 | Help (in most applications) |
Down arrow or F4 | Listbox, drop-down |
Ctrl-click | Listbox, select multiple items |
Ctrl-Space bar | Listbox, select or deselect items |
Windows Logo Key-L (or press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and then Space bar) | Lock computer |
Alt-x if menu doesn't have focus, x by itself if menu has focus | Menu, activate specific item with letter x underlined |
Arrow keys | Menu, basic navigation |
Esc | Menu, close |
F10 or Alt (by itself) | Menu, move focus to |
Shift-F10, or context menu key on some keyboards | Menu, open context menu |
Windows Logo Key-D, or click empty portion of Taskbar and press Alt-M | Minimize all windows and move focus to Desktop |
Windows Logo Key-M (hold Shift to undo) | Minimize current window |
F6 | Panes, move focus between |
Backspace | Parent folder, move to (in Windows Explorer) |
Ctrl-V | Paste the contents of the Clipboard |
Alt-double-click, or select and then press Alt-Enter | Properties, display for an icon |
F5 | Refresh (in Windows Explorer, on the Desktop, and some other applications) |
F2 | Rename selected icon or file in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop |
Windows Logo Key-R | Run |
Alt-PrintScreen | Screenshot, copy current window as a bitmap to the Clipboard |
PrintScreen | Screenshot, copy entire screen as a bitmap to the Clipboard |
Page Down | Scroll down one screen |
Page Up | Scroll up one screen |
Ctrl-arrow key | Scroll without moving selection |
Windows Logo Key-F | Search for files or folders |
F3 or Ctrl-F | Search for files or folders (in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop only) |
Ctrl-A | Select all |
Alt-drag file | Shortcut, create |
Windows Logo Key or Ctrl-Esc | Start menu, open |
Alt-Tab or Ctrl-Esc (hold Shift to go in reverse) | Switch to next application |
Ctrl-F6 or Ctrl-Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse) | Switch to next document window |
Alt-hyphen | System menu, show for current document |
Alt-Space bar | System menu, show for current window |
Windows Logo Key-Pause/Break | System Properties, open |
Ctrl-Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse) | Tabs, switch between tabs |
Shift-Ctrl-Esc (or press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and click Task Manager) | Task Manager, open |
Ctrl-Esc, then Alt-Enter | Taskbar and Start Menu Properties, open |
Windows Logo Key-Tab | Launches Flip 3D |
Ctrl-Z | Undo |
Alt-Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse) | Window, activate next |
Alt-F4 | Window, close |
Alt-Esc | Window, drop to bottom of pile |
Windows Logo Key-M (hold Shift to undo) | Window, minimize |
Windows Logo Key-D (hold Shift to undo) | Window, minimize all |
Alt-Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse) | Window, switch to |
Windows Logo Key-E | Windows Explorer, open |
F6 | Windows Explorer, switch between panes |