Alt-F4  closes the active window or application

Alt-Tab switches between currently running applications

Ctrl-S  save the document

Ctrl-A  select all

Ctrl-X  cut

Ctrl-C  copy

Ctrl-V  paste

Ctrl-Z  undo

Ctrl-P  print

Ctrl-B  apply boldface; press again to turn off

Ctrl-Backspace deletes the previous word (Backspace deletes going backward)

Ctrl-Delete deletes one word forward (Delete deletes going forward)

ÿ-D  minimizes all open windows, press again to bring back the windows

F5 refreshes window or reloads web page

F2 renames file (when an icon is already selected)

PrtScn copies the image on the screen; then you can paste it into any program, e.g. Word.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Many menu functions have a keyboard equivalent. This equivalent usually requires simply pressing two keys simultaneously: on Windows-based computers, the control key (marked "Ctrl") and a letter key. For example, to save a document hold down the "Ctrl" key and press the letter "s". Release both keys, and the document will save. You will find keyboard equivalents listed next to most functions in the pull-down menus.

While we are on the topic of equivalents, many programs also provide toolbars. A toolbar is a line of icons; a single click on one of the icons performs a specific function. For example, the disk icon means "Save," giving you three ways to save a document-use the menu, use the Ctrl-S keyboard shortcut, or click once on the Save icon on the toolbar. Also, if you do not remember the meaning of a specific icon, just point your mouse at the icon (without clicking) for a couple of seconds, and a label will appear.

Right-Clicking

The "right-click" button in many situations gives immediate access to content-sensitive menus. This means that the menu of choices presented to you depends on exactly where the mouse is positioned when you press the right button. For example, in Microsoft Word, if you right-click on a toolbar, a menu will appear with a list of Word's toolbars, giving you a quick and easy way to turn on any one of them. Right-click in the body of a document in Word, though, and the menu will give choices such as "Cut", "Copy", "Paste", "Font", and "Paragraph"-selections that make sense within the context of where you clicked, and that enable you to access functionality consistent with the body of a Word document.

Right-click on the Windows desktop, and your choices will all be related to the desktop and its icons: arrange icons, refresh the desktop, or create a new folder, for example.

Shortcuts on the Desktop

Do you have certain files, folders, and programs you use more frequently than others? Do you need to navigate your computer's hierarchical menu system to find these items each time you want to open them? Would you like to get at them more quickly and easily? Then create a shortcut to them in Windows, on the desktop.

A shortcut is simply a pointer that "remembers" the actual location of your file, folder, or program. When you double-click the shortcut or alias, the computer goes to the actual location and opens up the file, folder, or program, just as if you had gone there and clicked it yourself.

To create a shortcut in Windows, locate the item and right-click on it. The context-sensitive menu that appears will contain a choice that says "Create Shortcut"; select it. Now drag the new icon to your desktop, and you're done. [You could also choose "Send To... Desktop" which will also put a shortcut on the desktop. Now you can just double-click the icon on your desktop to access the file, folder, or program.