Tuesday, December 8, 2009

The Keyboard Shortcut Guide

We all know what Ctrl-Alt-Delete does. It's a simple way, by pressing three keyboard keys, to escape a whole host of blue screen nightmares and crashed computer programs. But despite all the time we spend glued to our machines, how many of us can remember the other keyboard shortcuts that could save us hours every week?

With just a few simple keystrokes our computers can be turned from troublesome beasts, standing in the way of completing that crucial report or overdue school project, into our willing and able servants.

Within most good programmes, almost every function or action can be carried out with keyboard commands or shortcuts - a simple and ideally easily-memorable sequence of two or three key strokes. And when you get proficient at using them, keyboard shortcuts are faster than breaking your flow by reaching for the mouse.
For example, pressing Ctrl and P simultaneously to print a page is faster and far less effort than hunting for the printer icon. While in some software, such as Microsoft Windows, you can even set up your own shortcuts for your most commonly-used functions.

And speed isn't the only reason we should be ditching the mouse - it will reduce repetitive strain injury.

Short of using an exhaustive set of reference cards the size of a dictionary, you'll never remember every keyboard shortcut. So here are a selection of the most practical shortcuts.

MICROSOFT OFFICE AND WINDOWS

Save ... Ctrl-S

Print ... Ctrl-P
Find ... Ctrl-F
Copy ... Ctrl-C
Paste ... Ctrl-V
Undo ... Ctrl-Z
Delete ... Ctrl-D
Page break ... Ctrl-Enter
Change window ... Alt-Tab
Quit application ... Alt-F4
Minimise window ... Alt-Space-N
Maximise window ... Alt-Space-X
Close sub-window ... Ctrl-F4
Task manager or Windows Security ... Ctrl-Alt-Delete
Screen grab ... Alt-Print screen
Rename file ... F2
Go to address bar ... F6
Lock PC ... Windows-L
Close all windows ... Windows-M
Launch help ... Windows-F1
Switch programme ... Windows-Tab

WORD


Jump to end of document ... Ctrl-End
Jump to start of document ... Ctrl-Home
Go to last edit ... Shift-F5
Check spelling ... F7
Select All ... Ctrl-A
Select a whole word ... Ctrl-Shift- left/right arrow
Select a whole paragraph ... Ctrl-Shift-up/ down arrow
Bold ... Ctrl-B
Italics ... Ctrl-I
Underline ... Ctrl-U
All capitals ... Ctrl-shift-A
Copy Format ... Ctrl-shift-C

EXCEL

Next cell ... Tab
Previous cell ... Shift-Tab
First cell in row ... Alt-Home
Last cell in row ... Alt-End
Top cell in column ... Alt-Page Up
Last cell in column ... Alt-Page Down
Repeat function ... F4

GOOGLE MAIL


Compose new message ... Shift-C
Reply ... Shift-R
Reply all ... Shift-A
Forward ... Shift-F
Save a draft ... Ctrl-S
Delete ... #
Label ... l
Archive ... E
Mark as read ... Shift-I
Mark as unread ... Shift-U
Select all mail ... * then A
Deselect all mail ... * then N
Go to sentmail ... G then T
Go to contacts ... G then C
Search (puts cursor in search box) ... /
Move to next message ... N
Move to previous message ... P
Open a conversation ... O
Report spam ... !


To turn these shortcuts on or off, click Settings, and select the option Keyboard shortcuts


GOOGLE DOCS


Print ... Ctrl-P
Save ... Ctrl-S
Go to full screen ... Ctrl-Shift-F
Undo ... Ctrl-Z
Redo ... Ctrl-Y
Copy ... Ctrl-C
Cut ... Ctrl-X
Paste ... Ctrl-V
Select all ... Ctrl-A
Full justify ... Ctrl-F
Left alignment ... Ctrl-l
Centre alignment ... Ctrl-E
Bold ... Ctrl-B
Underline ... Ctrl-U
Italics ... Ctrl-I
Go to last cell ... Ctrl-End
Go to first cell ... Ctrl-Home
Move to next worksheet ... Ctrl-Page Down
Move to previous worksheet ... Ctrl-Page Up
Cancel cell entry ... Esc


If you are using a Mac, you can use these shortcuts by replacing Ctrl with the Command key.

APPLE MAC

Open document ... Command-O
Save ... Command-S
Print ... Command-P
Find ... Command-F
Select All ... Command-A
Cut ... Command-X
Copy ... Command-C
Paste ... Command-V
Undo ... Command-Z
Switch application ... Command-Tab
Quit Application ... Command-Q
Close Window ... Command-W
Close all open windows ... Command-Option-W
To click "OK" in dialogue boxes ... Return key
Move item to trash ... Command-Backspace
Empty trash ... Command-Shift-Backspace
New window (Finder) ... Command-N
Minimise window ... Command-M
Hide/Show Dock ... Command-Option-D
Open "Computer" folder ... Command-Option-C
Open "Home" folder ... Command-Option-H
Open Applications ... Command-Option-A
Force Quit ... Command-Option-ESC

These shortcuts apply to Mac OS 8 or newer, and most work in Mac OS X. Option is the key labelled "Alt" on most keyboards.

ADOBE PHOTOSHOP

Undo, multiple times ... Ctrl-Alt-Z
Hand/move tool ... Spacebar
Switch document ... Ctrl-Tab
New layer ... Ctrl-Shift-N
New layer ... Ctrl-Shift-Atl-N
Duplicate layer ... Ctrl-J
Fit to window ... Ctrl-0
Re-run filter ... Ctrl-F
Fade filter ... Ctrl-Shift-F


And remember ...

You'll need a Standard 101/102 Key or Natural PS/2 Keyboard to use these shortcuts. Except on a Mac, where you'll require a Mac-branded keyboard. And in most programs, further help can be found by searching for keyboard shortcuts in the help menu.

The Independent

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