PC Tricks
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Keyboard Shortcuts
Microsoft, like most software manufacturers, tries to make their software as simple to use as they know how. One method of doing this is to give multiple methods for accomplishing the same task. For instance; if you want to delete a selection from a document you’re editing you can 1) open the edit menu and select the delete option 2) right click on the selection and click the delete option 3) press the delete key on the keyboard.
Everyone has their own method, and this post isn’t going to try and convince you to change your preferred method. It is however going to cling to the fact that, for many people, a keyboard shortcut is faster than multiple mouse clicks to accomplish the same task.
Think about it; If you spend 8 hours a day working on a computer, and you found a way to trim two seconds from every minute you spent working you’d get an additional 16 minutes of work done each day. Or maybe you could get home 16 minutes sooner each day to watch Netflix! If you perform highly repetitive tasks then you could potentially save many seconds every minute by using keyboard shortcuts.
So what are some keyboard shortcuts that you can use?
Here’s a shortlist of shortcuts you can use daily:
F1 | Display Help |
Ctrl+C (or Ctrl+Insert) | Copy the selected item |
Ctrl+X | Cut the selected item |
Ctrl+V (or Shift+Insert) | Paste the selected item |
Ctrl+Z | Undo an action |
Ctrl+Y | Redo an action |
Delete (or Ctrl+D) | Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin |
Shift+Delete | Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first |
Ctrl+A | Select all items in a document or window |
F3 | Search for a file or folder |
Alt+F4 | Close the active item, or exit the active program |
Alt+Tab | Switch between open items |
Ctrl+Mouse scroll wheel | Change the size of icons on the desktop |
Windows logo key +Tab | Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D |
F5 (or Ctrl+R) | Refresh the active window |
Esc | Cancel the current task |
Windows logo key | Open Start Menu |
Shift when you insert a CD | Prevent the CD from automatically playing |
If you’d like to know more keyboard shortcuts simply click on “Help and Support” in the Start menu and type “Keyboard Shortcuts”. You’ll find a list of hundreds of shortcuts to delight your fingertips and you’re boss’s bottom line.
If you’re in the greater East Tennessee area and would like more information on increasing productivity by changing your computing habits; Call and we’ll come to the rescue!