Appendix AWindows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts

Although the mouse provides you with access to all menus and commands, using it can sometimes slow you down. To access a command or menu, you have to stop typing and take a hand off the keyboard to use the mouse. Often, a more efficient method of displaying menus and invoking commands is to use a combination of keystrokes. Most mouse actions do have a keystroke equivalent. As you become more comfortable using a personal computer, you may wish to experiment using these common shortcuts.

Most keyboards are arranged similarly. Along the top of most keyboards are the F or function keys. The way the function keys work depends on the program you are running. Often, they are designated as shortcuts for common tasks. Although designers of computer programs can designate the use of each function key, some uses have become almost standard. For example, in most programs, you can press F1 to get help. The numeric keypad makes it easier to enter numbers. The text editing keys help you navigate in open Windows files such as a word-processing document, while the alphanumeric keys are arranged similar to a typewriter, to help you enter text and invoke commands.

Figure A-11: A typical Windows computer keyboard.

Users with accessibility issues may also benefit from using the keyboard instead of the mouse.

Common Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts To

Press To Press

Activate active program's menu bar.

Alt or F10 Display Search Explorer.

F3

Close a sticky note

Alt+F4 Display the address bar list in Internet Explorer or Windows Explorer.

F4

Close the active program.

Alt+F4 Refresh the active window.

F5

Copy the active window to the clipboard.

Alt+Print Scrn Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop.

F6

Display the active window's control menu.

Alt+Spacebar Display the top of the active window.

Home

Switch between open windows.

Alt+Tab Move the insertion point to the beginning of a paragraph.

Home

Use the arrow keys to switch between open windows.

Ctrl+Alt+Tab Display the corresponding menu or perform the menu command.

Alt+underlined letter

Cycle through open windows using Flip 3D view.

Windows+Tab Display Task Manager.

Ctrl+Shift+Esc

Use the arrow keys to cycle through open windows using Flip 3D view.

Ctrl+Windows+Tab Select the address bar in Internet Explorer or any Explorer window.

Alt+D

Display a folder one level up in the Save As or Open dialog boxes and Explorer windows.

Backspace Open next menu to left, or close a submenu.

The Left Arrow key

Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph.

Ctrl+Down Arrow Open next menu to right, or open a submenu.

The Right Arrow key

Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph.

Ctrl+Up Arrow Collapse selected folder in the navigation pane.

Minus sign ( - ) on numeric keypad or the Left Arrow key

Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word.

Ctrl+Left Arrow Expand contents of the selected folder in the navigation pane.

Plus sign ( + ) on numeric keypad or the Right Arrow key

Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word.

Ctrl+Right Arrow Copy entire screen.

Print Scrn

Create a shortcut from selected item.

Ctrl+Shift while dragging an item

Display selected item's shortcut menu (equivalent to right-clicking).

Shift+F10

Select a block of text.

Ctrl+Shift with any of the arrow keys

Prevent a CD from automatically playing.

Shift as you insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive

Move backward through tabs in a dialog box.

Ctrl+Shift+Tab Extend the selection to adjacent objects on the desktop, in a window, or selected text within a document.

Shift with any of the arrow keys

Move forward through tabs in a dialog box.

Ctrl+Tab Display or hide the Start menu.

Windows or Ctrl+Esc

Move backward through options in a dialog box.

Shift+Tab Peek at the desktop.

Windows+Spacebar

Start a new instance of a pinned taskbar item.

Windows+# (number key)

Cycle through Sidebar gadgets.

Windows+G

Select all. Ctrl+A Close the Ribbon.

Ctrl+F1

Copy a selected item.

Ctrl+C or Ctrl while dragging the selected item

Move forward through options in a dialog box.

Tab

Paste a cut or copied item.

Ctrl+V Cycle through programs on the taskbar.

Windows+T

Cut a selected item.

Ctrl+X Display the System Control Panel tool.

Windows+Break

Undo the last action.

Ctrl+Z Display the Help and Support Center.

Windows+F1

Delete a selected item.

Delete Show the desktop.

Windows+D

Delete Shift+Delete Minimize all Windows+M

selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin.

open windows.

Display the bottom of the active window.

End Restore all minimized windows.

Windows+Shift+M

Invoke the selected option or button in a dialog box.

Enter Explore the Computer object.

Windows+E

Open a selected item in Windows Explorer.

Enter Display Search Explorer.

Windows+F

Cancel or interrupt the current task.

Esc Lock the computer or log on as another user.

Windows+L

Display Help.

F1 or Shift+F1 Display the Run dialog box.

Windows+R

Rename a selected item.

F2 Open the Ease Of Access Center.

Windows+U

Maximize or minimize windows Alt + F10