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Easykey - Hertfordshire and EssexSunday 6th July 2008
Home arrow Useful Hints arrow What are Keyboard Shortcuts?
What are Keyboard Shortcuts? Print E-mail
Your computer offers you numerous ways of doing the same action. Most experienced users use Keyboard shortcuts. The action usually requires the holding down of one key whilst you quickly tap (as if hot) another key. The reason you need to quickly tap is to avoid the repeat key starting up just like if you cling too long on a key when you are typing.

So let’s begin by showing you one of the most useful shortcuts of all – UNDO
Imagine the scenario – you have just spent an hour typing a letter in word and you highlight all the text to change the font. Then you accidentally touch the letter A on the keyboard – all you text vanishes and is replaced by the letter A – eek!
Don’t despair – to UNDO the mistake do this:

1. Hold down the Ctrl (Control) key on your keyboard with the little finger on your left hand

2. Whilst continuing to hold down the Ctrl key with your little finger just tap the Z key (don’t cling on to it) then let go of the Ctrl key.

Ctrl+Z

As if by magic the last action you did is undone.
Keyboard shortcuts are normally written in a kind of shorthand like this: Ctrl+Z

 

Tip: If you press Ctrl+Z again and again it will continue to undo each action one step at a time


Here are some more useful shortcuts:

Ctrl+ACtrl+A = Selects All text or files or emails

Ctrl+X = Cuts what you have just selected. Cutting means that your PC copies the item to its memory and then deletes it

Ctrl+V = Pastes anything that has been copied to the PC memory

Therefore to move a block of text you can:
- Highlight the block of text
- Then Cut it (Ctrl+X)
- Then click where you want to move it to
- Now Paste (Ctrl+V)

Ctrl+C = Copies the selection without deleting it (Useful if you want to copy part of a document into another)

Ctrl+B = Makes your selection change to Bold
Ctrl+I = Makes your selection change to Italic
Ctrl+U = Makes your selection change to Underline

 

Tip: Carry out a Ctrl+B on some Bold text and it will remove the bold (Same with Ctrl+I and Ctrl+U)


Most keyboards have a Windows key between the Ctrl and Alt keys
Here are some really useful Shortcuts…

Windows = Opens the Start Menu
Windows+E = Open Windows Explorer (for managing your files)
Windows+DWindows+D = Shows the Desktop (minimising all windows in one go without closing them)
Windows+F = Find – starts the Search facility
Windows+L = Log Off, Immediately logs you out of Windows (keeping your programmes running)

 
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