Keyboard Shortcuts

When using the Microsoft Windows operating system, you can save time and reduce repetitive strain injuries by using keyboard shortcuts for tasks that usually require several mouse-clicks. Many of these shortcuts also work in Windows-based programs, such as Microsoft Word or Excel. To learn more about shortcuts, use the Help feature in the Windows Start Menu or on the Menu Bar of other programs. Use the built-in search engine to search for "shortcuts" or the phrase "shortcut keys".

Terminology

Clipboard
Temporary memory location where Windows saves information during Copy, Cut and Paste operations. Newer versions of Windows allow the user to have more than one clipboard open at the same time.

Click/Left Click
Click and release the left mouse button.

Drag And Drop
Click on a previously selected item (or any one of several items), and continue to hold the left mouse button down. The selected text, files or directories can then be dragged to a new location.

Right Click
Click the right mouse button. This opens a pop-up menu containing shortcuts specific to the current application. See also: Applications Key. 

Select
A single item is selected by left-clicking on it. The "selected" item is highlighted and can then be deleted or moved to a new location. See also: Control-Click & Shift-Click.

Individual Shortcut Keys

Escape (Esc)
Closes an open pop-up window or pull-down menu.

F1 Key
Opens the Help feature of the active window. See also: Windows-F1.

F2 Key
Renames a selected item (Desktop, My Computer, & Windows Explorer).

F3 Key
Finds a file or folder (Desktop, My Computer, & Windows Explorer).

F4 Key
Opens the Save In or Look In list (in Open & Save As dialog boxes).

F5 Key
Refreshes the screen (in Open & Save As dialog boxes).

Print Screen
Saves a graphic image of the entire screen to the Windows Clipboard. The image can then be copied to the Windows Paint program(Start>Programs>Accessories>Paint) for printing or editing. See also: Alt-Print Screen.

Ctrl (Control) and Alt(ernate) Keys
Used in combination with other keys to create short cuts. 

Windows Key
Located between the Ctrl and Alt keys. When pressed alone, it opens the Windows Start Menu. Useful when the Start Button and Task Bar are hidden.

Applications Key
Located between the right-hand Windows and Alt keys. Opens a program-specific shortcut menu. See also: Right-Click.