Are you slow on the computer.  Are you using the mouse for all commands and functions? Productivity decreases when you shift back and forth between keyboard and the mouse to input data. Learning shortcut keys will be of much help for improving  your speed.

 Use of  shortcut menus

 Right-click a file or folder.

The menu that appears shows the most frequently used commands for that file or folder.

Notes

• You can also right-click an empty space on the taskbar or desktop.
• To display a shortcut menu that lists every available command for a file or folder, point to the file or folder, and then press SHIFT while right-clicking it.

 

Using the WINDOWS key

            Have you ever used the Windows key in your key board. That is the small key between [Alt] and [Ctrl] keys. If you haven’t  you have lost on valuable time doing things in a round about way. Make use of the following  Windows key shortcuts and increase productivity.

To	Press
Cycle through buttons on the taskbar	WINDOWS+TAB
Display Find: All Files	WINDOWS+F
Display Find: Computer	CTRL+WINDOWS+F
Display Help	WINDOWS+F1
Display the Run command	WINDOWS+R
Display the Start menu	WINDOWS
Display the System Properties dialog box	WINDOWS+BREAK
Display Windows Explorer	WINDOWS+E
Minimize or restore all windows	WINDOWS+D
Minimise all windows	WINDOWS + M
Undo minimize all windows	SHIFT+WINDOWS+M

Creating new shortcut keys

            Go to Programs in the Start menu and right-click the application for which you need a shortcut. Choose Properties from the context menu that appears. There is a text area in the pop up window where you key in your shortcut. Press the key combination for example, [ctrl]+[F12] that you would like to use as the shortcut access. You are done.

 

 

 

 

 

Using shortcut keys in Windows

            You can use the following keys instead of the mouse and speed up your work.

To	Press
Activate the menu bar in programs	F10
Carry out the corresponding command on the menu	ALT+underlined letter in menu
Close the current window in    (MDI) programs.	CTRL+F4
Close the current window or quit a program	ALT+F4
Copy	CTRL+C
Cut	CTRL+X
Delete	DELETE
Display Help on the selected dialog box item	F1
Display the current window’s system menu	ALT+SPACEBAR
Display the shortcut menu for the selected item	SHIFT+F10
Display the Start menu	CTRL+ESC
Display the system menu for MDI programs	ALT+HYPHEN (-)
Paste	CTRL+V
Switch to the window you last used -Or- Switch to another window by holding down ALT while repeatedly pressing TAB	ALT+TAB
Undo	CTRL+Z

 

Using shortcut keys in dialog boxes

To	Press
Cancel the current task	ESC
Click a button if the current control is a button -Or- Select or clear the check box if the current control is a check box -Or- Click the option if the current control is an option button	SPACEBAR
Click the corresponding command	ALT+underlined letter
Click the selected button	ENTER
Move backward through options	SHIFT+TAB
Move backward through tabs	CTRL+SHIFT+TAB
Move forward through options	TAB
Move forward through tabs	CTRL+TAB
Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box	BACKSPACE
Open Save In or Look In in the Save As or Open dialog box	F4
Refresh the Save As or Open dialog box	F5

 

Shortcut keys for Microsoft Magnifier

Press	To
(Windows logo)        + PRINT SCREEN	Copy the screen to the Clipboard, including the mouse cursor
(Windows logo)  +SCROLL LOCK	Copy the screen to the Clipboard, without the mouse cursor.
(Windows logo) +PAGE UP	Toggle Invert Colors.
(Windows logo) +PAGE DOWN	Toggle Follow mouse cursor.
(Windows logo)  +UP ARROW	Increase magnification.
(Windows logo) +DOWN ARROW	Decrease magnification.

 

 

 

 

 

Using shortcut keys for My Computer and Windows Explorer

 

 

To	Press
Close the selected folder and all of its parent folders	SHIFT while clicking the Close button (My Computer only)
Move backward to a previous view	ALT+LEFT ARROW
Move forward to a previous view	ALT+RIGHT ARROW
View the folder one level up	BACKSPACE

 

Using shortcut keys for the desktop, My Computer, and Windows Explorer

When an item is selected, you can use the following shortcut keys:

To	Press
Bypass AutoPlay when inserting a compact disc	SHIFT while inserting the CD-ROM
Copy a file	CTRL while dragging the file
Create a shortcut	CTRL+SHIFT while dragging the file
Delete an item immediately without placing it in the Recycle Bin	SHIFT+DELETE
Display Find: All Files	F3
Display the item’s shortcut menu	APPLICATION key (between right ctrl and right window)
Refresh the contents of a window	F5
Rename an item	F2
Select all items	CTRL+A
View an item’s properties	ALT+ENTER or ALT+DOUBLE-CLICK

You can use the APPLICATION key  with a Microsoft Natural Keyboard or any other compatible keyboard that includes the APPLICATION key.

Using shortcut keys for Windows Explorer

To	Press
Collapse the current selection if it is expanded -Or-           Select the parent folder	LEFT ARROW
Collapse the selected folder	NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN (-)
Expand the current selection if it is collapsed -Or-        Select the first subfolder	RIGHT ARROW
Expand all folders below the current selection	NUM LOCK+*
Expand the selected folder	NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN (+)
Switch between left and right panes	F6

 

2. Using Program   shortcuts

A shortcut is a quick way to start a program or open a file or folder without having to go to its permanent location in Windows Explorer. Shortcuts are especially useful for programs, files, and folders you use frequently. There are three ways you can create a shortcut:

  a. Create a shortcut in a folder.

1. In My Computer or Windows Explorer, click the folder in which you want to create the shortcut.
2. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Shortcut.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen
4. In My Computer or Windows Explorer, click the folder in which you want to create the shortcut.
5. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Shortcut.
6. Follow the instructions on the screen

b. put a shortcut on the desktop

1. In My Computer or in the right pane of Windows Explorer, click the item, such as a file, program, folder, printer, or computer, for which you want to create a shortcut.
2. On the File menu, click Create Shortcut.
3. Drag the shortcut icon onto the desktop.

Notes

• To change any settings for the shortcut, such as what kind of window it starts in, right-click the shortcut, and then click Properties.
• To delete a shortcut, drag it to the Recycle Bin. The original item still exists on the disk.

3. Create a new toolbar

1. Right-click the taskbar, point to Toolbars, and then click New Toolbar.
2. Type the path to the folder or the address of the Internet site that you want to appear as a toolbar, or select it from the list.

Notes

• To move a toolbar to the desktop, drag it into the position you want, and then size it to your needs.
• For a handy toolbar containing your favorite shortcuts, create a folder on your hard disk and put the shortcuts you want in it. Then make the folder into a toolbar.

 

4. Start a program from the taskbar

For an easy way to start frequently used programs, you can put a shortcut to a program in the Quick Launch portion of your taskbar.

1. Right-click an empty area on the taskbar, click Toolbars, and then make sure that Quick Launch is selected.
2. From My Computer or Windows Explorer, drag a program file (a file with an .exe file name extension) onto the Quick Launch portion of the taskbar.

The icon for that program is now next to the other Quick Launch icons on the taskbar.

5. Start a program each time Windows starts

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Taskbar & Start Menu.
2. Click the Start Menu Programs tab.
3. Click Add, and then click Browse.
4. Locate the program you want to start, and then click it.
5. Click Next, and then double-click the StartUp folder.
6. Type the name that you want to see on the StartUp menu, and then click Finish.
7. If Windows prompts you to choose an icon, click one, and then click Finish.