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The Basics Computer Keyboard
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- SPACE BAR - Is the largest key on the bottom row. Primarily used for creating a space between letters or words.
- SHIFT KEY - Is located on both the left and right side of the keyboard. When this key is held down you make letters into capitals and can access upper characters. (Like the @ located above number 2 or the $ sign located above number 4.) Give it a try.
- CAPS LOCK - This key basically locks the shift key on, so everything typed will be in capitals or the upper characters. Press it again to unlock.
- TAB KEY - Is used to go to the next tab spot. Like on the old fashioned typewriter.
- ENTER KEY - When you select a button you can press enter or double click the mouse. It usually causes something to operate. In a Word document it acts like a return key taking you to the next line.
- BACKSPACE KEY - Pressing this will remove the last letter you typed or when browsing the internet it will take you to the previously viewed page.
- ALT KEY - (Alternate) This key is a modifier and changes the function of other keys. For example if you press ALT and F key it drops down the file menu of the current program.
- CTRL KEY - Stands for control button. Found on both sides, bottom left and right, of the keyboard. Another modifier used to perform special functions such as copying selected text (Ctrl-C).
- WINDOWS KEY - This key brings up the start menu. Try it. If you press the win key and D it shows the desktop. This picture shows the win key in between the CTRL and the ALT keys.
Basic Shortcut Keys
Short Cut Keys Description
Alt + F File menu options in current program.
Alt + E Edit options in current program.
F1 Universal Help in 90% of Windows programs.
Ctrl + A Select all text
Ctrl + X Cut selected item
Shift + Del Cut selected item
Ctrl + C Copy selected item
Ctrl + Ins Copy selected item
Ctrl + V Paste
Ctrl + F Find (or Find and Replace) dialogue box will pop up. Use this to search a document or web page for a specific word or phrase.
Shift + Ins Paste
Home Goes to beginning of current line.
Ctrl + Home Goes to beginning of document.
Ctrl + End Goes to end of document.
Shift + Home Highlights from current position to beginning of line.
Shift + End Highlights from current position to end of line.
Ctrl + Left arrow Moves one word to the left at a time.
Ctrl + Right arrow Moves one word to the right at a time.
Ctrl + Backspace Delete word to the left of cursor.
Ctrl + Del Delete word to the right of cursor.
Note: You must highlight text if you wish to copy/move/delete.
Getting Screenshots
If you need to get a screen shot, and you do not have a screen capture program, try this:
Hit the Print Screen key. This copies a bitmap of the full screen into the Windows clipboard. Start up a graphics editor and paste it in. I just go to the windows paint program and press on paste. Then I save it as a .jpg so I can edit it in my favorite picture editor. (easier to use than the paint program.) Alt + Print Screen will capture only the active window.
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