Know Your Keyboard Questions?

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Know Your Keyboard

Your Windows keyboard is comprised of several sections of keys. In the help documents
and training, they will be referred to as follows:

Qwerty Keys

/kwer'tee/ (From the top left row of letter keys of most keyboards) Pertaining to a
standard English- language typewriter keyboard (sometimes called the Sholes keyboard
after its inventor. So named for the first six keys in the first row of letters.

Some keys have more than one character on them, usually one above the other (the top
ones being referred to as upper case characters, as opposed to lower case for the ones
underneath, even for the numbers and symbols keys). These generally consist of
punctuation (including accents and quotes) and mathematical symbols. These characters
are obtained by pressing and holding down the Shift key before pressing the required key.
Capital letters (also called upper case characters) are also obtained in this way. For
continual upper case characters you can press Caps Lock. Press this key once to type in
upper case continuously; press it again to release it. Single characters can be repeated by
continuously holding down the key.

Function Keys

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These keys usually run along the top of the keyboard and are labeled F1 to F12.They are
used to perform various functions within different software packages. Many packages
have defined these keys to be used as shortcuts for commonly needed actions. They were
originally used for easy shortcuts when working in DOS where to perform an action, you
had to type the command in the perfect syntax. The function keys had these command
lines memorized. With the advent of Windows and a more Graphical User Interface
(GUI, pronounced “gooey”), their use is becoming less popular among users.

Numeric Keypad or 10-Keypad

Situated on the right of the keyboard, these keys have numbers and mathematical
operators on them. The number keypad or 10-kypad is often used by data entry operators
who need to input vast amounts of numerical data by touch. To use the numeric option,
press NumLock above the 7-key. If you no longer wish to use the number pad, but
instead wish to use the navigational controls, press NumLock again to release it.

Navigational Keys

These items include direction arrows (‘, ’, “, ”), Home, PageUp, End, and
PageDown. The arrows are known as the navigational arrows. They control the blinking
cursor or insertion point on your computer screen.

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Special Keys

The following list is not necessarily complete. Keyboards vary between manufacturers, as
do the layout of special keys. Some of these keys are used in conjunction with other keys
to perform specific tasks within software packages.

Enter - Used to send the cursor to the beginning of the next line (a.k.a.hard line break or
paragraph). It is also used to confirm or execute a command. There are usually
two of these keys, one next to the Qwerty pad and one next to the Numeric pad.
Backspace - Used to delete one character at a time to the left of the cursor.
Tab - Used to set tab positions in a Word document or PowerPoint presentation, and
indent in Outline view. Also used to move between fields in dialog boxes and
tables.
Shift - Changes lower case letters to upper case, and numbers to symbols. There are
usually two of these keys on either side of the Qwerty pad.
Caps Lock - Changes lower case letters to upper case (numbers are not affected).
Caps Lock mode is activated by pressing the key once and is indicated by a light
on the panel above the numeric keypad. Press the key again to turn it off.
Esc (Escape) - Primarily used to cancel a command or to escape from a process you
don’t wish to execute.
Alt (Alternate) - Used in conjunction with other keys for alternate functions of those
keys. There are usually two of these keys on either side of the space bar.
Ctrl (Control) - Used in conjunction with other keys to carry out a specific function and
allow greater control of your keyboard. Usually enhances or expands the key’s
original function. There are usually two of these keys on either side of the space
bar.
NumLock - Allows the numeric keys to be used on the numeric keypad. NumLock mode
is activated by pressing the key once and is indicated by a light on the panel above
the numeric keypad. Press the key again to turn it off and use the keypad for
navigation.
Scroll Lock - Can control the way the navigation keys operate in some programs. Many
applications ignore this setting. Scroll Lock mode is activated by pressing the key
once and is indicated by a light on the panel above the numeric keypad. Press the
key again to turn it off.

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Delete (Del) -Deletes the character to the right of the cursor or used to delete a
highlighted section.
Insert/Ins - Toggles between Overtype and Insert mode. Insert mode will insert text at
the cursor’s position when you type. Overtype mode will replace one character to
the right of the cursor with what you type.
SysRq (System Request) - Used by the operating system and applications - actions vary
depending on program used.
Print Screen (PrtScn) - Prints everything displayed on the screen to your computer’s
clipboard. The image captured must then be pasted into a program that allows
graphics, such as Microsoft Word.
Home - Moves your cursor to the beginning of the current line.
PageUp (Page Up) - Moves your cursor up one screen of information.
PageDown (Page Down) - Moves your cursor down one screen of information.
End - Moves your cursor to the end of the current line.
ÿ (Windows Logo) - Display or hide the Start Menu.
(Application) - Display the shortcut menu for the selected item (equivale nt to
right-click).

Keyboard Shortcuts
You can use the following keyboard shortcuts with a Microsoft Natural Keyboard or any
other compatible keyboard that includes the Windows logo key (ÿ) and the Application
key ( ).

Press To
ÿ or [Ctrl][Esc] Display or hide the ÿ Start menu
ÿ[M] Minimize or restore all windows
ÿ[E] Open My Computer
ÿ[F] Search for a file or folder
ÿ[Tab] Switch between open items
or [Shift][F10] Display the shortcut menu for the selected item

Dialog Box Keyboard Shortcuts

Press To
[Ctrl][Tab] Move forward through tabs
[Ctrl][Shift][Tab] Move backward through tabs
[Tab] Move forward through options
[Shift][Tab] Move backward through options
[Alt] Underlined letter Carry out the corresponding command or select the
corresponding option
[Enter] Carry out the command for the active option
[Spacebar] Select or clear the check box of the active option
Arrow keys Select a button if the active option is a group of
[‘][’][“][”] option buttons

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[F1] Display Help

[F4] Display the items in the active list
[Esc] Cancel the current task

Commonly Used Shortcuts

Press To
[Ctrl][C] Copy
[Ctrl][X] Cut
[Ctrl][V] Paste
[Ctrl][Z] Undo
[Delete] Delete
[Shift][Delete] Delete selected item permanently without placing
the item in the Recyc le Bin
[F2] Rename selected item
[Ctrl][A] Select all
[Ctrl][O] Open an item
[Alt][F4] Close the active item, or quit the active program.
[Ctrl][F4] Close the active document in programs that allow
multiple documents to be open simultaneously
[Alt][Tab] Switch between open items
[Alt][Esc] Cycle through items in the order they were opened
[Alt] plus the underlined letter in Display the corresponding menu
a menu name
Underlined letter in a command Carry out the corresponding command
name on an open menu
[F5] Refresh the active window
[Esc] Cancel the current task
[Print Screen] Copy an image of the screen to the clipboard
[Alt][Print Screen] Copy an image of the active window to the
clipboard
[Shift][Ctrl][Esc] Display the Task Manager
[Ctrl][Alt][Delete] Displays the Windows Security dialog box, which
allows you to log out, shutdown or restart the
system, lock the computer, display the task
manager or change your password

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