What the F-key F1 Through F4
See that line of keys ranging from F1 to F12 at the top of your keyboard? Wonder what all of 'em do? Yeah, so do I, and that's why today we're going to take a trip down funky f-key lane to discover the fun of Function Keys!
Function keys have many, many uses, some of which are specific to the program that's running at the time. They're mainly used as shortcuts or in conjunction with the CTRL, ALT, and Shift keys, which I'll get more into in another article.
For now, here are the basics of function keys F1 – F4.
F1- Typically pressing this brings up the help file for the program you're currently in. To test this, go ahead and left click on a blank area of your desktop, then press F1. The help file should spring to life, offering it's bounty of knowledge!
F2 – This F-key is used to rename stuff. Click on a file or folder and strike the F2 key; you'll be able to rename it with ease! This is a good one to know if you're zipping through a bunch of files you're archiving and you have a specific naming convention in mind. Click the file, press F2 and rename it! - wash, rinse, repeat!
F3 – Used to bring up the search function in Windows, but varies for other programs. Great for Internet Explorer and Firefox users who want to find a specific word or phrase on a web page with ease!
F4 – In Internet Explorer the F4 key opens the address bar. Even though I said I wouldn't be mentioning any extra key commands until later, I must mention that pressing ALT + F4 will close any active program. Careful with this one! :)
Are there any keyboard shortcuts you knew about that I
could start using?
A:
Now, most of these shortcuts deal with using tabbed browsing.
That's one of the main features that came along with Internet Explorer7.
If you're not too familiar with tabbed browsing, these shortcuts may not be very useful to you, but I would suggest hanging on to this tip anyway.
Once you do get the hang of tabbed browsing, you can refer back to it and you'll be all set!
1.) Ctrl + T - Opens a new tab in the foreground.
2.) Ctrl + Click - Opens links in a new tab in the background.
3.) Ctrl + Shift + Click - Opens links in a new tab in the foreground.
4.) Alt + Enter - Opens a new tab from the address bar.
5.) Alt + Enter - It also opens a new tab from the search box.
6.) Ctrl + Q - Opens up quick tabs, which are thumbnail views.
7.) Ctrl + Tab or Ctrl + Shift + Tab - Allows you to switch between tabs.
8.) Ctrl + N - Switches to a specific tab number. In this case, N can equal anything between the numbers one and eight.
9.) Ctrl + 9 - Switches to the last tab.
10.) Ctrl + W - Closes the current tab.
11.) Ctrl + Alt + F4 - Closes other open tabs.
12.) Alt + F4 - Closes all the tabs.
Now, here are a few mouse shortcuts for you as well.
1.) Click the middle mouse button (if your mouse has one) on a link
and it will open up that link in a background tab for you.
2.) Double click any empty space right next to the last tab you have
open and it will open up a brand new tab.
3.) If you click on the middle mouse button on one of your tabs, it will close the tab for you.
How does all that sound? Now, you might want to start memorizing these shortcuts if you think you'll use them a lot.
Or, just print them out so you can have them right by your computer when you're ready to use them.
Either way, these simple shortcuts can make your IE experience so much easier!
Are there any keyboard shortcuts you knew about that I could
start using?
A:
Now, most of these shortcuts deal with using tabbed browsing.
That's one of the main features that came along with Internet Explorer 7.
If you're not too familiar with tabbed browsing, these shortcuts may not
be very useful to you, but I would suggest hanging on to this tip anyway.
Once you do get the hang of tabbed browsing, you can refer back to it
and you'll be all set!
1.) Ctrl + T - Opens a new tab in the foreground.
2.) Ctrl + Click - Opens links in a new tab in the background.
3.) Ctrl + Shift + Click - Opens links in a new tab in the foreground.
4.) Alt + Enter - Opens a new tab from the address bar.
5.) Alt + Enter - It also opens a new tab from the search box.
6.) Ctrl + Q - Opens up quick tabs, which are thumbnail views.
7.) Ctrl + Tab or Ctrl + Shift + Tab - Allows you to switch between tabs.
8.) Ctrl + N - Switches to a specific tab number. In this case, N can equal anything between the numbers one and eight.
9.) Ctrl + 9 - Switches to the last tab.
10.) Ctrl + W - Closes the current tab.
11.) Ctrl + Alt + F4 - Closes other open tabs.
12.) Alt + F4 - Closes all the tabs.
Now, here are a few mouse shortcuts for you as well.
1.) Click the middle mouse button (if your mouse has one) on a link
and it will open up that link in a background tab for you.
2.) Double click any empty space right next to the last tab you have
open and it will open up a brand new tab.
3.) If you click on the middle mouse button on one of your tabs,
it will close the tab for you.
How does all that sound? Now, you might want to start memorizing these shortcuts if you think you'll use them a lot.
Or, just print them out so you can have them right by your computer when you're ready to use them. Either way, these simple shortcuts can make your IE experience so much easier!
More General MS Office Shortcuts:
Ctrl + Shift + > : Increases the selected text's font size to the next one on the font size list (except in Excel).
Ctrl + Shift + < : Decreases the selected text's font size to the previous one on the font size list (except in Excel).
Ctrl + ] : Increases the selected text's font size by 1 point (except in Excel).
Ctrl + [ : Decreases the selected text's font size by 1 point (except in Excel).
Word:
Ctrl + Shift + Spacebar : Inserts a "nonbreaking" space... a space between words that will not allow Word to separate the words with text wrapping.
Ctrl + Shift + Hyphen : Inserts a "nonbreaking" hyphen... a hyphen between words that will not allow Word to separate the words with text wrapping.
Ctrl + T : Formats paragraph with a hanging indent. (Repeat to increase the indent size.)
Ctrl + Shift + T : Removes paragraph hanging indent formatting. (Repeat to completely remove the indent if indented more than one tab stop.)
Excel:
Shift + F11 : Inserts a new worksheet into the current workbook.
Alt + Shift + F1 : Inserts a new worksheet into the current workbook. (Yep - they both work. Pick the one you can remember the easiest!)
Ctrl + Shift + * : Selects the range of cells the selected cell is in, as defined by empty cells around the data.
Outlook:
Ctrl + Shift + H : Deletes the word to the right of the cursor.
Ctrl + F : Forwards the selected message.
Ctrl + Alt + F : Forwards the selected message as an attachment.
Ctrl + R : Replies to the selected message.
Ctrl + Shift + R : Replies to All for the selected message.
Ctrl + Enter : Sends an open and addressed message.
Office 2007 SmartArt:
Shift + Right Arrow : Increases the size of the selected shape(s) horizontally.
Shift + Left Arrow : Decreases the size of the selected shape(s) horizontally.
Shift + Up Arrow : Increases the size of the selected shape(s) vertically.
Shift + Down Arrow : Decreases the size of the selected shape(s) vertically.
Ctrl + any of the above combinations : Increases or decreases the size of the selected shape(s) in smaller increments.
What is the allure of keyboard shortcuts? Do they really save time? Why bother since my mouse is permanently attached to my hand?
I like to use keyboard shortcuts, especially if someone is watching me, because they make me look like a pro. With just a few key strokes I can leave a mouser spinning his wheel! Whatever your motivation, here's a big list of keyboard shortcuts:
General Shortcuts
ALT- F4 - Quit a program / Shut down
ALT-TAB - Hold down the ALT key and hit tab to cycle through open windows.
CTL-ESCAPE - Display the Start menu
SHIFT - TAB - tab backwards through a form
CTRL - X - Cut
CTRL - C - Copy
CTRL - V - Paste
F1 - Help menu
CTRL - Z - Undo
CRTL-TAB - Navigate tabs on a tabbed screen
File & Desktop Shortcuts
Hold SHIFT while inserting a CD - Prevents the CD from "autorunning"
If an item is selected:
CTRL while dragging a file - Copies the file
CTRL - SHIFT while dragging a file - Creates a shortcut to the file
SHIFT - DELETE - Deletes an item without sending it to the recycle bin.
ALT-ENTER - Display a file's properties.
F2 - To rename the file
In Windows Explorer:
LEFT ARROW - Collapse the current selection if it is expanded
NUM LOCK-MINUS SIGN (-) - Collapse the selected folder
RIGHT ARROW - Expand the current selection if it is collapsed -Or- Select the first subfolder
NUM LOCK- * Expand all folders below the current selection
NUM LOCK- PLUS SIGN (+) - Expand the selected folder
F6 - Switch between left and right panes
In My Computer:
BACKSPACE - View the folder one level up
ALT- RIGHT ARROW - Move forward to a previous view
ALT- LEFT ARROW -Move backward to a previous view
The Windows key can be used in conjunction with other keys to act as a keyboard shortcut for faster access to menu commands. Now, while the Alt key tends to open program menus (ex: Alt+F opens the File menu and Alt+E opens the Edit menu) and the Ctrl key performs actual operations (ex: Ctrl+C will copy and Ctrl+V will paste), the Windows key will open various Windows tools...
Win key + R will open the Start menu's Run box
Win key + F will open the Start menu's Find window
Win key + E will quickly launch Explorer
Win key + Pause/Break will open the System Properties window
Win key + M will Minimize all windows
Win key + Shift + M will undo Minimize all windows
Win key + D will switch between minimizing all open programs and showing them all
Win key + Tab will cycle through items on the taskbar
Win key by itself will open the Start menu
You can also open programs or folders on your desktop by pressing the Windows key + the first letter of the program/folder/shortcut + Enter . Sounds kinda tedious, but if you're in a bind with your mouse, it can come in quite handy.
Arrow Tricks
Here's a cool little arrow trick to try with word processing programs. Next time you're using your arrow keys to go from one area of a sentence to another (left and right arrows), hold down your CTRL key. Instead of moving one space at a time, you'll go one word at a time.
If you're using the up and down arrows to go from line to line, holding down the CTRL key will make your cursor jump from paragraph to paragraph (well, from carriage return to carriage return anyway).
One last thing, if you hold down the SHIFT key while you do this (i.e. hold down SHIFT + CTRL at the same time), you select text as you arrow along.
I've tested this in MS Word and Wordpad, but it *should* work no matter
what word processing program you use.
Home/End Key Fun
Do you ever find yourself scrolling through a huge folder ? Well, if you need to get to the beginning or the end quickly, just press Ctrl+Home . If you want to get to the end, click Ctrl+End .
Hey, that's not all!
This little trick works on more than just folders. If you use the Home key in a word processor, it goes to the beginning of the line you're currently working on. If you hit the END key, it should head to the end of the current line. If you pair Home & End up with the Ctrl key in a word processor, you will be whisked away to the beginning or end of the document. Again, this should work, but it depends on your word processor.
No comments:
Post a Comment