Some computer users utilize shortcuts extensively to increase personal productivity, while others never use them, mostly due to being unfamiliar with them. If you ever need to find relevant shortcuts for the programs that you are using, they typically show up in each menu on the toolbar. Clicking on HELP will open a menu, and the search term shortcuts will often provide a comprehensive list. Of course, you do not have to click on help, you can simply press the F1 (function key one at the top of the keyboard), which is the universal shortcut for help in Windows.

Almost all other routine tasks can be executed by using shortcut keys or combinations of keys. Often multiple keys must be pressed simultaneously, typically combinations using the control CTRL, alternate ALT, shift, and tab keys. If I wanted to copy this line I could paint or highlight it, and then mouse over and click on edit to open the pull-down menu, mouse down to copy and click on it. To paste, put the cursor where desired, mouse to edit, open the menu, cursor down to paste. That is a lot of movement which could be done instead by using shortcuts. To copy, simply paint and simultaneously tap the CTRL key and the C key (referred to as CTRL-C, C for copy)), and the material is copied. Place the cursor at the destination, and simultaneously type the CTRL key and the V key (CTRL-V) and the material will be instantly pasted at the cursor. To find information on an open page, CTRL-F (F for find) will open the find utility. Other common shortcuts are CTRL-S (S for save) to save the current item, CTRL-N (for new) to create a new item, CTRL-O (oh) to open an item, and CTRL-P to print the current item. If you want to highlight or paint an entire document to be copied or deleted, CTRL-A (A for all) will accomplish that task. CTRL-X will cut, and if you think you made a mistake, then CTRL-Z will undo your last action.

There are also keyboard shortcuts to use to help guide us around our screens. ALT-TAB (alternate key and tab key) allows the user to instantly select or switch between open windows. Many users are aware that the Microsoft logo key on the bottom left of their keyboards will open the start menu, but when combined with other keys has other quick functions. It should be noted that not all keyboards support these functions, but most do. LOGO-BREAK (the Microsoft logo and the break key at the top right of the keyboard) will open the system properties window, and LOGO-D (D for desktop) will show the desktop, and LOGO-M (M for minimize) will minimize or drop all open programs down to an icon on the taskbar. The opposite would be LOGO-Shift-M which maximizes, or restores all windows from their icon on the taskbar. LOGO-F will open the search function to find files on the computer. LOGO-F1 will open windows help, while LOGO-R (R for run) opens the Run window, and LOGO-U will open a little know function called Microsoft Utility that shows some interesting utilities that may be available or running, which are mostly unknown to the user. Many users may not have noticed that their keyboards may have another unusual and poorly labeled key on the bottom row to the right of the spacebar, often next to the right CTRL key, that has a shaded box and tiny cursor arrow on it. This unusual key will open a shortcut menu in whatever program is open.

Many programs have specialized shortcuts that may or may not work on other programs. In Microsoft Word the F5 (function 5) key will open the find and replace function, and F7 opens the spell and grammar check utility. To find the hundreds of other keyboard shortcuts, in Word, press F1 for help, and then keyboard shortcut in the search box, and listings will appear.

Internet Explorer has some interesting keyboard shortcuts that are generally unknown. One of the most interesting and often useful is the F11 function key on the top-right of the keyboard. F11 shifts between a normal view of the page, and a full view of the page, without most of the toolbars. This is especially useful when viewing maps, or doing a screen capture. A comprehensive list of Internet Explorer keyboard shortcuts can be found in IE by pressing F1, opening the index and searching for keyboard shortcuts. Dozens of keyboard shortcuts are provided for viewing web pages, printing and using print preview, using the address bar, working with favorites, and editing.

Several online services have keyboard shortcuts available as well. The popular Yahoo! Search engine has a few dozen helpful shortcuts listed at help.yahoo.com/help/us/ysearch/tips/tips-01.html. In Yahoo! Typing an airport name or code (such as BPT) followed by the word airport will show current weather conditions, directions, local maps, airport terminal maps, and flight information. Typing the word define followed by a word will open a dictionary, while typing an airline flight number as Continental 1234 will give real-time flight tracking and information. To find the best listed gasoline prices, type the word gas followed by a zipcode, such as gas 77701 and local gas prices will be displayed. Other fun functions are typing a books ISBN number and it will do a price comparison on that book, and entering package tracking numbers with the name of the shipper (FedEx 12345) will give tracking information. Dozens of these functions are available on Yahoo!

Try using shortcuts, and improve your computing satisfaction.

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