Helpdesk FYI

By Jonathan "Mac" Edwards, Assistant Manager of the CITC Helpdesk

Keyboard Shortcuts

Have you ever been sitting at your computer working on your latest project, and wanted to quickly save a document without dealing with that pesky mouse?  Want to prove to your boss that you are the master of efficiency?  Want a way to quickly hide that new proposal from prying eyes?  Keyboard shortcuts are the answer!

This month I thought I would go over some basic useful shortcut keys on your computer. Most of the basic menu commands (such as File, Edit, and View) can be easily accessed by holding down the Alt Key, and then the first letter of the function you wish to open.

Alt + F   = File
 

Alt + E   = Edit
 

Alt + V  = View
 

Alt + F4 =  Close Application

Most programs have the key you need to hit in conjunction with Alt underlined. The Ctrl (control) key can also be used to perform many shortcut functions. Press both of the following keys simultaneously:

Ctrl + A        =  Select All
 

Ctrl + S         =  Save
 

Ctrl + Home  =  This will quickly take you to the beginning of a page or document.
 

Ctrl + End     =  This will quickly take you to the end of a page or document.
 

Ctrl + W        =  Closes current window, but leaves the application open.
 

Ctrl + Z         =  Undo

The three commands I use the most are Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V.

Ctrl + C = Copy
 

Ctrl + V = Paste
 

Ctrl + X = Cut

Many of these will also work on an Apple, but instead of Ctrl hold down the Cmnd button.

The windows Key is located between the Ctrl and Alt keys on most keyboards.

Windows key + Pause/Break Key = System properties
 

Windows + D = Show Desktop.  Hitting it again will quickly bring back all of your  documents and programs.  This is a great tool to quickly access your desktop instead of trying to minimize a bunch of open windows.

Finally the following three shortcuts can be very helpful when browsing the internet.

Ctrl + Right Enter = This allows you to enter in the main website name, and then auto fill in the rest.  If you want to visit Google simply type Google into your address bar.  Then hit Ctrl + Enter.  Your browser will then auto-fill in the rest of the address with www.google.com!
 

Ctrl + Right Click = Over-ride pop-up blocker.  This command works for most pop-up blockers.  Simply hold down the Shift Key while clicking on a link, and it will not be blocked by your pop-up blocker.  Unfortunately this does not over-ride either the Firefox or Norton Antivirus Pop-up blocker
 

Shift + Right Click = Open link in new window.  This command allows you to open a link in a new window.  Shift + Left Click will allow you to open a window in a new Tab.