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Accessibility keyboard shortcuts

Windows accessibility keyboard shortcuts

Press To
Right SHIFT for eight seconds Switch FilterKeys on and off.
Left ALT + left SHIFT + PRINT SCREEN Switch High Contrast on and off.
Left ALT + left SHIFT + NUM LOCK Switch MouseKeys on and off.
SHIFT five times Switch StickyKeys on and off.
NUM LOCK for five seconds Switch ToggleKeys on and off.
+ U Open Utility Manager.

Dialog box keyboard shortcuts

Windows 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 or button.
SPACEBAR Select or clear the checkbox if the active option is a checkbox.
Arrow keys Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons.
F1 Display Help.
F4 Display the items in the active list.
BACKSPACE Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box.

General keyboard shortcuts

Windows general keyboard shortcuts

Press To
CTRL + C Copy.
CTRL + X Cut.
CTRL + V Paste.
CTRL + Z Undo.
DELETE Delete.
SHIFT + DELETE Delete the selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin.
CTRL while dragging an item Copy selected item.
CTRL + SHIFT while dragging an item Create a shortcut to the selected item.
F2 Rename selected item.
CTRL + RIGHT ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word.
CTRL + LEFT ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word.
CTRL + DOWN ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph.
CTRL + UP ARROW Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
CTRL + SHIFT with any of the arrow keys Highlight a block of text.
SHIFT with any of the arrow keys Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document.
CTRL + A Select all.
F3 Search for a file or folder.
ALT + ENTER View properties for the selected item.
ALT + F4 Close the active item, or quit the active program.
ALT + Enter Displays the properties of the selected object.
ALT + SPACEBAR Opens the shortcut menu for the active window.
CTRL + F4 Close the active document in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously.
ALT + TAB Switch between open items.
ALT + ESC Cycle through items in the order they were opened.
F6 Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop.
F4 Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
SHIFT + F10 Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.
ALT + SPACEBAR Display the System menu for the active window.
CTRL + ESC Display the Start menu.
ALT + Underlined letter in a menu name Display the corresponding menu.
Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu Carry out the corresponding command.
F10 Activate the menu bar in the active program.
RIGHT ARROW Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu.
LEFT ARROW Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu.
F5 Refresh the active window.
BACKSPACE View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
ESC Cancel the current task.
SHIFT when you insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive Prevent the CD from automatically playing.

Dual Monitors

With newer computers having the ability to run multiple displays, here is a ‘Geek Tip’ for those thinking about using two monitors on one computer. There are various scenarios; I am going to describe just a few. I currently have two systems here with dual monitor setups.

Of course, there is the side-by-side scenario, either horizontally or vertically, with the desktop expanded across the monitors. The first thing to consider is having two monitors precisely alike. It’s not necessary, but it is recommended.  With this setup, you can work with a different program on each monitor. Makes copy and pasting a breeze. And you can also stretch a program across both monitors (left monitor has a work area; the right monitor has the tool palette).

This scenario also works well for those with visual impairments that require a magnification utility. You can use a larger monitor as the ‘main’ display and a smaller monitor as the ‘secondary’ display. Using the main display for all standard functions, the secondary display shows a magnified view of the main display. And without the need for matching monitors, you could pick up a cheap used one to run as secondary. Try your local Goodwill, Savers, thrift shop, etc.

Then there is what I like to call the back-to-back scenario, with the monitors on opposing faces of a wall or walls. The keyboard and mouse can be used wirelessly or through a USB cable. Yes, you can run more than one keyboard and mouse on a system, if this helps. In this case, cloning the display across both monitors is required, as the user can only view one monitor at a time.

With this scenario, you can have a presentation monitor (LCD or plasma TV works well) on one wall and a standard monitor at the workstation. The variations on these scenarios are vast, and I hope I have inspired you to look into using dual monitors.

Natural keyboard shortcuts

When working with other people, I am quite often asked, “How did you do that?” (when I bring up Windows Explorer or the ‘Run’ dialog box with just a one combined keystroke). A few little known keyboard shortcuts are the secret.

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

Press To
Display or hide the Start menu.
+ BREAK Display the System Properties dialog box.
+ D Show the desktop.
+ M Minimize all windows.
+ Shift + M Restores minimized windows.
+ E Open My Computer.
+ F Search for a file or folder.
+ CTRL + F Search for computers.
+ F1 Display Windows Help.
+ L Lock your computer if you are connected to a network domain, or switch users if you are not connected to a network domain.
+ R Open the Run dialog box.
Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.
+ U Open Utility Manager.

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