Bits'n'Bytes

As heard on CJCD

Episode 14

Every now and then, when I'm working on someone's computer at their house, I'll do something and get a response from the owner like "Whoa, how'd you do that? You didn't even touch the mouse!" Well, although the mouse is a handy tool, it isn't always the fastest tool you can use. Sometimes, when a mouse is dirty or malfunctioning, it won't go where you want it to. In situations like that, I tend to use Windows keyboard shortcuts, instead. With a keyboard shortcut, you can do almost anything you can do with a mouse. Shortcuts involve using one of the Control or CTRL key, the Alt Key, or the Windows Key (that's the one with the windows logo on it, down on either side of the space bar) in conjunction with normal keys on the keyboard.

Using the Control key with the letter C, for example, will copy into memory whatever text is highlighted in the current document. Control-N will open a new instance of whatever you have open - like a Word document, maybe. Then, you could use Control-V to paste what you just copied into the new document. If you used Control-X instead of Control-C, you would have cut it out of the original, instead of copying it out.

Ever notice in a lot of programs the menu at the top has underlined letters? Well, those letters can be used with the Alt key to do that command. Say in a Word document, you want to save your file as a new name. If you look at File at the top, you can see that the F is underlined. So, if you click on Alt, then hit the F key, the File window will open. Now, this window is already primed for the Alt key. So, take a look at the Save As entry. You can see that the A in as is underlined. So, if you hit the A key, the Save As window will open. You can now type whatever name you want to save the document.

Finally, there's the Windows key. Ever want to minimize all the windows you have open so you can see the desktop? Click on the Windows key plus the M. Need them all back? Click on Windows plus D.

Here's a couple of great links to lists of keyboard shortcuts:
Keyboard Shortcuts
Uses for the Windows Key
(They'll open a new browser window)

Stay tuned next week for some handy tips for using Microsoft Word.

I’m Computer Dave, thanks for your time.