The Computer Keyboard
Grady Manley
The keyboard resembles, in many respects, the familiar typewriter keyboard, but a careful look will reveal a number of significant differences. There are several keys on the keyboard that do not appear on a typewriter. In addition to the added keys, the keyboard acts in many ways quite different from a typewriter. Before we define the function of each key, we need to consider some general guidelines for the use of a keyboard.
General Guidelines
Different applications
The keyboard does not respond the same way in every program. For example, many keys will respond differently in a word processor, a spreadsheet, or a database.
Auto-repeat
If you hold down a key for longer than about half a second, it will repeatttttttttt. Just Press gently and immediately release.
Toggle keys
A toggle key is like an ON-OFF key. When you press it once, an action occurs. Press it again and the action is switched off. The most frequently used toggle keys are Caps Lock, Insert, and Num Lock. More about these keys later.
Similar-looking characters
In some older typewriters there was not a key for every character. It was sometimes necessary to use one key to represent two characters. For example, the letter l was often used for the number 1. Don't substitute characters on a computer!
Be sure you know the difference between similar-looking characters. If you do not use the correct character, errors will occur.
Number zero "0" and the letter "O"
Number one "1" and letter "l"
Number "2" and letter "z" or "Z"
Underline " _ " and hyphen (minus sign) "-"
Semicolon ";" and colon ":"
Back-slash "\" and forward slash " /"
Single quotation mark ' and double quotation mark "
The keyboard is composed of four groups of keys.
Alphanumeric (Typewriter) Keys
The largest group of keys, arranged like a typewriter, is used to type letters, numbers, or punctuation marks. Some keys in this group operate differently from those on a typewriter.
The Shift key is used to print capital letters or characters at the top of a numeric or punctuation key. It must be held down while pressing the other key or keys
The Caps Lock causes all alphabet keys to type capitals, but it does not affect any other keys. This key is a toggle; when it is pressed it remains ON until it is pressed again to turn it off.
The Tab key moves the curser to the next tab stop to the right. Tabs in most word processing programs are set every inch, but they may be changed to any position on a line.
The Control (Ctrl) and Alternate (Alt) keys do nothing by themselves. When they are pressed with another key, they re-define the action of that key. For example, Ctrl with the letter C executes the Copy command.
Attached to the end of these notes is a partial list of the Keyboard Shortcuts used in Windows XP.
To find the Keyboard Shortcuts for a program, open the Help page and search for Keyboard Shortcuts.
The Windows key, marked with the picture of a flying Window logo, displays the Start Menu.
The Esc (Escape) key, in the top left hand corner of the keyboard, is used to exit a mode or routine or cancel some function. If something is happening on your computer that you want to stop, try pressing this key. This will usually stop, or cancel, the operation.
Cursor Control Keys
Between the calculator keys and the typewriter keys are keys used to move the cursor on the screen or make changes in a document. The cursor is a blinking symbol, usually a vertical bar, that shows the place on the screen where you enter text or perform an operation.
There are four arrow keys pointing up, down, right, and left. Above these are a group of six keys, Home, Page Up, Insert, Page Down, Delete, and End, which move the cursor or perform editing functions. All applications do not use these keys the same way; each program will explain how to use them.
DEMO: Open a text document and demonstrate moving around the document.
Numeric Keypad
On the right side of the keyboard is a group of keys that look and function like a 10-key calculator. You will notice that most of these keys have other symbols on them in addition to the numbers. These symbols are the same as the Cursor Control keys: up- down- right- and left-arrows, Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down. The keys will respond differently depending on whether the Num Lock key is on or off.
When the Num Lock is ON, the keys act as a numeric keypad.
When the Num Lock is OFF, the keys act like the cursor control keys.
DEMO: Numeric Keypad
Function Keys
Along the top of the keyboard is a row of keys labeled Fl to F12. They are used to perform many of the functions or commands in a program. They were used frequently in programs before the days of Windows and the mouse, but now they are seldom used. Each program will assign its own definitions to these keys. You will need to consult Help in each program to learn how the Function keys will work in that program.
DEMO Function Keys
Keyboard shortcuts
Almost any command or function in any program can be executed from the keyboard without using a mouse or menu. A list of these shortcuts can be found by opening the Help menu and searching for Keyboard Shortcuts. You will see all of the combinations that can be used in that program (probably several pages!)
Here is a partial list of shortcuts for Windows XP.
Press
To
ALT+ENTER
View properties for the selected item.
ALT+Enter
Displays the properties of the selected object.
ALT+ESC
Cycle through items in the order they were opened.
ALT+F4
Close the active item, or quit the active program.
ALT+SPACEBAR
Opens the shortcut menu for the active window.
ALT+SPACEBAR
Display the System menu for the active window.
ALT+TAB
Switch between open items.
ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name
Display the corresponding menu.
BACKSPACE
View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
CTRL while dragging an item
Copy selected item.
CTRL+A
Select all.
CTRL+C
Copy.
CTRL+DOWN ARROW
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph.
CTRL+ESC
Display the Start menu.
CTRL+F4
Close the active document in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously.
CTRL+LEFT ARROW
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word.
CTRL+RIGHT ARROW
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word.
CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item
Create shortcut to selected item.
CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys
Highlight a block of text.
CTRL+UP ARROW
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
CTRL+V
Paste.
CTRL+X
Cut.
CTRL+Z
Undo.
DELETE
Delete.
ESC
Cancel the current task.
F10
Activate the menu bar in the active program.
F2
Rename selected item.
F3
Search for a file or folder.
F4
Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
F5
Refresh the active window.
F6
Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop.
LEFT ARROW
Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu.
RIGHT ARROW
Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu.
SHIFT when you insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive
Prevent the CD from automatically playing.
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.
SHIFT+DELETE
Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin.
SHIFT+F10
Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.
Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu
Carry out the corresponding command.
Press
To
ALT+Underlined letter
Carry out the corresponding command or select the corresponding option.
Arrow keys
Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons.
BACKSPACE
Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box.
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB
Move backward through tabs.
CTRL+TAB
Move forward through tabs.
ENTER
Carry out the command for the active option or button.
F1
Display Help.
F4
Display the items in the active list.
SHIFT+TAB
Move backward through options.
SPACEBAR
Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box.
TAB
Move forward through options.
Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts
Press
To
END
Display the bottom of the active window.
HOME
Display the top of the active window.
LEFT ARROW
Collapse current selection if it's expanded, or select parent folder.
NUM LOCK+ASTERISK on numeric keypad (*)
Display all subfolders under the selected folder.
NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN on numeric keypad (-)
Collapse the selected folder.
NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN on numeric keypad (+)
Display the contents of the selected folder.
RIGHT ARROW
Display current selection if it's collapsed, or select first subfolder.