SHORTCUTS TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY

Reprinted from Renfrew-Collingwood News,
June/July 2002 Edition.

You have bought fastest computer, played every single computer game on the market, done the latest digital photography thing, and downloaded the latest songs off the Internet. You know about the difference between ROM and RAM, what a bit and byte is, know all there is to know about megahertz and megabytes. So you think you know everything there is to know about the old PC…eh? There is probably one thing, besides knowing all the techno alphabet soup or an acronym, which distinguishes an experience user from the inexperience and that, is the use of keyboard and mouse shortcuts to do the simplest computer tasks. Experts always seem to know a better and faster way of doing things.

For instance, if I were to cut a block of text and paste it into another document, I, normally, would have to do the following:

1. Using the mouse, select(or highlight) the text;
2. Switch over to the other document;
3. Place the cursor where I want to place the text; and,
4. Click on the past icon up on the toolbar or click on the Edit menu and select the paste option.

Alternatively, I can simply do the following keystrokes:

1. Select the block of text;
2. ALT + TAB and select the other document;
3. Place cursor in position; and,
4. Press CTRL & “V” Keys.

The following are general program keystrokes that work within and Windows programs or applications (i.e. you can use them in just about every program that you run in Windows).

F1 – Brings up program help feature.
CTRL + X – Cuts selected or highlighted item in current program.
CTRL + C – Copies selected or highlighted item in current program.
CTRL + V – Pastes selected or highlighted item in current program.
CTRL + Z – Undos previous operation.
CTRL + B – Bold selection or highlighted text.
CTRL + U – Underlines selection or highlighted text.
CTRL + I – Italizes selection or highlighted text.
CTRL + A – Selects all selection or highlighted text.

Windows system shortcuts are keystrokes that apply only to Windows operating environment.

CTRL + ESC -Brings up the Windows Start Menu.
ALT + TAB – Switches between open applications or programs.
ALT + F4 – Quits program or applications.
SHIFT + DEL – Delete selected item without putting it into the recycling bin.

A lot of you are probably wondering why there are a couple of extra keys on the keyboard that you probably do not know what they are for particularly that one with the Windows icon on it (i.e. the one between the CTRL and ALT keys beside the space bar). Believe you me this is your ticket to improve productivity. Try the following:

WIN Key – to display the Windows Start Menu.
WIN + R – to open the Run dialog box.
WIN + M – to minimize all open Windows on the desktop.
WIN + F1 – to use the Help feature in Windows.
WIN + E – to open Windows Explorer.
WIN + F – to find or search files of folders.
WIN + D – minimize all windows and undo minimize all.
WIN + BREAK – to display system properties.

You are definitely not restricted to only using keystroke shortcuts; there are also mouse and keystroke combination shortcuts that you could also try.

To copy a file. Select the file that you want to copy, press and hold down the CTRL key and drag the folder to the appropriate location (i.e. the desktop).

Create a shortcut to your favourite file or folder by first selecting the folder(s) or file(s), hold down the CTRL + SHIFT and drag the selection to its appropriate location.

Enlarge and reduce font size in Internet Explorer, Word, Windows Help and Excel by holding down the CTRL key and spinning the mouse wheel. The little shortcut requires one of those fancy computer mouse with a wheel on it.

Maximize or minimize a active window by double clicking on the Window’s title bar (i.e. the colour bar on top of each active window.

For all you keeners out there, there are additional keystrokes or shortcuts that are specific to the programs themselves and you can simply go the menu bar or toolbar of the program and check under the toolbar selection for additional shortcuts. For instance to save a file in Word, it is simply CTRL + S and this is written right next to the save command in the file menu.

Because of time and space constraints, I am only able to cover a few of the shortcuts that we commonly use, if you really want to know a little more about Windows and its little nuances or shortcuts make sure you take one of the many short computer workshops that Collingwood Neighbourhood House is currently offering especially Windows Levels 1 and 2. Spaces are limited, so don’t hesitate to register.

Until next time,

~GeekBoy

If you have any questions, suggestions, or comments, feel free to drop me an e-mail at: gb.technobytes@gmail.com.