Top 10 Keyboard Shortcuts

Computer keyboard shortcuts are designed to save you valuable time and productivity. Yet, many computer users opt to stick to long-form commands, because they are afraid it will take too long to memorize shortcut combinations.

The truth is, memorizing shortcut commands is easy and will eliminate unnecessary steps. Your hand muscles and cartilage will not have to work as hard and you will free up more time than you may think.

In this week's post, we've decided to feature our list of the top 10 keyboard shortcut commands we believe will be the most useful to you:

1. Ctrl + F
   This command opens the Find function in any program you are using. This includes your Internet browser as well to find text on a page.
   
2. Alt + Tab or Alt + Esc
   This command quickly switches between open programs moving forward. Pressing Ctrl + Tab will switch between tabs in a program. Adding the Shift key to Alt + Tab or Ctrl + Tab will move backwards.
   
   If you are using Windows Vista or 7, you can press the Windows Key + Tab to switch through open programs in a full screenshot of the Window.
   
3. Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert
   This command copy's the highlighted text or selected item.
   
4. Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert
   Use this command to paste the text you've copied from the clipboard to the spot your cursor is resting.
   
5. Ctrl + Z and Ctrl + Y
   This command will undo any change you've just made. For example, if you paste text, pressing this command will undo that paste. Usually, you can press this command multiple times to continue to undo previous commands further and further back in the order they were performed. Pressing Ctrl + Y will redo the undo.
   
6. Ctrl + Left arrow / Right arrow
   Use this command to move your cursor one word at a time instead of one character at a time. To highlight one word at a time, hold down Ctrl + Shift and then press the left or right arrow key to move one word at a time in that direction.
   
7. Ctrl + Backspace
   Press this command to delete a full word at a time instead of a single character at a time.
   
8. Ctrl + P
   This command will print the page you are currently viewing. This includes programs such as Microsoft Word and your Internet browsers.
   
9. Ctrl + Home / End
   Use this command to move your cursor to the beginning or the end of your current document.
   
10. Page Up / Spacebar and Page Down / Spacebar
    These commands will move your current document in either direction one full page at a time. When browsing the Internet, these commands will move your scrollbar one full page at a time in the direction you indicate.
    

These commands are easy to learn, and will save you a lot of time throughout your day. Every second that you waste in unnecessary steps adds up to minutes, hours, and days throughout the years you use your computer. Taking a few minutes to learn these commands now is well worth the investment for the long term.

If you are interested in our "Personal Computer Tutor" program that is customized for YOUR needs, give MAX Communications a call to setup a free consultation. 847-348-3489