17 Simple Keystrokes Every PC User Needs

TASK

KEYSTROKE

ACTION

New

Ctrl-N

Opens a new document (as in Microsoft Word) or a new window (as in Microsoft Explorer)

Open

Ctrl-O

Opens an existing document

Close Document

Ctrl-W

Closes an open document or window; does NOT close the program

Close Program

Alt-F4

Closes the active program (the one on which the cursor rests); if no programs are open, shutdowns Windows

Save

Ctrl-S

Saves the active document

Select All

Ctrl-A

Selects all text in the active document or window

Print

Ctrl-P

Prints the active document or contents of the active window

Undo

Ctrl-Z

Undoes the last action performed (as in typing, deleting, etc.)

Redo

Ctrl-Y

Redoes the last action performed (as in typing, deleting, pasting, etc.)

Search

Ctrl-F

Searches for a word or phrase in the active document or window

Copy

Ctrl-C

Copies the highlighted text, graphic, etc.

Paste

Ctrl-V

Pastes the text, graphic, etc. that was last copied (i.e., that is "on the clipboard")

Help

F1

Displays help (if available) on the active program, task, or window

Move Between Paragraphs

Ctrl-Up Arrow or Ctrl-Down Arrow

Quickly moves the cursor from one paragraph to another

Move within a Table

Tab or Shift-Tab

Moves forward or backward, respectively, within table cells

Move to Top or Bottom of a Document / Window

Ctrl-Page Up or Ctrl-Page Down

Moves cursor to the top or bottom of the active document or window

Refresh

  F5

Refreshes the screen, document or window so that the most current data is visible