Keyboard Shortcuts

Alt: Short for Alternate, ALT is a key generally located by the space bar on IBM compatible computer keyboards. This term may be used to describe a key combination such as:

CTRL + ALT + DEL

The above combination means press and hold on the keyboard CTRL and ALT and DEL to perform the function, in this case reboot the computer or open the close program window / task manager window.

Additional information about keyboards and keyboard keys can be found on our keyboard help page.

Also see:CTRL, Keyboard definitions, Modifier key

Arrow Keys: Also known as cursor keys, arrow keys are keyboard keys located in-between the standard keyboard and the numeric pad on the majority of all keyboards. These four keys are the left arrow (back arrow), up arrow, down arrow, and the right arrow (forward arrow). Some examples of how these keys can be used are:

  1. Move the text cursor on the screen.
  2. Use in combination with other keys for shortcut keys. For example, pressing the Alt key and the left arrow key in Microsoft Internet Explorer will take you back one internet page.
  3. Move a character in a computer game.
  4. Select text.
  5. Move the mouse with the keyboard instead of the mouse.

CTRL: Short for control, CTRL is a key found on IBM compatible computer keyboards. This term is commonly used to refer to a keyboard shortcut key such as:

CTRL + ALT + DEL

The above combination means press and hold on the keyboard CTRL and ALT and DEL to perform the function; in this case, reboot the computer or open the close program window.

Many times documentation and/or information from Computer Hope and other computer related documentation may list commands such as ^X, ^C, ^Z, etc. this means CTRL-X, CTRL-C, CTRL-Z, etc. In other words, a user would want to press and hold the CONTROL or CTRL key and then press the letter following the caret.

Additional information about keyboards and keyboard keys can be found on our keyboard help page.

Also see:ALT, Caret, Control keys, Keyboard definitions, Modifier key

Delete:

  1. In general refers to removing a file, text, or other object from the computer. Files that are deleted in Microsoft Windows 95 are sent to the recycling bin, other operating systems have a similar location called the trash.
  2. A command that is used to delete / remove data or files. Below is a listing of different methods of deleting a file.
    - MS-DOS users can delete files using the del or deltree commands.
    - Linux / Unix users can delete files using the rm command.
    - Microsoft Windows users, Apple Macintosh users, and other users using other types of GUIOperating Systems can delete files by highlighting a file and pressing the delete or del key on the keyboard.
  3. DEL is also a common abbreviation for delete and is a description of a keyboard key commonly used when describing shortcut keys. For example, ALT + CTRL + DEL indicates press the alternate, control and delete key all at once.

Also see:Backspace, Clear, Control keys, Discard, Erase, Expunge, Kill, Purge, Terminate, Uninstall

Shortcut Keys:

Shortcut Keys / Description
Alt + F / File menu options in current program.
Alt + E / Edit options in current program
F1 / Universal Help in almost every Windows program.
Ctrl + A / Select all text.
Ctrl + X / Cut selected item.
Shift + Del / Cut selected item.
Ctrl + C / Copy selected item.
Ctrl + Ins / Copy selected item
Ctrl + V / Paste
Shift + Ins / Paste
Home / Goes to beginning of current line.
Ctrl + Home / Goes to beginning of document.
End / Goes to end of current line.
Ctrl + End / Goes to end of document.
Shift + Home / Highlights from current position to beginning of line.
Shift + End / Highlights from current position to end of line.
Ctrl + Left arrow / Moves one word to the left at a time.
Ctrl + Right arrow / Moves one word to the right at a time.

Microsoft Windows Shortcut Keys:

Alt + Tab: Switch between open applications.

Alt + Shift + Tab: Switch backwards between open applications.

Alt + Print Screen: Create a screen shot only for the program you are currently in.