Keyboard Navigation McClure Middle School Mr. Dukes Room 528
Vocabulary l Alternate (ALT) Key l Arrow Keys l Backspace Key l Caps Lock Key l Control Keys l Data l Delete Key l End Key l Enter Key l Escape Key l Function (F) Keys l Insert Key l Num-Lock Key l Numeric Keypad l Page Up or Down Key l Shift Key l Tab Key l QWERTY
Keyboards
Escape Key The Escape key is used to cancel actions in progress before they finish. It is also used to close certain dialog boxes.
Function Key The Function keys are numbered F1, F2, F3,...F12. These are programmable keys. That is, programs can assign actions to these keys. So the same key might produce different results in different programs.
Print Screen Key In Windows, pressing the Print Screen key sends a copy of the screen to the Clipboard. You must then paste to an appropriate program and print from there.
Tab Key Tab key is used to move the cursor over to the right to a pre-set point
Caps Lock Key When the Caps Lock key is on, pressing any alphabetic key will result in an upper case (capital) letter. Number and symbol keys are not affected
Shift Keys Shift key is used in combination with the alphabetic keys to get upper case. With a numeric/symbol key using the Shift key will give the character at the top of the key. Shift key can be used in combination with the Alt and Control keys to change the effects of another key.
Control Keys Control key does nothing all by itself. Must be pressed in combination with other keys. When used in combination, the Control key changes the normal effect of a key. Exactly what will happen depends on the software in use at the time.
Alt Keys Alt key doesn't do anything by itself. But if you hold it down while pressing another key, the effect of that key may be different from usual. Exactly what will happen will depend on what program is running at the time.
Enter Keys In word processing, the enter key causes the cursor to move down a line and over to the left margin. It is also used in place of a mouse click with buttons and drop-down menus.
Backspace Key Backspace key erases the character on the left of the cursor and moves the cursor that direction
Space Bar Key Spacebar is used to enter blank spaces in text.
Arrow Keys Four keys are used to move the cursor on the screen. Up and down arrows move the cursor up or down one line. The left and right arrows move the cursor one character.
Delete Key Delete key is used to erase the character just to the right of the cursor.
Page Down Key Page Down key will drop the displayed area down the page one screen's worth.
Insert Key Insert key is a toggle key. That is, repeatedly pressing it will alternate between two effects: 1 typing overtypes characters already there 2 typing inserts characters in between the characters that are already there
Page Up Key Page Up key will move the cursor up the displayed area one screen's worth.
Num Lock Key When Num Lock is on, the Numeric Keypad responds with numbers, as an adding machine. When Num Lock is off, the Numeric Keypad responds as navigation keys using the alternate markings on the keys.
Numeric Key Pad When the Num Lock key is on, these keys are used to enter numbers as with an adding machine. When the Num Lock key is off, the keys act as navigation keys using the alternate markings on each key.
Slash Key When Num Lock is on, the Slash key acts as a division sign on the numbers entered. When Num lock is off, the Slash key types a /.
Times Key When Num Lock is on, the Times key acts as a multiplication sign on the numbers entered. When Num Lock is off, the Times key types a *.
Minus Key When Num Lock is on, the Minus key performs subtraction on the numbers entered. When Num Lock is off, the Minus key will type a hyphen like this -.
Plus Key When Num Lock is on, this key performs addition. When Num Lock is off, this key prints a +.
Summary Knowing the purpose of all the keys can save you time and effort in many applications.