Windows XP
Tips – 9/4/04
2. Single left click will select an object; double left click will execute (open). If you have trouble with the double click, use single click plus Enter. Or try the single click option in #8.
3. Pressing the Alt key plus the underscored character of menus is equivalent to clicking the menu. When the menu is open pressing the underscored character will open that item.
4. Menu items often display a shortcut key combination, i.e., in the File menu, Ctrl + O for Open, Ctrl + S for Save, Ctrl + P to Print. These shortcut are generally quicker than reaching for the mouse. Memorize the ones you use often.
5. Ctrl + X (cut), Ctrl + C (copy), and Ctrl + V (paste) are three of the most useful keyboard shortcuts available. They will allow you to move/copy text within or between applications and move/copy files and folders in Windows Explorer.
6. To remove a menu from the screen press Alt or Esc, or click the mouse away from a hot spot.
7. Alt + F4 will close the active window.
8. Many users prefer single click to double click. With that option turned on, hovering over an item is the same as a single click and a single click is equivalent to a double click. You can access it in Explorer by clicking on the Tools menu, then Folder Options, then clicking the Single click radio button.
9. Text can be selected by either dragging with the mouse or by holding down the Shift key and using the arrow keys.
10. To create a desktop icon to start a program, select the program from the Start Menu and drag it to an open space on the Desktop with the right mouse button. Then select 'Create Shortcuts here' from the menu. If you drag with the left mouse button the program will be dragged right off the start menu which is probably not what you intended.
11. Another way to create a desktop icon is as follows: Right click an open area on the desktop – Select New/Shortcut – in the dialog box either Browse for a program file or type in something like http://google.com, then click Next. For a title type 'Google' and then click finish. Now when you click the new icon your web browser will take you to google.com.
12.
To “capture” the entire desktop in
a graphic file, press the Print Screen key [PrtScn]. To capture only the active
window, press [Alt-PrtScn].
13.
NumLock
is a toggle. If on, you can use the key pad for numbers, if off, the
directional arrows and keys will work instead.
Windows
Explorer
1. The easiest way to bring up Windows Explorer is Windows Key plus E. Go to the desktop with Windows Key + D.
2. In Window Explorer select ‘Details’ in the View menu for a better overview of your files.
3. If you are looking for a file of a certain type by scrolling through a lengthy folder, you may be able to shorten the search by View/Arrange Icons by/Type.
4. If you use drag-and-drop to move/copy files and folders in windows explorer, you can use either the right or left mouse button. With the left button a file is moved on the same drive – between drives a file will be copied. If you drag with the right mouse button a menu with several options is presented when you drop.
5. If you try to move a large file, occasionally only a shortcut to that file will be created. Drag with the right mouse button to obtain a menu which will give you options – or, use the cut and paste to move the file.
2. When the pointer changes from an arrow to a hand you are on a hot spot, which if clicked will take you to a new web page or a different location on the same page.
3. When browsing a web page which is several screen pages long use the spacebar, Home, End, PgUp, PgDn keys to navigate. Also the mouse scroll wheel is available for scrolling up and down.
4. The length of a web page is inversely proportional to the length of the slider – i.e. a short bar means a long page.
5. When filling in a form be sure to position the insertion point by clicking where you want the text to begin, if it is not already in the correct position. Use the Tab key to move forward from field to field – Shift + Tab to move backwards.
6. Press F11 for maximum viewing area - F11 again to return to normal view.