HOWTO: Keyboard Short Cut Keys

Introduction

This HOWTO describes the function of the shortcut keys commonly employed in most 'Window' type environments, e.g. *nix X Windows, M$ Windows 9x, NT, 2k, XP...

The greater majority of the short cut keys listed can be used with Word processors, File Managers, Mail clients...and can make the operation of your PC much faster compared to using the Mouse. The three sections below detail the use of the Control and the Shift key to unlock the extra functions.

Control or Ctrl Key

Text Controls

Ctrl + B	Bold Text toggle on/off
Ctrl + I	Italic Text toggle on/off
Ctrl + U	Underline Text toggle on/off
Ctrl + L	Left align text.
Ctrl + E	Centre align text.
Ctrl + R	Right align text.
Ctrl + J	Justify text.
Ctrl + Left Arrow	Will skip to the beginning of the previous word.
Ctrl + Right Arrow	Will skip to the beginning of the next word.
Ctrl + Home	Takes you to the very beginning of a document.
Ctrl + End	Takes you to the very end of a document.

Copy Controls

Ctrl + A	Select all.
Ctrl + C	Copy.
Ctrl + X	Cut (when pasted, the Item will be moved from it's original location).
Ctrl + V	Paste.

Others

Ctrl + Z	Undo last command.
Ctrl + O	Open (brings up Open File dialogue box).
Ctrl + S	Save current file.
Ctrl + P	Print.
Ctrl + D	Logout. Used mostly on Linux/Unix based systems.
Ctrl + Esc	Microsoft Windows: Activates the Start menu.
Ctrl + Return	A short-cut method of sending emails/message in applications, such as Thunderbird and Skype.

Shift Key

The Shift key, in association with other keys can be extremely useful when editing text, and, once mastered is actually faster than using the mouse.

Shift + Home	Will highlight text from the cursor position back to the beginning of the line.
Shift + End	Will highlight text from the cursor position forward to the end of the line.
Shift + Left arrow	Will highlight characters from the original cursor position back to the left.
Shift + Right Arrow	Will highlight characters from the original cursor position forward to the right.
Shift + Up Arrow	Will highlight text from the original cursor position up to the previous line. Left or Right arrows can be used to finalize the position.
Shift + Down Arrow	Will highlight text from the original cursor position down to the next line. Left or Right arrows can be used to finalize the position.
Shift + Tab	Will back Tab. Useful when operating in tables for moving between cells.
Shift + Return	Pressing Shift + Return whilst writing a post in Skype or on Facebook will insert a carriage return and allow you to add more content prior to sending/posting the message.
Shift + Shift	Hold down both Shift keys as Windows starts and the Start group programs will not be run. Useful when there are half a dozen programs in the Start Group and you do not wish to run any of them.
Shift	Pressing and holding the left Shift key down straight after inserting a CD will stop the "Automount", i.e. the Autorun file on the CD will not be started.

Control + Shift +

Through the use of a combination of Keys, extra functions are available for manipulating data in certain Applications.

Ctrl + Shift + Left Arrow	Will skip and highlight to the beginning of the previous word.
Ctrl + Shift + Right Arrow	Will skip and highlight to the beginning of the next word.
Ctrl + Shift + Up Arrow	Will highlight text from the original cursor position up to the next line.
Ctrl + Shift + Down Arrow	Will highlight text from the original cursor position down to the next line.
Ctrl + Shift + Home	Will highlight text from the original cursor position back to the beginning of the document.
Ctrl + Shift + End	Will highlight text from the original cursor position to the end of the document.