Your best keyboard shortcuts

Confused

Elite Member
Nov 13, 2000
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I know a few keyboard shortcuts for everyday programs which make my life easier, but I'm sure there's some I don't know, and the same for many others.

Therefore, I thought why not make a list of useful keyboard shortcuts for us all :)

Global
Windows + E -- Opens File Explorer
Windows + L -- Locks computer (WinXP at least)
Windows + D -- Show desktop
Windows + R -- Run dialog (Same as Start -> Run)
Windows + U -- Utility Manager (Windows XP)
Windows + F -- Find
Windows + M -- Minimize all
Alt + F4 -- Close program
Windows + Pause/Break -- System Properties (thanks Shooter, I forgot that one)
Ctrl + Backspace -- Erase whole word


Internet Explorer
Ctrl + W -- Close window (useful for those annoying popups where the X in the corner won't work)
Ctrl + Enter -- Puts http://www. and .com around what you've typed, for example type google and then Ctrl + Enter, and it will go to http://www.google.com
Shift + Click -- Opens link in new window
F5 -- Refresh


Mozilla(Firebird)
Ctrl + Enter -- Adds http://www. and .com to address
Shift + Enter -- Adds http://www. and .net to address
Ctrl + Shift + Enter -- Adds http://www. and .org to address
Alt + Enter -- Opens address typed in Address bar in new tab
Ctrl + T -- Opens new tab
Ctrl + W -- Closes tab (or window if no tabs open)
Ctrl + Shift + W -- Closes window (if multiple tabs open)
Ctrl + R -- Reloads page
F5 -- Reloads Page
Shift + Click -- Opens link in new window
Ctrl + Click -- Opens link in new tab
Alt + Click -- Save Link As

Microsoft Word
Ctrl+E -- Center
Ctrl+L -- Align Left
Ctrl+R -- Align Right
Ctrl+I -- Italics
Ctrl+B -- Bold
Ctrl+U -- Underline
Ctrl + [ -- decreases highlighted text 1pt
Ctrl + ] -- increases highlighted text 1pt


Add your own to the list!


Confused
 

psianime

Golden Member
Mar 16, 2002
1,497
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Nice mate.

That ctrl-m will come in handy when I'm looking at porn some someone is walking in.
 

Koing

Elite Member <br> Super Moderator<br> Health and F
Oct 11, 2000
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For WORD

Ctrl + [ -- decreases highlighted text 1pt
Ctrl + ] -- increases highlighted text 1pt

Good stuff here :D
 

Hubris

Platinum Member
Jul 14, 2001
2,749
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Any keyboard shortcut for creating a new folder quickly? It's annoyingly slow when you want to make a new one to use the right-click->new function

Microsoft Word

Ctrl+E - Center
Ctrl+L - Align Left
Ctrl+R - Align Right
Ctrl+I - Italics
Ctrl+B - Bold
Ctrl+U - Underline

Probably all known, but what the hell, I like those while I'm typing and don't have to use the mouse.
 

propellerhead

Golden Member
Apr 25, 2001
1,160
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I use CTRL+C to copy and CTRL+V to paste. It almost hurts watching other people go to the menu to click on Edit/Copy then Edit/Paste while their left hand sits idle.
 

dman

Diamond Member
Nov 2, 1999
9,110
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CTRL - F4 closes just the forground window (not working right in XP from my current test). Whereas ALT-F4 Closes the whole session, some progs launch multiple windows, ctrl-f4 is helpful in those cases. Comes in very handy when mouse fails. For example, if using a browser that allows pop-ups, ctrl-f4 should (in theory) close just the popup window while leaving the main session open.

CTRL - \ (removes focus from an icon--apparently not any more in XP). Was good to select the 'desktop' so you can bring up context menu for it using:
Shift F10 (brings up context menu for an icon-still works in XP)

do as well if you are on the desktop, or navigating around a folder w/o a mouse.

ALT-Shift to bring up task switcher, while holding, tab to select

In dos sessions, Ctrl-z/c/break sometimes one works while the other won't.

ALT-ENTER for moving between fullscreen and windowed dos sessions, works to resize some programs that don't want to let you resize them.

Ctrl-Shift + right click on an icon will bring up a context menu with the 'open with' dialogue present. Useful for changing associations onetime.

 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
Ctrl-Backspace = erases whole word ... I must use this one the most.
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
  • CTRL+ALT+E - Windows Explorer
  • CTRL+ALT+L - LVIew Pro
  • CTRL+ALT+W - MS Word
  • CTRL+ALT+N - Netscape
That's all I have!
 

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
34,807
1,988
126
Of course Windows doesn't have the best ever shortcut (not keyboard).

Highlight and then middle click to copy/paste.

 

kaymin

Senior member
Jul 21, 2001
646
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Originally posted by: psianime
Nice mate.

That ctrl-m will come in handy when I'm looking at porn some someone is walking in.


Uh Dude

it's WINDOWS + M

Sheesh

 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
Holy crap! I just found keys on this keyboard I never knew I had! A pair of 'Start' buttons and one that brings up a flyout menu for highlighted files, or the file dropdown menu. What will they think of next? :confused:
 

Hubris

Platinum Member
Jul 14, 2001
2,749
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Originally posted by: kaymin
Originally posted by: psianime
Nice mate.

That ctrl-m will come in handy when I'm looking at porn some someone is walking in.


Uh Dude

it's WINDOWS + M

Sheesh

Did he personally wound you with that mistake?
rolleye.gif
Unbunch your panties and settle down.
 

CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
31,440
5
0
my favorite is the ctrl+enter for internet explorer.
use it all the time... every single time.