Many RSI sufferers report that they feel less pain when typing compared to when mousing. Thus, a desire to avoid mouse as much as possible. Below are some tips on how to survive in Windows without the mouse.
ALT+SPACEBAR — opens control menu (like clicking on the symbol in the top left corner of a window, from which you select (perhaps using mouse, perhaps using arrow keys and enter) among restore, minimize, maximize, close, etc)
SPACEBAR — hitting this will finalize a selection of an item in a list or an icon on the screen that’s only half- selected, i.e., there’s a box around the name but full highlighting is not there. Also puts a checkmark or big dot in a little box or circle for you to check one of several options.
ENTER — will activate a selected item. Hitting Enter with a program icon selected will open the program. with a button highlighted, will activate the “button.” It appears highlighted from the heavier line around it, or it might look like a depressed button.
Hitting a letter key will take you to the first item in a dialogue box that begins with that letter. i.e., in open file dialogue box, hit w one or more times to go to the “Windows” folder in the list of stuff that appears on the C drive. This can save a whole lot of hand action.
CTRL+z — undo
CTRL+y — redo
CTRL+a — select all
CTRL+x — cut
CTRL+c — copy
CTRL+v — paste
CTRL+p — print
CTRL+s — save
CTRL+ALT+DEL — reboots the computer – eventually. First, it’ll tell you what’s hung up.
CTRL+esc — same as clicking on the “start button” in the taskbar area of the screen
ALT+F4 — shuts down the selected program.
TAB — Very Useful. Takes you from one field to another, one “button” to another, one icon to another etc.
SHIFT+TAB — it tabs you backward
HOME –- to beginning of line or far left of field or screen.
END — to end of line, or far right of field or screen.
CTRL+home — to the top
CTRL+END — to the bottom
PAGE UP — moves you up in your document or dialogue box by one page
PAGE DOWN — moves you down in your document or dialogue list by one page
ARROW KEYS — these will move you about the screen or dialogue box, or menu, not just a document. Modifier keys like CTRL and SHIFT when pressed at same time as arrow keys or page up and page down will perform selection and larger movements. For instance, CTRL+right arrow jumps to next word, and SHIFT+CTRL+RIGHT ARROW select the whole word.
ESC — to cancel, or get rid of something like box or window that popped up when you didn’t want it (or if you change your mind) etc.
ALT + the underlined letter in a menu item carries out the action.
SHIFT+F10 — like right click, brings up context menu
ALT+TAB — cycles through open applications
ALT+down arrow — opens up a “Drop down list” – those little arrows that sit next to fields in which you must make a choice, for instance in the “Look in” field of an “Open” dialogue box.
ALT+TAB — holding down the [ALT] and hitting tab cycles you through open applications.
Thus, to sign off Windows : CTRL+ESC, UP, ENTER, ENTER.
[Hot and Other Keys]
*General folder / Windows Explorer shortcuts for a selected object:
Keys |
Action |
F2 |
Rename |
F3 |
Find |
CTRL+X, C, or V |
Cut, Copy, or Paste |
SHIFT+DELETE |
Delete without putting file in Recycle Bin |
ALT+ENTER |
Properties |
ALT+double-click |
Properties |
CTRL+right-click |
Put alternative verbs on the context menu (Open With) |
SHIFT+double-click |
Explore the object if it has an Explore command |
CTRL+drag a file to a folder |
Copy a file |
CTRL+SHIFT+drag a file to the desktop or a folder |
Create a shortcut |
CTRL+ESC,ESC,TAB,SHIFT+F10 |
Open taskbar properties |
[General control over folders/Windows Explorer]
F4 (Explorer) |
Displays the combo box |
F5 |
Refresh |
F6 |
Switches between panes in Windows Explorer |
CTRL+G(Windows Explorer) |
Goto |
CTRL+Z |
Undo |
CTRL+A |
Select all |
BACKSPACE |
Goes to the parent folder |
SHIFT+ |
Closes this folder and all its parent folders |
[In Windows Explorer]
Num* |
Expands everything under selection |
Num- |
Expands selection |
Num+ or Right arrow |
Collapses selection |
Right arrow |
Expands current selection if it’s collapsed, otherwise goes to the first child. |
Left arrow |
Collapses current selection if it’s expanded, otherwise goes to the parent |
[In Properties]
CTRL+TAB or CTRL+SHIFT+TAB |
Switches between Properties tabs |
[In Open/Save Common Dialog Boxes]
F4 |
Drop down the location list |
F5 |
Refresh the view |
Backspace |
Go to parent folder if focus is on view window |
[General Keyboard-Only Commands]
F1 |
Help |
F10 |
Goes to menu mode |
SHIFT+F10 |
Context menu for selected item |
CTRL+ESC |
Brings up Start menu |
CTRL+ESC, ESC |
Focus on the Start button |
SHIFT+F10 |
Context menu |
ALT+TAB |
Switch to the running program |
SHIFT while inserting CD |
Bypasses auto-run |
Alt+M when focus is on taskbar |
Minimizes all windows |
[Accessibility Shortcuts]
Tap SHIFT 5 times |
Toggles StickyKeys on/off |
Hold down Right SHIFT for 8 seconds |
Toggles FilterKeys on/off |
Hold down NumLock for 5 seconds |
Toggles ToggleKeys on/off |
Left ALT+LEFT+SHIFT+NumLock |
Toggles MouseKeys on/off |
Left ALT+LEFT+SHIFT+PrintScreen |
Toggles HighContrast on/off |
[MS Natural Keyboard]
Win+R |
Run dialog |
Win+M |
Minimize All |
Shift-Win+M |
Undo Minimize All |
Win+F1 |
Windows Help |
Win+E |
Explorer |
Win+F |
Find Files or Folders |
CTRL+Win+F |
Find Computer |
Win+Tab |
Cycle through taskbar buttons |
Win+Break |
PSS Hotkey… (System properties) |