
- Feb 24, 2018
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shortcut keys of computer
If shortcut were a twitter account; I am quite sure it would amass the same number of followers as that of typical influencers. It has always been attracting a huge attraction to itself – it is best perceived from how the lots of us crave covering a wide range of activities within a short range of time, or tackling bucks of workload in a limited time.
Our cravings for shortcutting reflects in all we devise/create, examples of such include portmanteau/frakenwords [such as brunch (breakfast + lunch)] that we often use to circumvent having to call out separate words in a sentence. Trust Nigerian youths na; we came through with ours on queues - some latecomer guy from thin air will just appear, disregarding the long queue looking for shortcut and connections. In a nutshell; shortcutting is our way of life as humans even to the point of our love for noodles and Iya Basiras that requires little time in preparation.
Now, I am not saying circumventing/shortcutting is bad – it is actually a smart way of getting things done. Say one has a bulky workload like entry and compilation of population census data, and there will be the need to create new cells, merge them (if need be) and others – of course shortcuts will be very much useful to make such work faster.
In computing, shortcut keys are even more useful as they help initiate commands in application software and operating systems. Keyboards’ large surface area sef ain’t helping, one would imagine how much we would crave shortcut keys for such typing device when we cannot do without our shorthand and bbm style even on our small simple pad phones. They are quite large and logically so, with such complexity and diversity in software designs; one would assume no less. We have a lot of software with different, diverse and specific shortcut keys - this article however promise to focus on the generally applicable ones. The shortcut keys of computer shall be discussed under two sub-headings
- Operating system shortcut keys
- Application software shortcut keys
OPERATING SYSTEM SHORTCUT KEYS
There are numerous Operating Systems of which Microsoft windows is the commonly used, and that is why its owner Bill Gates is one of the richest men in the world - if not the richest. The shortcut keys here ranges from the simplest of task like minimizing a window page to complex commands.
Below is a comprehensive list of some of the system shortcut keys for computer and their respective functions;
Windows OS shortcut keys | |
Shortcut keys | Function(s) |
Windows key + R | To open the run menu |
Windows key + E | To open file explorer |
Windows key + up arrow | To maximize current window |
Windows key + down arrow | To minimize current window |
Windows + Break | To open system properties dialog box |
Windows + m/d | To minimize all windows, or to hide/display the desktop |
Windows key + Tab, Alt + Tab | To switch between opened programs |
Ctrl + Esc | To open start menu |
Ctrl + Shift + Esc | To open task manager |
APPLICATION SOFTWARE SHORTCUT KEYS
These are even more numerous and application-specific. Our focus will be placed on three software which are;
- Microsoft word,
- Microsoft excel, and
- CorelDraw
Microsoft word shortcut keys | |
Shortcut keys | Function(s) |
F1 | To get help |
F4 | To perform last action again |
F5, Shift + F4, ctrl + g, ctrl + h | F5, Shift + F4, ctrl + g, ctrl + h |
F7 | To launch spell checker |
F12 | To open save as dialogue box |
Shift + f1 | To review text formatting |
Shift + f3 | To change case of selected text |
Shift + f10 | Performs the same function as right clicking |
Shift + f12, ctrl + s | To save document |
Ctrl + a | To select all in the current document |
Ctrl + b | To bold selected text |
Ctrl + c | To copy selected item |
Ctrl + d | To display font dialogue box |
Ctrl + i | To italicize selected text |
Ctrl + k | To create hyperlink |
Ctrl + n | To create a new document |
Ctrl + p | To print a document |
Ctrl + u | To underline selected text |
Ctrl + v | To paste copied item |
Ctrl + x | To cut selected item |
Ctrl + y | To redo the last action |
Ctrl + z | To undo the last action |
Microsoft excel shortcut keys | |
Shortcut keys | Function(s) |
F1 | To get help |
F2 | To edit active cell |
F5 | To display go to box dialogue |
F7 | To open spelling dialogue box |
Alt + shift + f1 | To insert a new worksheet |
Shift + f3 | To open insert function dialogue box |
Shift + f5 | To open find and replace dialogue box |
Ctrl + space | To select an entire column |
Shift + space | To select the entire worksheet |
Ctrl + page up/down | To move to the previous/next sheet in a workbook |
CorelDraw shortcut keys | |
Shortcut keys | Function(s) |
Ctrl + a | To select all items |
Ctrl + b | To bold selected text |
Ctrl + c | To copy selected item |
Ctrl + e | To export |
Ctrl + g | To group items |
Ctrl + i | To import |
Ctrl + u | To ungroup grouped items |
Ctrl + v | To paste copied items |
F2 | To zoom |
F4 | To fit to window |
F5 | Free hand tool |
F6 | Rectangle tool |
F8 | Text tool |
Ctrl + q | To convert to curves |
Ctrl + i | To combine items |
Ctrl + Pg Dn | Back one |
Ctrl + Pg Up | Forward one |
Ctrl + l | To place inside container |
Ctrl + m | To use bullet |
Ctrl + f12 | To do spell check |
F10 | Shape |
Alt + f8 | Rotate |
Y | Polygon |
G | Interactive fill |
D | Graph paper |
Alt + f4 | Exit |
These are but few of these computer shortcut keys, I hope you will find them useful towards efficient time management in completing your computer works.