Computing

Incredibly useful keyboard shortcuts

We're all short on time and though technology is supposed to make things easier and faster, sometimes it can do quite the opposite.

But fear not, before you obliterate your machine with a hammer, here are some crucial shortcuts to help you save time and your sanity:

Microsoft Office and Windows

Save.....................Ctrl-S
Print.....................Ctrl-P
Find.....................Ctrl-F
Copy.....................Ctrl-C
Paste .....................Ctrl-V
Undo.....................Ctrl-Z
Delete.....................Ctrl-D
Page break......... Ctrl-Enter

Change window ......... Alt-Tab
Quit application ......... Alt-F4
Minimise window ......... Alt-Space-N
Maximise window ......... Alt-Space-X
Close sub-window......... Ctrl-F4

Task manager or Windows Security ......... Ctrl-Alt-Delete
Screen grab......... Alt-Print screen
Rename file......... F2
Go to address bar......... F6

Lock PC.....................Windows-L
Close all windows......... Windows-M
Launch help......... Windows-F1
Switch programme......... Windows-Tab

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Word

Jump to end of document ......... Ctrl-End
Jump to start of document ......... Ctrl-Home
Go to last edit ......... Shift-F5

Check spelling ......... F7
Select All ......... Ctrl-A

Select a whole word .....................Ctrl-Shift-left/right arrow
Select a whole paragraph ......... Ctrl-Shift-up/down arrow

Bold.....................Ctrl-B
Italics .....................Ctrl-I
Underline ......... Ctrl-U
All capitals......... Ctrl-shift-A
Copy Format Ctrl-shift-C

Excel

Next cell .....................Tab
Previous cell......... Shift-Tab
First cell in row......... Alt-Home
Last cell in row......... Alt-End
Top cell in column......... Alt-Page Up
Last cell in column......... Alt-Page Down
Repeat function......... F4

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Google Mail

Compose new message .....................Shift-C
Reply.....................Shift-R
Reply all .....................Shift-A
Forward .....................Shift-F
Save a draft ......... Ctrl-S
Delete.....................#
Label.....................l

Mark as read ......... Shift-I
Mark as unread ......... Shift-U
Select all mail......... * then A
Deselect all mail......... * then N
Go to sent mail......... G then T

Go to contacts......... G then C
Search (puts cursor in search box) ......... /
Move to next message .....................N
Move to previous message .....................P
Open a conversation ......... O
Report spam ......... !

Click Settings to turn on these shortcuts on or off, and then select the option Keyboard Shortcuts.

Google Docs

Print .....................Ctrl-P
Save .....................Ctrl-S
Go to full screen ......... Ctrl-Shift-F

Undo.....................Ctrl-Z
Redo .....................Ctrl-Y
Copy .....................Ctrl-C
Cut .....................Ctrl-X
Paste.....................Ctrl-V
Select all.....................Ctrl-A

Full justify......... Ctrl-F
Left alignment ......... Ctrl-l
Centre alignment ......... Ctrl-E

Bold.....................Ctrl-B
Underline ......... Ctrl-U
Italics.....................Ctrl-I

Go to last cell......... Ctrl-End
Go to first cell......... Ctrl-Home

Move to next worksheet......... Ctrl-Page Down
Move to previous worksheet......... Ctrl-Page Up

If you are using a Mac, replacing Ctrl with the Command Key ( ) to use these shortcuts.

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Apple Mac

Open document ......... Command-O
Save .....................Command-S
Print .....................Command-P
Find .....................Command-F

Select All ......... Command-A
Cut .....................Command-X
Copy.....................Command-C
Paste .....................Command-V
Undo.....................Command-Z

Switch application ......... Command-Tab
Quit Application ......... Command-Q

Close .....................Window Command-W
Close all open windows .....................Command-Option-W
To click "OK" in dialogue boxes ......... Return key

Move item to trash ......... Command-Backspace
Empty trash ......... Command-Shift-Backspace

New window (Finder).....................Command-N
Minimise window......... Command-MHide/Show Dock......... Command-Option-D
Open "Computer" folder .....................Command-Option-C
Open "Home" folder ......... Command-Option-H
Open Applications ......... Command-Option-A
Force Quit......... Command-Option-ESC

These shortcuts apply to Mac OS 8 or newer, and most work in Mac OS X. Option refers to the key labelled "Alt" on most keyboards.

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Adobe Photoshop

Undo, multiple times Ctrl-Alt-Z
Hand/move tool .........  Spacebar
Switch document .........  Ctrl-Tab

New layer .........  Ctrl-Shift-N
New layer .........  Ctrl-Shift-Atl-N
Duplicate layer .........  Ctrl-J

Fit to window .........  Ctrl-0
Re-run filter .........  Ctrl-F
Fade filter .........  Ctrl-Shift-F

You'll need a Standard 101/102 Key or Natural PS/2 Keyboard to use these shortcuts. However on a Mac, you'll require a Mac-branded keyboard.

In most programs, further help can be found by searching for keyboard shortcuts in the help menu (Press F1 in Windows and Command-? on a Mac for this menu).