Appendixes and References - Keyboard Interface Summary

Keyboard Interface Summary

This appendix summarizes the common keyboard
operations, shortcut keys, and access key assignments.

The following table displays a summary of the keys used for

navigation.

Common Navigation Keys

Key Cursor CTRL+cursor

movement movement

LEFT Left one unit Left one proportionally

ARROW larger unit

RIGHT Right one unit Right one

ARROW proportionally larger
unit

UP Up one unit or line Up one proportionally

ARROW larger unit

DOWN Down one unit or Down one

ARROW line proportionally larger
unit

HOME To the beginning of To the beginning of the

the line data (topmost
position)

END To the end of the To the end of the data

line (bottommost position)

PAGE UP Up one screen Left one screen (or

(previous screen, previous unit, if left
same position)1 does not apply)

PAGE Down one screen Right one screen (or

DOWN (next screen, same next unit, if right does
position)1 not apply)

TAB2 Next field To next tab position (in

property sheets, next
page)

1
"Screen" is defined as the height of the visible area being
viewed. When scrolling, you should leave a nominal portion
of the previous screen to provide context. For example in
text, PAGE DOWN includes the last line of the previous
screen as its first line.
2
Use the SHIFT key with the TAB key to navigate in the
reverse direction.

The following table lists the common shortcut keys. Avoid

assigning these keys to functions other than those listed.

Common Shortcut Keys

Key Meaning

CTRL+A Select All

CTRL+C1 Copy

CTRL+F Find

CTRL+N New

CTRL+O Open

CTRL+P Print

CTRL+S Save

CTRL+V1 Paste

CTRL+X1 Cut

CTRL+Z1 Undo

F1 Display contextual Help window

SHIFT+F1 Activate context-sensitive Help mode

(What's This?)

SHIFT+F10 Display shortcut menu

SPACEBAR2 Select (same as primary mouse

button click)

ESC Cancel

ALT Activate or inactivate menu bar mode

ALT+TAB3 Display next primary window (or

application)

ALT+ESC3 Display next window

ALT+SPACEBAR Display shortcut menu for the window

ALT+HYPEN Display shortcut menu for the active

child window (MDI)
 ALT+ENTER Display property sheet for current
selection

ALT+F4 Close active window

ALT+F63 Switch to next window within

application (between modeless
secondary windows and their primary
window)

ALT+PRINT Capture active window image to the

SCREEN Clipboard

PRINT SCREEN Capture desktop image to the

Clipboard

CTRL+ESC Access Start button on the taskbar

CTRL+F6 Display next child window (MDI)

CTRL+TAB Display next tabbed page or child

window (MDI)

CTRL+ALT+DEL Reserved for system use

1
The system supports shortcut assignments available in
earlier versions of Microsoft Windows (ALT+BACKSPACE,
SHIFT+INSERT, CTRL+INSERT, SHIFT+DELETE). You should
consider supporting them (though not documenting them) to
support the transition of users.

2
If the context (for example, a text box) uses the spacebar
for entering a space character, you can use
CTRL+SPACEBAR. If that is also defined by the context,
define your own key.

3
Using the SHIFT key with this key combination navigates in
the reverse direction.

The following table lists shortcut key assignments for

keyboards supporting the new Windows keys. The left
Windows key and right Windows key are handled the same
as in earlier versions of Windows. All Windows key
combinations, whether currently assigned or not, are
reserved for definition by the system only. Do not use these
keys for your own application-defined functions.
 Windows Keys

Key Meaning

Application key Display shortcut menu for the

selected object

Windows key Display Start button menu

Windows+F1 Display Help Topics browser dialog

box for the main Windows Help file

Windows+TAB Activate next application window

Windows+E Explore My Computer

Windows+F Find a file

Windows+CTRL+F Find a computer

Windows+M Minimize All

SHIFT+Windows+M Undo Minimize All

Windows+R Display Run dialog box

Windows+BREAK Reserved for system function

Windows+number Reserved for computer

manufacturer use

The following table lists the key combinations and sequences

the system uses to support accessibility. Support for these
options is set by users from the Accessibility Options in
Control Panel.

Accessibility Keys

Key Meaning

LEFT ALT+LEFT Toggle High Contrast mode

SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN
 LEFT ALT+LEFT Toggle MouseKeys
SHIFT+NUM LOCK

SHIFT (pressed five Toggle StickyKeys

consecutive times)

RIGHT SHIFT (held Toggle FilterKeys (SlowKeys,

eight or more seconds) RepeatKeys, and BounceKeys)

NUM LOCK (held five or Toggle ToggleKeys

more seconds)

The following table lists the recommended access key

assignments for common commands. Though the context of
a command may impact specific assignments, use these
access keys for the following commands in menus and for
command buttons.

Access Key Assignments

About Insert Properties

Always on Top Insert Object Quick View

Apply Link Here Redo

Back Maximize Repeat

Browse Minimize Restore

Close Move Resume

Copy Move Here Retry

Copy Here New Run

Create Shortcut Next Save

Create Shortcut Here No Save As

Cut Open Select All

Delete Open With Send To

Edit Options Show

Exit Paste Size

Explore Paste Link Split

File Paste Shortcut Stop

 Find Page Setup Tools

Font Paste Special Undo

Forward Pause View

Help Play What's This?

Help Topics Print Window

Hide Print Here Yes

Avoid assigning access keys to OK and Cancel when the

ENTER key and ESC key, respectively, are assigned to them
by default.

Fundamentals of Designing User Interaction

Windows Interface Components
Design Specifications and Guidelines
Appendixes and References

Send feedback to MSDN. Look here for MSDN Online resources.