ITS Newsletter Winter 2001

contents:
Library Announces New Statewide Service | Special Programs on the Technology Road
Research & the Web: Life in the Electronic Classroom | Advice from Student Computer Services
A Reflection: You Can't Go Home Again | Shortcuts for Windows
What's DAVE all about? | Tech News

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Shortcuts for Windows
by Cora Clukey

We all like to find new ways to make our jobs easier and to reduce strain on our hands. These are some shortcuts available when working on a Windows computer.

Notice the TWO mouse buttons, not just one, on a Windows computer. At times, there is nothing more important than that extra mouse button, the all-important RIGHT CLICK. In applications, Windows Explorer, or even on icons or the desktop itself, the right click gives you a specialized menu showing you the most frequently used commands.

Common uses of the right click are:
• Format in Word and Excel easily with the right click button.
• Change your desktop properties by right clicking the desktop and choosing properties.
• Close programs on the taskbar by right clicking the application on the taskbar and choosing close.
• Cut, Copy, and Paste can all be done with right clicks. These commands also have keyboard shortcuts of Ctrl-X, Ctrl -C, Ctrl -V, respectively.
• Customize the Office shortcut bar by right clicking the bar and choosing customize.
• Delete files in Windows Explorer by right clicking and choosing delete.
• Make a new folder in Windows Explorer by right clicking and choosing new/folder.

If there is a helpful shortcut to remember, it is the right click. And here are other keyboard shortcuts that may also come in handy.

• F3 in Windows Explorer to find files.
• F5 to refresh a window.
• Ctrl-A to choose everything in some applications.
• Alt-Tab to switch between open programs.
• The Home and End keys bring you to the beginning or end of a line in Word or the beginning or end of a list in Windows Explorer.

The trick adopting the use of a shortcut is to give it a try. After trying a shortcut a few times, you just may find that you like it, it's easy, and it saves you time and keystrokes.