Serenity's Shortcut Keys and Key Modifiers for the Windows Shell
To move around the desktop toolbars, Taskbar, Notification Area and the Desktop - press Ctrl + Escape (or the Winkey) to activate Start, Escape to cancel the menu, then Tab and Shift + Tab to the various parts of the screen. Use the arrow keys to move within a section. Winkey + B jumps straight to the System Notification Area. To get a context menu of a blank part of the taskbar use the clock's context menu. Shift + F10 displays the context menu, Space or Enter activates.
Key Description
Delete key or Delete on the shortcut menu Deletes the file
Shift + Delete key or Shift + Delete on the shortcut menu Deletes the file and doesn't place it in the Reycle Bin
Dbl Click a drive shortcut, Rycycle Bin, Start Menu, or My Computer Opens an folder view of the double clicked item
Shift + Dbl Click a drive shortcut, Rycycle Bin, Start Menu, or My Computer Open an explorer view with the double clicked item selected
Shift + Close Button Closes the current folder and all parent folders
Shift + Drag Move a file (default when dragging on the same drive)
Shift + Right Click Opens the object's context menu with hidden verbs shown, if any
Shift + Send To menu Moves a file (default when sending on the same drive)
Shift + Insert a CD Prevents the CD from auto running
Shift + Starting Windows Doesn't run the programs in the startup folder
Shift + No in a file confirmation dialog Means No To All (XP)
Shift + View menu - Thumbnails Hides the label for the thumbnails. Repeat to Show (XP)
Shift + Favourites menu - Organise Favourites Opens the Favourites folder in a folder window.
Ctrl + Dbl Click an object (such as a document file) Opens in the object behind other windows. Doesn't work on all objects
Ctrl + Dbl Click a titlebar of an shell window (such as folder windows and web pages)
(Also F11) Changes the view to Full Screen.
Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel Changes the text size in web pages.
Ctrl + Close button Sets the system default settings, mainly sort order. Icon style is not affected
Ctrl + Close button in Picture & Fax Viewer Resets "Don't Show ... Again" dialog settings
Ctrl + Drag Copies a file (default for dragging between drives)
Ctrl + Send To menu Copies the file (default when sending between drives)
Ctrl + Send To menu Powertoys (except Send Contents to Clipboard) Sends the short name to the clipboard or run dialog
Ctrl + Send To menu Send Contents to Clipboard Powertoy Opens a dialog box to specify the data format
Ctrl + Shift + Drag
(also Alt + Drag) Creates a Shortcut rather than moving or copying a file (default when dragging only program files in 95, in later versions is the default for dragging program files listed in the App Paths key in the registry)
Ctrl + Shift + Send To menu Creates a Shortcut rather than moving or copying a file
Ctrl + Number Pad Plus Key in Explorer Auto sizes all columns
Ctrl + Alt + Delete Starts the Close Program dialog box (Windows 9x), Security dialog (NT, 2000, XP if Welcome Screen disabled), and Task Manager (XP with Welcome Screen enabled)
Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Delete Quickly reboots NT4SP4 and later systems. Does not appear to work on XP.
Note:A registry key needs to be set to enable this key sequence.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
EnableQuickReboot=1 as a RegSZ (a string).
Ctrl + Alt + Delete twice on the Welcome Screen Presents the non Welcome Screen logon. This works on XP Pro only
Ctrl + Shift + Escape Starts the Close Program dialog box (Windows 9x) or Task Manager (NT, 2000, XP)
Ctrl + Alt + Shift and Close or Cancel in the Shutdown dialog Closes down Window's shell. Use Task Manager's File - Run dialog to start Explorer to restart the shell.
Ctrl + Click a Taskbar Button Select multiple Windows to tile or cascade (by right clicking the taskbar)
Ctrl + Click Run in Task Manager's File menu Starts a command prompt.
Ctrl (RHS only) + Scroll Lock twice Initiates a blue screen. Used for hangs to get a memory dump. Only works on PS/2 or older keyboards. USB keyboard users need to get an addin crash card.
Note: Keyboards have low priority so if another piece of hardware has caused the hang windows may not see this key sequence.
A registry key needs to be set to enable this key sequence.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\
SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\i8042prt\Parameters
CrashOnCtrlScroll=1 as a DWord.
Alt + Space Opens the System menu
Alt + Hyphen Opens the Document menu in MDI applications
Alt + Enter or Alt + Dbl Click Open the Property dialog
Alt + Left Arrow Moves forward through the history list
Alt + Right Arrow Moves backwards through the history list
Alt + Tab Cycles through open windows, and switches to the window when the Alt key is released
Alt + Shift + Tab Cycles backwards through open windows, and switches to the window when the Alt key is released
Alt + Esc Switches to the next open window
Alt + Shift + Esc Switches to the previous open window
Alt + Home Home Page
Left Arrow Collapse the current selection if it is expanded or Select the parent folder
Right Arrow Expand the current selection if it is collapsed or Select the first subfolder
Num Lock On + Minus Sign (-) Collapse the selected folder
Num Lock On + * Expand all folders below the current selection
Num Lock On + Plus Sign (+) Expand the selected folder
Home Top of File List
End Bottom of File List
[Characters] tyed without a pause Goto the object that starts with the characters that were typed
[Single Character] after a pause Goto the next object starting with that character
Backspace Go to the parent folder
Right Click the System Menu or the Folder Icon in Web View Pops up the context menu for the container
Drag an object onto a Windows Titlebar Opens that object in that window (dragging into the window will often work, but in OLE documents this will insert the object into the current document)
Drag an object over, then hover over a collapsed folder in Explorer's tree view Expands the folder display
Drag an object over, then hover over, a taskbar button Brings the Window attached to the Taskbar button to the top
Drag an object over, then hover over, a blank part of the taskbar Minimises all open windows
Function Keys
Key Description
F1 Starts Windows Help
F2 Renames the selected file
F3 Starts Find Files or Folders
F4 Opens the drop down address bar
Alt + F4 Closes the current window in Explorer, exits an application, or if the shell has the focus (ie Start Menu or the Desktop), exits Windows
F5 Refreshes the view in Explorer, Desktop, or Start Menu
F6 or Tab Switch between left and right panes
F10 Menu access key (same to pressing Alt by itself)
Shift + F10 or the Application key Context menu access key
Shift + Ctrl + F10 or Shift + Right Click Add Open With.. to Right Click Menu
F11 Toggles full screen view
Control Keys
Key Description
Ctrl + A Selects all files
Ctrl + B Organise Favourites (in an Explorer window)
Ctrl + C Copies a file
Ctrl + D If a file isn't selected adds the current folder to Favourites
Ctrl + E or Ctrl + F Opens the Search pane in Explorer
Ctrl + G Goto (older versions only)
Ctrl + H Opens the History pane in Explorer
Ctrl + H Opens the Favourites pane in Explorer
Ctrl + P Prints the Web View template part of the view if the Web View has the focus (this isn't a useful feature)
Ctrl + R Refreshes the view
Ctrl + S Toggles the Volume applet between small and normal mode. Though in most circumstances it means Save the currently opened document.
Ctrl + V Pastes a file
Ctrl + W Closes an Explorer window
Ctrl + X Cuts a file
Ctrl + Z Undoes the last operation (if possible)
The Winkey
The Winkey works even if Explorer or the Shell doesn't have the focus.
Key Description
Winkey or Ctrl + Esc Opens the Start Menu
Winkey + B Set focus to the first icon in the System Notification Area.
Winkey + D Minimises and hides windows that can't be minimised or Unminimises/unhides all windows
Winkey + E Starts Explorer
Winkey + F Starts Find Files or Folders
Winkey + Ctrl + F Starts Find Computer
Winkey + M Minimises all windows that can be minimised
Winkey + Shift + M Unminimises all windows
Winkey + R Starts the Run Dialog
Winkey + F1 Starts Windows Help (F1 start help for the current application, if the focus is in Explorer or the desktop F1 also starts Windows Help)
Winkey + Tab Cycles through open windows with out bringing the Window to the top (press Enter)
Winkey + Break Starts System Properties
Winkey + <a number> Computer specific function set by the computer manufacturer. Very few computers use this.
Windows 2000/XP Only
Key Description
Winkey + L Lock Workstation or Switch User (if Welcome Screen is on)
Winkey + U Accessability Utility Manager
Selecting
Key Description
Click an object Selects the object, cancelling any other selection.
Control + Click, or Control + Space Selects or unselects the object without cancelling any other selection.
Arrow Keys Moves the focus and selects the object.
Control + Arrow Keys Moves the focus without selecting the objects.
Shift + Arrow Keys Moves the focus and adds the object to the selected objects.
Click then Shift + Click Selects all objects between the two clicks.
Drag Drag a rectangle to select all objects within the rectangle.
Auto Complete
Key Description
Alt + Down Arrows (or double click) Opens the drop down list
Down Arrow Cycles from most recent to least recent Auto Complete suggestions. Will match suggestions that start with the characters to the left of the cursor. Only letters are able to be used for partial matches.
Up Arrow Cycles from least recent to most recent Auto Complete suggestions. Will match suggestions that start with the characters to the left of the cursor. Only letters are able to be used for partial matches. If no letters are entered then the Up Arrow is only valid after the Down Arrow has been used.
Right Arrow Goes to the end of the suggestion. Type or press up or down arrow to cycle through suggestions which begin with the characters to the left of the cursor.
Ctrl + Left or Right Arrow Moves cursor a word at a time, slashes and dots are considered word separators.
Ctrl + Enter Adds
http://www. before the typed word and .com after it in the address bar.
Delete Deletes the highlighted suggestion for forms and passwords only.
Message Boxes and Error Dialogs
Key Description
Ctrl + C Copies the text of a message box to the clipboard.
Alt + D Shows details in an error dialog.
Copying the Screen
Key Description
Prt Scn Copies the whole screen to the clipboard as a graphic. Use MS Paint to paste the image.
Depending on Prt Scn key settings on the Misc tab of a Dos program's properties, a Dos program can still print to printer with Prt Scn key.
Alt + Prt Scn Copies the active window to the clipboard as a graphic.
Accessibility
Note: These keys can be disabled in Accessibility in Control Panel.
Key Description
Hold Right Shift for eight seconds Switch FilterKeys on and off.
Left Alt + Left Shift + Prt Scn Switch High Contrast on and off.
Left Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock Switch MouseKeys on and off.
Shift x 5 Switch StickyKeys on and off.
Hold Num Lock for five seconds Switch ToggleKeys on and off
Winkey + U Starts Utility Manager
While Accessibility is geared to people who need assistance in using a computer it includes nifty features for everyone. Some things that can be done;
a.. Sticky Keys allows one to press and release a modifier key and have it toggle on. Instead of pressing Ctrl + S to save a file, pressing Ctrl THEN S will save the file. Press once to modify the next key only, press twice to lock and to modify all subsequent key presses untill pressed a third time.
b.. Toggle Keys makes the toggle keys (Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Scroll Lock) make a tone when pressed. See another tip about Caps Lock at the end of the next section (Entering International Characters).
c.. The Display tab in Accessibility in Control Panel can change the width of the caret (text cursor).
d.. Mouse Keys allow one to use the numeric keypad as a mouse.
e.. On Screen Keyboard (Start - All Programs - Accessories - Accessibility or Winkey + U) allows typing with only a mouse.
Accessibility - Mouse Keys
Note: All these keys are on the numeric keypad. Some keys are optional and are set in Accessibility in Control Panel.
Key Description
5 Click
+ Double Click
- then 5 Right Click
- then + Right Double Click
* then 5 Both Button Click
* then + Both Button Double Click
/ Restore normal clicking
0 Press Left Button
5 then 0 Press Right Button
. Release Left or Right Mouse Button
1 - 4 and 6 - 9 Move mouse cursor in the text cursor direction shown on the key
Ctrl + 1 - 4 and 6 - 9 Move mouse cursor at a higher speed in the text cursor direction shown on the key
Shift + 1 - 4 and 6 - 9 Move mouse cursor at a slower speed in the text cursor direction shown on the key
Entering International Characters
There is a number of ways of entering international characters and symbols.
a.. Use Character Map.
b.. Use Alt + <the character code entered on the numeric keypad>
c.. Use the US International Keyboard
Entering International Characters - Character Map
Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Character Map and transfer via the clipboard.
Entering International Characters - Alt + Character Code
Holding down alt and pressing the character code on the numeric keypad will enter that character. The keyboard language in use must support entering that character. If your keyboard supports it the code is shown on the right hand side of the status bar in Character Map else this section of the status bar is empty.
However there is two ways of entering codes. The point to remember here that the characters are the same for the first 127 codes. The difference is if the first number typed is a zero of not. If it is then the code will insert the character from the current character set else it will insert a character from the OEM character set.
E.G., Alt + 0 then 6 then 5 then release Alt enters the letter A
Entering International Characters - US International Keyboards
Install the US International keyboard. Start - Control Panel - Regional And Language Options - Languages - Details - Add. While here review the Key Settings to switch keyboards or turn on the Language Bar (Advanced Text Services must not be disabled).
This works in two modes. Right Alt or Shift + Right Alt + another key and also by pressing dead keys (such as accents). On non US Keyboards the Right Alt key is called Alt Gr.
Right Alt is the same key as Ctrl + Left Alt on the US International keyboards, and on almost all keyboards except the standard US keyboards where left and right keys are treated the same . This is a reason why Ctrl + Alt should not be used to set hotkeys. Also F12 should also not be used for hotkeys as it's reserved for attaching a debugger.
The Right Alt Keys
Key Description
Right Alt + 1 i
Right Alt + 2 ²
Right Alt + 3 ³
Right Alt + 4 ¤
Right Alt + 5 €
Right Alt + 6 1/4
Right Alt + 7 1/2
Right Alt + 8 3/4
Right Alt + 9 '
Right Alt + 0 '
Right Alt + - ¥
Right Alt + = ×
Right Alt + Q ä
Right Alt + W å
Right Alt + E é
Right Alt + R (r)
Right Alt + T þ
Right Alt + Y ü
Right Alt + U ú
Right Alt + I í
Right Alt + O ó
Right Alt + P ö
Right Alt + [ <<
Right Alt + ] >>
Right Alt + \ Not Sign
Right Alt + A á
Right Alt + S ß
Right Alt + D ð
Right Alt + L ø
Right Alt + ; Pilcrow Sign
Right Alt + ' ´
Right Alt + Z æ
Right Alt + C (c)
Right Alt + N ñ
Right Alt + M µ
Right Alt + , ç
Right Alt + / ¿
Shift + Right Alt + 1 ¹
Shift + Right Alt + 4 £
Shift + Right Alt + = ÷
Shift + Right Alt + Q Ä
Shift + Right Alt + W Å
Shift + Right Alt + E É
Shift + Right Alt + T Þ
Shift + Right Alt + Y Ü
Shift + Right Alt + U Ú
Shift + Right Alt + I Í
Shift + Right Alt + O Ó
Shift + Right Alt + P Ö
Shift + Right Alt + \ ¦
Shift + Right Alt + A Á
Shift + Right Alt + S §
Shift + Right Alt + D Ð
Shift + Right Alt + L Ø
Shift + Right Alt + ; °
Shift + Right Alt + ' ¨
Shift + Right Alt + Z Æ
Shift + Right Alt + C ¢
Shift + Right Alt + N Ñ
Shift + Right Alt + , Ç
The Dead Keys
The dead keys are the apostrophe ('), quotation mark ("), accent grave (`), tilde (~), and caret(^). If these are pressed the system waits for the next key. If it is in the list below then it enters the symbol character else it enters both keys seperately. These work with uppercase where appropiate.
Key Description
' then C Ç
' then e é
' then y ý
' then u ú
' then i í
' then o ó
' then a á
" then e ë
" then u ü
" then i ï
" then o ö
" then a ä
` then e è
` then u ù
` then i ì
` then o ò
~ then o õ
~ then n ñ
^ then e ê
^ then u û
^ then i î
^ then o ô
^ then a â
Like Accessibility there is a trick here with general applicability. Normally Caps Lock is on or off and stays on or off untill the key is pressed again. This can be changed to act like a typewriter at Start - Control Panel - Regional And Language Options - Languages - Details - Key Settings and one can select whether another Caps Lock press will turn off Caps Lock or if pressing the Shift key will turn it off like on a typewriter.
