Appendixes and References - 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 movement | CTRL+cursor movement |
| LEFT ARROW | Left one unit | Left one proportionally larger unit |
| RIGHT ARROW | Right one unit | Right one proportionally larger unit |
| UP ARROW | Up one unit or line | Up one proportionally larger unit |
| DOWN ARROW | Down one unit or line | Down one proportionally larger unit |
| HOME | To the beginning of the line | To the beginning of the data (topmost position) |
| END | To the end of the line | To the end of the data (bottommost position) |
| PAGE UP | Up one screen (previous screen, same position)1 | Left one screen (or previous unit, if left does not apply) |
| PAGE DOWN | Down one screen (next screen, same position)1 | Right one screen (or next unit, if right does 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 | ||
| 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 SCREEN | Capture active window image to the 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 SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN | Toggle High Contrast mode | |
| LEFT ALT+LEFT SHIFT+NUM LOCK | Toggle MouseKeys | |
| SHIFT (pressed five consecutive times) | Toggle StickyKeys | |
| RIGHT SHIFT (held eight or more seconds) | Toggle FilterKeys (SlowKeys, RepeatKeys, and BounceKeys) | |
| NUM LOCK (held five or more seconds) | Toggle ToggleKeys | |
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 | 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
Design Specifications and Guidelines