Both when writing a letter and calculating digital data, you can't do without a keyboard– the main means of entering information into a computer. This section covers the basics of using the keyboard and introduces keyboard commands.

How are the keyboard keys arranged?

Keys on the keyboard Computers can be divided into several groups according to their functions:

• Letters (letters and numbers). These are keys for letters, numbers, punctuation and symbols, just like on a regular typewriter.
• Service keys. These keys are used alone or in combination with other keys to perform specific actions. The most commonly used service keys are Ctrl, Alt, Esc and the Windows logo key.
• Function keys . Function keys are used to perform special tasks. They are designated F1, F2, F3 and so on, up to F12. Depending on the program, the functionality of these keys may vary.
• Navigation keys. These keys are used to navigate documents, web pages, and edit text. These include the arrow keys, Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, Delete, and Insert.
• Numeric keypad. The numeric keypad makes it easy to quickly enter numbers. The keys are grouped into a block, just like on a regular calculator.

The picture below shows how these keys are arranged on a typical keyboard. You may have a different keyboard layout.

Keyboard input

When you need to enter something into a program, into a message Email or in a field, a vertical bar (|) flashes on the screen. This is the cursor, also called the input position. It shows where the input will begin. You can move the cursor by clicking the location you want or by using the navigation keys (see “Using the navigation keys” in this section).

In addition to letters, numbers, punctuation, and symbols, the input keys also include the tab key, Shift key, Caps Lock key, Enter key, space key, and Backspace key.

Key name	Using the key
Shift	To enter a capital letter, press that letter in combination with the Shift key. If you press the Shift key in combination with another key, you can type the character shown at the top of the key.
Caps Lock	To enter only capital letters, press Caps Lock once. Pressing the Caps Lock key again will disable this feature. There may be an indicator light on your keyboard that indicates whether Caps Lock is enabled.
	If you press the Tab key, the cursor will move forward a few spaces. You can also use the tab key to move to the next field on the form.
Enter	If you press the Enter key, the cursor will move to the beginning of the next line. Pressing the Enter key allows you to select the highlighted button.
Space	Pressing the Spacebar moves the cursor forward one space.
Backspace	By pressing the Backspace key, you can delete the character in front of the cursor or the selected text.

Using keyboard shortcuts in Windows

	Action
Windows logo key	Open Start Menu
Alt+Tab	switch between open applications or windows
Alt+F4	Close the active object or exit the active program
Ctrl+S
Ctrl+C	Copy selected object
Ctrl+X	Cut selected object
Ctrl+V	Insert selected object
Ctrl+Z	Cancel action
Ctrl+A	Select all objects in a document or window
	Open program or Windows help
Windows logo key + F1	Open Windows Help and Support
	Canceling the current job
Context key	Open the context menu of commands associated with the selected object or objects in the program. Equivalent to pressing the right mouse button.

Using navigation keys

Navigation keys let you move the cursor, navigate documents and web pages, and edit text. The table below contains a list of the main functions of these keys.

	To perform such an action
Left Arrow, Right Arrow, Up Arrow, or Down Arrow	Move the cursor or highlight one space or line in the direction of the arrow, or scroll a web page in the direction of the arrow
Home	Move the cursor to the beginning of a line or web page
	Move the cursor to the end of a line or web page
Ctrl + Home	Go to the beginning of the document
Ctrl+End	Go to end of document
Page Up	Move cursor or go to page one screen above
Page Down	Move cursor or go to page one screen below
Delete	Delete the character in front of the cursor or selected text; in Windows, delete the selected object and move it to the Trash
Insert	Turn insert mode on or off. When insert mode is enabled, the text you type appears at the cursor position. When insert mode is turned off, the text you enter replaces existing characters.

Using the numeric keypad

The numeric keypad contains numbers from 0 to 9, arithmetic signs + (addition), − (subtraction), * (multiplication) and / (division), and a decimal point, just like on a calculator. These symbols are duplicated on other keys, but their location on the numeric keypad allows you to quickly enter numeric data or mathematical symbols with one hand.

To use the numeric keypad to enter numbers, press the Num Lock key. Most keyboards have an indicator light that shows you whether Num Lock is turned on or off. When Num Lock is disabled, the numeric keypad functions as a second set of navigation keys (these functions are depicted on the number and sign keys).

You can also use the numeric keypad to perform simple calculations in the Calculator program.

Controlling the Calculator program from the numeric keypad

1. Open the Calculator program.
2. Look at the keyboard indicator to see if Num Lock is turned on. If Num Lock is disabled, press the key.
3. Using the numeric keypad, enter the first count number.
4. On the numeric keypad, press + to add, − to subtract, * to multiply, or / to divide
5. Enter the next number in the count.
6. To complete the count, press the Enter key.

Three additional keyboard keys

We have already examined almost all the keys that can be used. But for the curious, let's take a look at three of the most mysterious keys on the keyboard: PrtScn, Scroll Lock and Pause/Break.

PrtScn (or Print Screen) key

Once upon a time, this key actually performed the function that its name denotes (i.e. “Print Screen”) - it sent the text of the current screen to the printer. Currently, pressing PrtScn captures an image of the entire screen (takes a “screenshot”) and copies it to the clipboard in the computer’s memory. From there, it can be pasted (by pressing the Ctrl + V keys) into Microsoft Paint or another program and, if desired, printed from that program.

On some keyboards, the SYS RQ command is also marked on the PrtScn key - it is even more mysterious. SYS RQ once stood for “system request,” but this command is not available on Windows.

For more information about the Print Screen key, see Taking a screenshot (Print Screen key).

Reference: To freeze the image of not the entire screen, but only the active window, press Alt + PrtScn.

ScrLk (or Scroll Lock) key

In most programs, pressing Scroll Lock has no effect. In some programs, pressing Scroll Lock changes the behavior of the arrow keys and the Page Up and Page Down keys: pressing these keys causes the document to scroll without changing the cursor position or selection. There may be an indicator light on your keyboard that shows you whether Scroll Lock is enabled.

Pause/Break key

This key is rarely used. In some ancient programs, pressing Pause/Break may pause the program, and pressing Ctrl + Pause/Break may terminate the program.

Other keys

Some modern keyboards also have hotkeys, or buttons, that provide quick, one-touch access to programs, files, or commands. Other models have volume controls, scroll and zoom wheels, and other gadgets.

You can learn more about these features from your keyboard or computer manual, or from the manufacturer's website.

Proper use of the keyboard May prevent pain or injury to your wrist and hand, especially when using the computer for long periods of time.

Here are some tips to help prevent problems:

• Place the keyboard at elbow level. Your forearms should fall relaxed to your sides.
• Center the keyboard in front of you. If your keyboard has a separate group of number keys, consider the spacebar as the center point.
• Keep your hands and wrists above the keyboard while typing, so that distant keys can be reached with the movement of the whole hand, and not by stretching the fingers.
• Do not place your palms or wrists on any surface when entering text. If your keyboard has a wrist rest area, use it only when you take breaks from typing.
• While entering text press the keys lightly, your wrists should be straight.
• If you are not entering text, relax your hands.
• Keep it short breaks from working at the computer every 15-20 minutes.

Is it possible to use a laptop or computer without a touchpad or mouse? Is it possible to open a program without using the menu? At first glance, this seems impossible to accomplish. But nevertheless, you can use the computer to its full capacity without endless clicks. In such cases, keyboard shortcuts come to the rescue. Correct use of their combinations allows you to significantly save time.

What are keyboard shortcuts for?

Hot keys or keyboard shortcuts are the ability to interact with a personal computer using only the keyboard. There is no doubt that for such “communication” far from random combinations of keys on the keyboard are used. The operating system has built-in actions that are triggered when certain keys are pressed.

Hot keys are used for more optimized work with a personal computer. These combinations are also called shortcut keys and keyboard accelerators.

Combinations are used most often in cases where you have to work a lot with the mouse or touchpad. It is much faster to select an item from a drop-down menu by pressing one or two keys than to constantly click on a file and search for the item you need.

The keyboard accelerator also helps with text processing. The Word text editor recognizes several dozen combinations, pressing which will cause a certain action: copy, paste, bold, underline, page break, and so on.

But the combinations also have a disadvantage. It lies in the number of combinations. It is very difficult to remember them all. But even using the most popular ones will help optimize your work with files, text, browser and dialog boxes.

Using modifier keys

Any owner of a personal computer or laptop has noticed that the keyboard has keys that do not perform any function on their own. These include Ctrl, Shift and Alt. By clicking them, it is impossible to change anything in the system, browser window or text editor. But they are precisely the modifier keys, thanks to which almost every key combination on a computer works.

Correct use of modifiers allows you to quickly access settings operating system. But such combinations work both globally and locally. With the right combination of buttons you can create new folder, rename the file or disable the keyboard altogether.

Changing the keyboard layout: changing the key combination

All owners personal computers Working on the Windows operating system, they know about the keyboard shortcut that helps change the keyboard layout. In Windows 10, by default, two combinations are used: Win + Space and Alt + Shift. However, it is not suitable for everyone this option, so users want to change the key combination to change the keyboard layout.

To change the way the keyboard layout is changed, you must:

• Open Settings through the Start menu.
• Select "Time and Language".
• Go to "Region and Language".
• In the window, click on “ Extra options date and time, regional settings."
• In the “Language” item, select “Change input method”.
• In the menu located on the left side of the window, click on “Advanced options”.
• In the "Switch input methods" group, select "Change language bar keyboard shortcuts."
• In the dialog box that appears, click on “Change keyboard shortcut” and enter new parameters.
• Save settings.

After application they will change, and you can change the layout with a new combination.

Entering special characters using a keyboard shortcut

In some situations it becomes necessary to enter Special symbols that a standard computer keyboard does not provide. Keyboard and modifier combinations didn't seem to help either.

What should you do if you urgently need to insert a copyright symbol, a down, up or side arrow, a note, or a paragraph into a message or document? There are two ways to enter such characters.

The first way is to work with the Word text editor. To insert a special character, you will need to open new document, go to the “Tab” menu and select “Symbol”. In the list that appears, click on “Special characters”.

Next, a dialog box will pop up in which a list of all special characters will be presented. The user just has to choose the appropriate one. For easier searching, special characters are grouped by topic: monetary units, punctuation marks, geometric shapes, technical symbols, and so on.

To save time, the special characters window can be called up with the combination Ctrl+Alt+“-”.

The second way is using keyboard shortcuts for symbols. To enter special characters from the keyboard, you will need to hold down the Alt button and at the same time enter a set of numbers. For example, Alt+0169 is the code.

All codes are given below.

How to lock your keyboard using a keyboard shortcut

Unfortunately, there is no single key combination for Windows keyboard 7, which would allow only the keyboard to be locked. On some computers and laptops the combination F11+Esc may work. Sometimes manufacturers introduce special combinations into their products for such tasks. For example, everything Acer laptops lock the keyboard when you press Fn+F7.

But it is still possible to partially block the keyboard on the computer. The Win+L key combination locks not so much the keyboard itself as the operating system. After pressing the keys, the user will be moved to the window for entering the system password and changing account. Only those who know the password will be able to log in again.

Keyboard combinations for working in Word

There is a whole list of keyboard shortcuts that allow you to optimize your work with documents in the Word text editor.

To create a new document, just use the Ctrl+N keys.

Ctrl+O - opens a new file.

Ctrl+W - closes the file.

Alt+Ctrl+S - splits file windows.

Alt+Shift+C - removes division.

Ctrl+S - saves the document.

Alt + left arrow - move to the next page.

Alt + right arrow - move to the previous page.

Alt+Ctrl+I - preview.

Ctrl+P - print.

To switch to reading mode, you will need to successively press the Alt keys - O and E.

Ctrl+D - opens a window that allows you to change the type, size and properties of the font.

Shift+F3 - changes the appearance of the text: lowercase letters are replaced with uppercase ones.

Ctrl+Shift+F - replace capital letters with lowercase ones.

To make text bold, just press Ctrl+B.

Ctrl+I - tilt text selection.

Ctrl+U - adds an underline.

Ctrl+Shift+W - adds a double underline.

Ctrl+Shift+D - double underline.

Ctrl+Enter - insert a page break.

• C - copy a specific table, image or text.
• V - transferring data from the clipboard to the document.
• X - data is entered into the clipboard and deleted from the file.
• A - data selection.
• Z - cancel the last data entry.

There are many more hotkeys that allow you to optimize your work with documents. But the list presented above includes the main and most popular combinations that will be useful to every user.

Working with Dialog Boxes

Combining multiple buttons on the keyboard allows you to navigate faster dialog boxes operating system. Using arrows helps you move focus to other buttons in the window. The Backspace button moves the user to a folder that is one level higher. Pressing the Spacebar will clear the checkbox or checkmark.

The Tab button will move to the next active area of ​​the window. To move to reverse side Just add the Shift button to the combination.

You can quickly view all open folders and programs by holding Alt+Tab.

Keyboard shortcuts and Windows button

For many people, the Windows or Win key is associated with the Start menu. But in combination with other buttons, it works on a global scale.

Windows button +:

• A - call the “Support Center”.
• B - allows you to minimize all windows.
• Alt+D - enables or disables the appearance of the current date on the desktop.
• E - quickly opens the conductor.

“Windows” + K - instantly minimizes active windows.

Win+R - call the “Run” function.

Win+S - opens a window that allows you to search for files and programs on your personal computer.

Win+ “+”/ “-” - change the scale of the working surface.

Win and the enter button allow you to launch Narrator.

Win+Esc - closes the Magnifier application.

You can quickly open the Ease of Access Center by holding down Windows and I.

Win in combination with the up or down arrows allows you to resize the dialog box.

Working with Explorer

Pressing Alt+D allows you to move to the address bar.

Ctrl+E - activates the search field.

Ctrl+N is a universal combination that allows you to open a new window in almost any program.

Ctrl combined with scrolling changes the size of files and folders in a specific window.

Ctrl+Shift+E - displays a list of all folders that precede the active one.

Ctrl+Shift+N - creates a new folder.

If you press the F2 button after highlighting a file or folder, you can immediately rename it. The F11 key activates the preview. Pressing it again deactivates it.

Win+Ctrl+D - allows you to create a new virtual desktop. To switch between them you will need to press Win+Ctrl + left or right arrows.

Any standard modern keyboard is adapted to English language. This type of keyboard is called PC/AT. The arrangement of the keys on them follows a single generally accepted scheme, and is mainly intended for English-speaking users.

On average, such a device has about 102 variety of keys , however, on specialized keyboards, such as gaming keyboards, there are additional buttons. Among them there are specialized keys that are responsible for working with the system. Among them there is the ESC key, which we will talk about today.

ESC is an abbreviation for the English word ESCAPE and is responsible for canceling an operation or returning to the previous state of the system. It could be like minimizing the window and exiting the running application or open program, if such a possibility is allowed by the program itself.

Most often located at the top left of the keyboard, it has a square appearance. Some companies produce models in which the ESC is located at a sufficient distance from others keys , thereby preventing the button from being hit by mistake.

Functional

1. Exits an open application and then returns to the desktop.
2. Minimize an open application.
3. Cancels the operation currently in progress.
4. Access folders and lists that are higher up in the hierarchy.
5. Undo the last character entered in Word Excel.
6. Undoes the last change made.
7. Cancel selection.

Hotkeys

Hot keys are a variety of keyboard shortcuts that can make life much easier for the user, quickly calling required functions programs, searching and opening which will take a lot of time and nerves.

There are several combinations with the ESC key that will help the user to call up the desired system functionality in the shortest possible time.

• CONTRL+ESCAPE+WIN
• Opens start
• CONTROL+SHIFT+ESCAPE
• Calls up the task manager. Also, its analogue is everyone’s favorite CTRL+ALT+DELETE
• ALT+ESCAPE
• Transition between windows in running order. Executed in a loop
• WIN+ESCAPE
• Closing Magnifier

Replacing a key

As you can see, the ESCAPE key plays a vital role in any modern PC/AT keyboard. The location of this button can be changed. This is especially necessary on laptops, since if the ESC breaks, it will be very problematic and sometimes impossible to replace it.

Replacement is carried out using a variety of software that can be download from any site or, if you prefer licensed products, buy them in any store.

Changing the assignment of a key is done using a program where you can set the parameters you need and put ESC in any place convenient for you.

Then you can either leave the ESC key in place and use another one (simply irreplaceable in case of a breakdown or if you need the button to be in a place convenient for you), or remove the key itself and swap it with the key where ESC was assigned.

Such manipulations with the rearrangement of keys can be great help programmers and people, who simply find the ESC location insufficiently convenient.

Types of keyboards

Though QWERTY layout is the same layout for all keyboards, some developers manipulate this key, thereby trying to make ESCAPE more convenient to use.

Such experiments are not very popular, since in most cases the creators of such keyboards fail in the market due to the fact that they make their devices not particularly convenient to use ordinary users. Most often, this type of keyboard is made specially to order.

However, there are also interesting manipulations with standard keyboards. For example: to save space, keyboards on a laptop are located as close to each other as possible. Due to this space saving, users often accidentally press ESC, which leads to unpleasant consequences.

On keyboards designed for PCs, ESC is most often placed further away from other keys, generously allocating space for it. On some gaming keyboards, the key you can turn it off altogether or put a jumper so you don't accidentally press it while playing.

conclusions

From all of the above, we can conclude that the ESC key is one of the most important keys on the keyboard. Without it it will be almost impossible make full use of all functionality operating system.

It participates in various combinations with other keys, helping the user to use the system more conveniently, and it is also possible to rearrange and reassign it using programs. This key is simply irreplaceable in any modern keyboard, and it is unlikely that analogues will appear in the near future.

All keyboard functions. You should know it!

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All keyboard functions

F1— Call Windows Help. When clicked from the window of a program, it opens help for that program.

F2— Rename the selected object on the desktop or in Explorer.

F3— Open a search window for a file or folder (on the desktop and in Explorer).

F4— Open a drop-down list (for example, the address bar list in the “My Computer” window or in Explorer).

F5— Refresh the active window (open web page, desktop, explorer).

F6- Switch between screen elements in a window or on the desktop. In Explorer and Internet Explorer— moving between the main part of the window and the address bar.

F7— Spell checking (in Word, Excel).

F8— When loading the OS — select the boot mode. Enable advanced text highlighting in Word. Selecting a fragment from the initial to the final cursor position occurs without holding down the Shift key. A second press of the F8 key highlights the word closest to the cursor. The third is the sentence containing it. Fourth - paragraph. Fifth - document. The easiest way to remove the last selection is by pressing the key combination Shift+F8. You can disable the mode by pressing the Esc key.

F9— In some programs, updating selected fields.

F10— Call the window menu.

F11— Switching to full screen mode and back (for example, in Internet Explorer).

F12— Go to selecting file saving options (File — Save As).

Next you will learn a lot more interesting things about the keyboard and its secrets.

Esc— cancel the last command entered, exit the window menu (remove focus) or close the open dialog.

Tab— Entering tab stops when typing. Move focus across elements. For example, moving between the desktop, Start button, Quick Launch, taskbar, and system tray. Moving through elements (including links) open document. Alt+Tab - switch between windows.

Shift— uppercase key (non-fixed switching). Used simultaneously with other keys to type capital letters as well as uppercase characters.

Ctrl combinations+Shift or Alt+Shift usually used to switch keyboard layouts.

Capslock— upper case (fixed switching). Used when typing text in CAPITAL letters. Pressing the key again cancels this mode.

Alt- used in conjunction with other keys, modifying their action.

For example, Alt+letter - call a menu command or open a menu column. The corresponding letters in the menu are usually underlined (either initially, or become underlined after pressing Alt). If the menu column is already open, you can then press the key with the letter that is underlined in this command to call a specific command. The same applies to the open context menu.

Ctrl- Used in combination with other keys. For example, Ctrl+C - copy, Ctrl+V - paste, Ctrl+Alt+Del - open Windows task manager.

Win(“start”) - opens the Start menu.

AppsKey- challenge context menu for the selected object (equivalent to right-clicking the mouse).

Enter— Confirmation of choice. Same as double clicking on an object. Clicking on the currently active button in the dialog. Often - clicking on the “default” button in the dialog. When entering commands from the keyboard, complete the command entry and proceed to its execution. When typing, move to a new paragraph.

Backspace- View a folder one level higher in the My Computer window or in the Windows Explorer. In text editing mode, delete the character to the left of the input cursor).

Delete— Deleting the selected object, selected text fragment or character to the right of the input cursor.

Up, Down, Right and Left Arrows - Allow you to navigate through menu options. Move the input cursor in the appropriate direction by one position. The action of these keys in many programs can be modified using service keys, primarily SHIFT and CTRL.

Home— moves the cursor to the beginning of the current line of the document or to the beginning of the list of files.

End— moves the cursor to the end of the current line of the document or to the end of the list of files.

PageUp/PageDown— moving the cursor one page up or down. The term "page" usually refers to the portion of a document that is visible on the screen. Used to “scroll” the content in the current window.

Insert- Switch between insert and replace modes when editing text. If the text cursor is located inside existing text, then in insert mode new characters are entered without replacing existing characters (the text is, as it were, moved apart). In replace mode, new characters replace the text that was previously present at the input position.

PrtScn(print screen) - Takes a screenshot and places it on the clipboard. Alt+PrtScn - copying a screenshot of the currently active window (application) to the clipboard.

ScrLk(Scroll Lock) - refers to service keys. Its short description is scroll blocking. Designed for a screen display mode in which pressing the cursor keys leads to a shift not of the cursor as such, but of the entire contents of the screen. Now this key is used for this purpose very rarely, but, for example, in Excel it works. This is very convenient when editing large tables.

Pause/Break- pauses the computer (in DOS it worked everywhere, in modern operating systems - only while the computer was booting).

Numlock— Changes the numeric keypad mode. When on, switches the numeric block to digit input mode; when off, additional keyboard can be used to control the cursor.

Additional numeric keypad

These keys are a favorite among bank tellers with nimble fingers and anyone who has to type a lot of numbers. The numeric keypad resembles a calculator and is located on the right side of the keyboard. (However, you must press the Num Lock key for it to work. If you don't, you'll be stuck with the cursor keys.)

When Num Lock is turned off, the keys on the secondary numeric keypad will act as cursor keys. They show small arrows showing the direction the cursor is moving across the screen. (The number 5 key, which does not have an arrow, does nothing but combat low self-esteem.) In addition, the cursor is controlled by keys with the words “Home”, “End”, “PgUp” and “PgDn”