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Keyboard shortcuts

Shortcuts for editing

ESC - cancel the current task

Ctrl + Z - undo function. You can use this key combination in almost every program. If you fill a web form and typed in some wrong info in one field you can try Ctrl + Z.

Ctrl + Y - redo function. When you undo something and realise afterward the information was correct or it needs only minor modifications and you want it back press Ctrl + Y.

Ctrl + Shift + Z - redo function (only in some programs).

Undo and Redo functions are generally found under the "Edit" menu. Click on it to find out the right key combination!

Highlighting - The easiest way to highlight text or files seems to be using a mouse. On the long run, using the keyboard is much easier. To highlight text with the keyboard, move the cursor where you want the selection to begin, than holding the shift key, press the arrow key in the direction you want text to be highlighted.

Ever wandered how you can select two or more non-successive paragraphs or files? Highlight the first one, then hold the control key and highlight the following ones!

Successive ones can be highlighted in the same manner by holding the Shift key.

Ctrl + X - cut function. You can use this key combination in a text editor (Word, Excel, LibreOffice Writer, Notepad++ etc), email program (Outlook Express, Mozilla Thunderbird etc), spreadsheet editor (Excel, LibreOffice Calc etc) or file manager (Windows Explorer, Total Commander, Double Commander etc). When dealing with text it will cut the highlighted text. Used in a file manager, it will cut the highlighted file(s) and/or folder(s). Useful when you want to move data.

Ctrl + C - copy function. The same as above, only it copies text or files, instead of cutting/moving. Useful when you need to copy data.

Ctrl + V - paste function. When using the above cut or copy functions, the selected data is copied to a memory location called clipboard. The paste function is used to complete the move to the new location.

Shortcuts for managing windows

Alt + Tab - allows you to switch between open windows.

Alt + Shift + Tab - switch between open windows in reverse order.

Ctrl + Tab - allows you to switch between tabs in browsers like Mozilla Firefox.

Ctrl + Shift + Tab - switch between tabs in browsers like Mozilla Firefox in reverse order.

All the above shortcuts work in Windows and Linux desktops like KDE and GNOME.


Windows only shortcuts

On all modern keyboards, you probably noticed that between the right Ctrl and Alt key there is a key with a Windows symbol on it. It is called the Win or Start key. Some common shortcuts using this key:

Win Key + D - show the desktop, by minimising all open windows (useful when the boss enters the office). Pressing it again will bring the windows to the previous state.

Win Key + R - start the run dialogue (enables to run programs by entering their name)

Win Key + E - starts windows explorer.

Win Key + F - starts the search dialogue.

Win Key + U - starts the utility manager.

Reliable Open Source software you can use free of charge (link opens in a new window or tab):

Libre Office - The Document Foundation  Firefox  Thunderbird Graphics by GIMP  7-Zip

 
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