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Keyboard
Basics
 Although a computer keyboard is based on the old typewriter layout, there are
some major differences in the ways that keys are used. Computer keyboards also
have additional keys. Learning to use the unique keys and special functions of
the computer keyboard can save you time and make you more comfortable with your
computer.
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Alphanumeric or QWERTY Keys
The keys you will use the most, of
course, are the alphabet and number keys. They are arranged in what is
known as the QWERTY system, so named for the first six keys in the upper row
of letters. They are not arranged in alphabetical order. Back in
the 1880's when mechanical typewriters were first introduced, this keyboard
arrangement was developed to place the most frequently used letters under
the strongest fingers, and to keep fast typists from jamming the keys.
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Function Keys (F Keys)
Most computer keyboards
have a row of Function keys at the top of the keyboard. These keys are marked F1 through F10 or F12. While they were widely
used with older DOS programs, they are not as popular today. However many
programs, including most of Microsoft's products, support use of the
function keys. As a throwback to DOS days, you will find that the F1 key
will often bring up a help menu. The function keys are frequently used in
combination with other keys such as the CTRL key, the ALT key, and the Shift
key. This results in a plethora of possible keyboard shortcuts. Look in the
help menu of the program that you are using to find a list of the function
keys and their uses.
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Return or Enter Key
This key is usually marked Return or Enter, but some
times it labeled with only a large arrow. This key is used to enter commands
or to move the cursor to the beginning of the next line. Also, in every
dialog box or alert on both the PC and the Mac, there is a default button or
box, which is recognizable by its bold or segmented outline. Pressing the
Enter key will select that choice. (There is sometimes a second Enter key on
the numeric keypad. This functions exactly like the larger Enter key near
the alphabet letters.)
Dialogue box for the PC
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Space Bar Moves the cursor one space to the
right, leaving a small blank white area (space) on the screen.
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Shift Key
The Shift key in
combination with an alphabetical key
will type an upper case letter. The Shift key in combination with one of the
number keys on the row above the letter keys or one of the symbol keys will
type the symbol that is pictured on the upper part of the key. The Shift key
can also be used in conjunction with other keys as a shortcut to a task or
can be pressed at a certain time to perform a task. For instance, holding
down the Shift key while inserting a CD-ROM will skip the auto-run process,
allowing you to insert the CD without having it play automatically.
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Caps Lock
The Caps Lock key is a
toggle key. Pressing it once
turns it on. Pressing it again turns it off. Some computer keyboards have a
light or indicator that shows when the Caps Lock is on and when it is off.
When Caps Lock is on, every letter that is typed will be a capital letter.
Unlike a typewriter, the Caps Lock key on a computer keyboard affects only
letters. It has no effect on the number or symbol keys.
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Num Lock & Numeric Keypad
Many, but not all,
computer keyboards have a numeric keypad usually located on the right side
of the keyboard. This keypad has
a group of number keys with additional markings like arrows, PgDn, End, etc.
The numeric pad is controlled by a toggle key marked Num Lock. When the Num
Lock key is on, this pad can be used to enter numbers. When the Num Lock key
is off, the functions listed below the number will be activated. These
functions usually include arrow keys that can be used to move the cursor
around the screen. Likewise the keys marked PgUp and Pg Down will move the
cursor a page up or down on the screen. The Home and End keys will move the
cursor to the beginning or end of a line or document, respectively.
Numeric keypads often include other keys as well.
Many include useful symbols such as the period, slash, and plus and minus
signs. The Macintosh keyboard includes a Clear key that can be used in many
programs to clear or undo the last number that you typed. You may also find
a helpful Help key on a Macintosh numeric keypad.
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Escape Key
The Escape key, which is marked ESC on most keyboards,
is basically used to exit or escape from programs and tasks. In many cases,
it will have no effect at all. However, it can sometimes get you out of
trouble by making the computer go back or escape to a previous screen.
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Control Key (CTRL)
The Ctrl key is used in
conjunction with another key.
Holding it down while pressing another key will initiate a certain action.
Ctrl key combinations are defined by the application that is being used.
Some, however, have become a standard that most programs follow. For
instance in most Windows programs, Ctrl+S will save the current file or
document, and Ctrl+P will print the current file or document. Macintosh
keyboards have a Control key that is used only sparingly in Mac programs. It
is included on the Mac keyboard basically for users who may run Windows and
DOS-based programs on their Macs.
TIP: In most computer documentation, a plus sign (+) means keys are held down
together, i.e. Ctrl+F means pressing the Control key and the F key at the
same time.
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Alternate Key (ALT)
Like the Control Key,
the Alt key is used in combination with other keys. In most Windows
programs, each of the menu choices at the top of the screen has one letter
underlined. Holding down the Alt key while pressing the key corresponding to
the underlined letter will open the menu just as though you had clicked your
mouse on that menu choice. For instance, if the menu shows the choice File,
you can open that menu by clicking the mouse on the word File or by pressing
the Alt key and the F key simultaneously.
TIP: Further explanations and some great CTRL and ALT keyboard shortcuts are
given in one of my earlier tutorials called How To Save Time and Effort with
Computer Short Cuts.
www.aarp.org/
comptech/learning/howto/howto018.html
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Windows Key
The Windows key can be
found on some, but not all,
keyboards that are used with Windows computers. The Windows key is marked
with a small Microsoft Windows symbol and is usually found on the bottom row
of the keyboard. There may be two Windows keys, one on each side of the
space bar. Pressing the Windows key will bring up the Start menu. The Window
key can also be used in combination with other keys for some very useful
shortcuts. One of my favorites is to use the Windows key +D to minimize all
the open windows and quickly return to the Windows desktop. Pressing Windows
+D again will restore all windows to their previous location.
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Application Key 
If you have a Windows
key on your keyboard, you will
also see a key with a design that looks like a list of words on a piece of
paper, usually to the left of the space bar. This is called the application
key. It is a shortcut for right clicking. It will display an item's shortcut
menu.
Space Bar
The Spacebar is used to
insert a blank space. It some
programs it can also be used to choose a highlighted item.
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Backspace Key
The Backspace key will
remove the character to the left of the cursor.
The key is sometimes labeled with only a left-pointing arrow.
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Insert Key (Ins)
The Insert key is found
only on PC keyboards. It is a
toggle key that determines what happens when you type new characters within
an existing line of text or numbers. When the Insert key is off, the new
text that you type is inserted at the cursor location and the text already
in place is moved to the right. When the Insert key is on, new text
overwrites the text that is on the screen to the right of the cursor. Most
programs turn the Insert key off, and there is usually little reason for the
average user to turn it on. The OVR on the Status Bar is Grayed Out when Off
and shows a black OVR when on.
-
Tab
The Tab key is used to
move from field to field and is
very useful when filling out forms. Pressing the Shift key and the Tab key
simultaneously will usually tab you back to the previous field.
-
Delete Key (Del)
Whereas the Backspace
key will remove the character to the left of the cursor, the Delete key will remove the key to the right of the cursor. The
Delete key can also be used in Windows to remove a highlighted or chosen
file or shortcut.
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Print Screen (PrtScrn)
In the old DOS days,
the Print Screen key on a PC keyboard performed just as you would expect.
When the Print Screen key was pressed, a paper copy of whatever was on the
screen was printed. Unfortunately in Windows the Print Screen key sends an
image of the screen to the Windows Clipboard instead of the printer. In
order to actually print the screen image, you must then paste that image in
the Clipboard into a program, like a paint program, and print the screen
from that program. (On some keyboards you have to hold down the Shift key
while pressing the Print Screen key.)
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Pause/Break
This key was previously
used in programming and debugging applications.
In most current programs, it is non-functioning.
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Scroll Lock
Scroll Lock is a toggle
key that changes the effect of
the cursor movement keys. In most current programs the Scroll Lock key is
disabled and pressing it has no effect. In programs that support this key,
when the Scroll Lock key is on, pressing the arrow keys makes the display
appear to scroll while the cursor stays in its original position. When the
Scroll Lock key is off, the cursor moves as far as it can before the display
starts scrolling.
Valuable Keyboard Skills
The keyboard is the
primary text input device of your computer.
Learning to master its use should be one of your first projects. There seems to
be a lot to learn about the computer's keyboard, even if you were proficient on
the earlier manual or electronic typewriter keyboards. The time (and practice)
that you invest in mastering computer keyboard skills will be well worth your
effort. Learning to use the unique keys and mastering the special functions of
the computer keyboard can save you a lot of time. Developing keyboard skills is
certain to add to your sense of accomplishment in using the computer. Spend some
time to make close friends with keys such as CTRL, ALT, Windows, TAB, and Shift.
You'll be glad you did.
Class
Exercise - Typing
Open WordPad, which is a simple
word processing program that comes bundled with Windows.
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Go to
start, all programs, accessories,
WordPad. A WordPad window will open.
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Type " Now is the time for all
good men to come to the aid of their country."
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Hit the
Enter key
twice to make a new line and type "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy
dog."
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Highlight the first line by
positioning the mouse at the end of the line, clicking and holding the left
mouse button, and dragging to the end of the line, then releasing the mouse
button.
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Mouse to the font size box, and
select 16.
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Notice what happens to the size
of the typed line.
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Go to the second line and
highlight the word "brown."
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Go to the menu bar and click on
the B. What happens?
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Go to the File menu,
select Save As. The Save dialog box opens. Notice
that the default location we will be saving this file is in the My
Documents folder.
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Name the file "practice1.rtf"
and click OK.
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