Windows Vista in a Nutshell

Keyboard Accelerators Listed by Function

Table B-8 lists keys that operate in most contexts—in other words, on the Desktop, in the Explorer, and within most applications and dialogs. Functions are listed alphabetically, except where a logical order might make more sense.

Note also that there is essentially a limitless combination of keystrokes that you can use to activate any particular feature in a given application, all of which you can form by combining the various keystrokes listed in this appendix. For example, you can press Alt-F to open an application’s File menu, then press P to Print, then press Enter to begin printing. Or press Ctrl-Esc to open the Start menu, Alt-Enter to open the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties, Ctrl-Tab to open the Taskbar tab (if necessary), and Alt-L to lock (or unlock) the Taskbar.

Table B-8. Keyboard accelerators listed by function

Key(s)	Action
Space bar	Checkbox, toggle on or off
Ctrl-C	Clipboard, copy
Alt-PrintScreen	Clipboard, copy current window as a bitmap
PrintScreen	Clipboard, copy entire screen as a bitmap
Ctrl-X	Clipboard, cut
Ctrl-V	Clipboard, paste
Ctrl-F4	Close current document
Alt-F4	Close current window
Esc	Close dialog box, message window, or menu
Space bar	Command button, click
Shift-F10, or context menu key on some keyboards	Context menu, open
Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse)	Controls cycle focus on a dialog box
Ctrl-C	Copy selected item or selected text to the Clipboard
Ctrl-X	Cut selected ...