Save Time With Quick Computer Shortcuts

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time with quick computer shortcuts

/www.microsoft.com/athome/organization/compshortcuts.aspx[26-02-2010 10:24:27]

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Save time with quick computer shortcuts

As a new mom, Rachel Brown is always looking for ways to save

time. "When I have the chance to sit down at my computer, I

need to get at what I'm working on as quickly as possible," says

Brown, who uses her computer to keep in touch with family and

friends.

Brown discovered the power of shortcuts and

keystrokes while she was still working. "Before takingmy maternity leave, I worked in a bilingual

environment," she explains. "I learned the keystrokes

for the French accents that were essential in all of my

correspondence." She also learned a few other time-

saving tricks such as highlighting text, using the Bold

function, and creating new documents.

If you're looking to work more efficiently in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Internet

Explorer, the key is using programmed shortcuts.

Driving around your desktop

To... Use this shortcut

Select a file/folder/icon Type the first letter of the file. If you

have several files starting with the same

letter, continue hitting the letter key

until your cursor lands on the file or

folder you want.

Search for a file/folder F3

Rename a file/folder Select the file/folder, click F2, and then

re-type the name

Find out when the file or folder was

created, by whom, and how big it is

Select the file, right-click, and then click

Properties

Display the Start menu Ctrl + Esc

Create a shortcut on your desktop to

your favorite file/folder

Drag the file/folder icon to your

desktop

Scroll between open items Alt + Tab, then hold down Alt whileclicking Tab to reach the desired file or

program

Working with Word


Select text Shift + Right Arrow, Left Arrow, Up

Arrow, or Down Arrow to highlight text

Copy selected text Ctrl + C

Cut selected text Ctrl + X

In this article

Driving around your

desktop

Working with Word

Accelerating Excel

Expediting Internet

Explorer

Related productsFind more information

about the products you

see here.

Excel

Internet Explorer

Word

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Paste selected text Ctrl + V

Undo your last action Ctrl + Z

Select all the text within your document Ctrl + A

Bold text Ctrl + B

Italicize text Ctrl + I

Underline Ctrl + U

Decrease font size Ctrl + Shift +

Change font Ctrl + Shift + F, then use the arrow keys

to reach the new font

Change font size Ctrl + Shift + P, then use the arrow

keys to reach the new font size

Create page break Ctrl + Enter

Create new document Ctrl + N

Open My Documents window Ctrl + O

Close a document Ctrl + W

Save a document Ctrl + S

Print a document Ctrl + P

Preview what you're about to pr int Alt + Ctrl + I

Accelerating Excel


Move right to left, cell by cell Tab

Move up and down, cell by cell Enter

Erase data in current cell Backspace

Return to the beginning of the row Home

Enter the date Ctrl + ; (semicolon)

Enter the time Ctrl + Shift + : (colon)

Start a formula = (equal sign)

Check the spelling of titles or words

within the cells

F7

Find out about the style within the cell ALT + ' (apostrophe)

Display the Format Cells dialog box Ctr l + 1

Apply the general number format Ctrl + Shift + ~

Turn numbers into dollars Ctrl + Shift + $

Make numbers a percentage Ctrl + Shift + %

Apply a border Ctrl + Shift + &

Expediting Internet Explorer


Add sites to your Favorites Go to the site.

Hit Ctrl + D to add to your Favorites.

Select Favorites and then Add to

Favorites to create a separate folder

for the site or to add it to a list

already formed.

Select a home page Go to the Web page that you would


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Tools:Feedback:

Was the information in

this article helpful?

like to make your home page.

Open the Tools menu and select

Internet Options.

Under Home page, click Use

Current.

Use the History function if you visit a

few select sites constantly

Select the History button on your

top navigation (a green arrow on a

clock face).

Select the site that you would like

and double-click.

If the History button is not visible,go to the View menu, select

Explorer Bar, and then click History

to access.

Customize your toolbar to the tools

you use most frequently

Right-click your top navigation.

Select the icons that you use or go

to the View menu, select Toolbars ,

and then click Customize.

A final piece of advice from Brown: Have the Help Line numbers for all the products

you use nearby. "At work you rely on your IT person to solve problems that come

up, but at home you need to fix these on your own and those phone numbers

become extremely useful," she says.

The more you use these tools, the more time you will save. Have fun and explore the

options available to you.

Article written by Liz Eustace and adapted from an original piece from Microsoft

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