Keyboard Shortcuts Instead of Mouse

Many RSI sufferers report that they feel less pain when typing compared to when mousing. Thus, a desire to avoid mouse as much as possible. Below are some tips from

on how to survive in Windows 95 without the mouse. More tips are welcome.

Keyboard instead of mouse -- some tips, for Windows 95

by Susan Fulton (New York Times)

ALT+ SPACEBAR--opens control menu (like clicking on the symbol in the top
left corner of a window, from which you select (perhaps using mouse,
perhaps using arrow keys and enter) among restore, minimize, maximize,
close, etc)
SPACEBAR -- hitting this will finalize a selection of an item in a list or
an icon on the screen that's only half- selected, i.e., there's a box
around the name but full highlighting is not there. Also puts a checkmark
or big dot in a little box or circle for you to check one of several options. 
ENTER -- will activate a selected item. Hitting Enter with a program icon
selected will open the program. with a button highlighted, will activate
the "button." It appears highlighted from the heavier line around it, or it
might look like a depressed button.

Hitting a letter key will take you to the first item in a dialogue box that
begins with that letter. I.E., in open file dialogue box, hit w one or more
times  to go to the "Windows" folder in the list of stuff that appears on
the C drive. This can save a whole lot of hand action.

CTRL+z -- undo	
CTRL+y -- redo
CTRL+a -- select all	
CTRL+x --cut
CTRL+c --copy
CTRL+v --paste	
CTRL+p – print
CTRL+s --save


CTRL+ALT+DEL--reboots the computer – eventually. First, it'll tell you
what's hung up.
CTRL+esc-- same as clicking on the "start button" in the taskbar area of
the screen 
ALT+F4 shuts down the selected program. 
TAB--VERY USEFUL. takes you from one field to another, one "button" to
another, one icon to another etc. 
SHIFT+TAB -- it tabs you backward
HOME – to beginning of line or far left of field or screen.
END --to end of line, or far right of field or screen.
CTRL+home -- to the top
CTRL+END -- to the bottom
PAGE UP -- moves you up in your document or dialogue box by one page
PAGE DOWN -- moves you down in your document or dialogue list by one page
ARROW KEYS--these will move you about the screen or dialogue box, or menu,
not just a document. Modifier keys like CTRL and SHIFT when pressed at same
time as arrow keys or page up and page down will perform selection and
larger movements. For instance, CTRL + right arrow jumps to next word, and
SHIFT+CTRL+RIGHT ARROW selects the whole word. 
ESC -- to cancel, or get rid of something like box or window that popped up
when you didn't want it (or if you change your  mind) etc.
ALT + the underlined letter in a menu item carries out the action. 

SHIFT+F10—like right click, brings up context menu
ALT+TAB—cycles through open applications
[ALT] + down arrow--opens up a "Drop down list" -those little arrows that
sit next to fields in which you must make a choice, for instance in the
"Look in" field of an "Open" dialogue box. 
[ALT] + TAB        --holding down the [ALT] and hitting tab cycles you
through open applications.
Thus, to sign off windows 95: CTRL+ESC, UP, ENTER, ENTER. 

[Hot and Other Keys]
*General folder / Windows Explorer shortcuts for a selected object:

        Keys                    Action
      -----------------------------------------------------------------
        F2                      Rename
        F3                      Find
        CTRL+X, C, or V         Cut, Copy, or Paste
        SHIFT+DELETE            Delete immediately without putting the file
                                in Recycle Bin
        ALT+ENTER               Properties
        ALT+double-click        Properties
        CTRL+right-click        Put alternative verbs on the context menu
                                (Open With)
        SHIFT+double-click      Explore the object if it has an Explore
                                command

        CTRL+drag a file to a
        folder                  Copy a file

        CTRL+SHIFT+drag a
        file to the desktop
        or a folder             Create a shortcut

        CTRL+ESC,ESC,TAB,SHIFT+F10
                                Open taskbar properties

[General control over folders/Windows Explorer]

        F4 (Explorer)           Displays the combo box
        F5                      Refresh
        F6                      Switches between panes in Windows Explorer
        CTRL+G(Windows
        Explorer)               Goto
        CTRL+Z                  Undo
        CTRL+A                  Select all
        BACKSPACE               Goes to the parent folder
        SHIFT+           Closes this folder and all its parent folders

[In Windows Explorer]
        Num*                    Expands everything under selection
        Num-                    Expands selection
        Num+ or Right arrow     Collapses selection
        Right arrow             Expands current selection if it's collapsed;
                                otherwise goes to the first child.
        Left arrow              Collapses current selection if it's expanded;
                                otherwise goes to the parent

[In Properties]
        CTRL+TAB or
        CTRL+SHIFT+TAB          Switches between Properties tabs

[In Open/Save Common Dialog Boxes]
        F4                      Drop down the location list
        F5                      Refresh the view
        Backspace               Go to parent folder if focus is on view window

[General Keyboard-Only Commands]
        F1                      Help
        F10                     Goes to menu mode
        SHIFT+F10               Context menu for selected item
        CTRL+ESC                Brings up Start menu
        CTRL+ESC, ESC           Focus on the Start button
        SHIFT+F10               Context menu
        ALT+TAB                 Switch to the running program
        SHIFT while
        inserting CD            Bypasses auto-run
        Alt+M when focus
        is on taskbar           Minimizes all windows

[Accessibility Shortcuts]
        Tap SHIFT 5 times       Toggles StickyKeys on/off
        Hold down Right
        SHIFT for 8 seconds     Toggles FilterKeys on/off
        Hold down NumLock
        for 5 seconds           Toggles ToggleKeys on/off

        Left ALT+LEFT+SHIFT
        +NumLock                Toggles MouseKeys on/off
        Left ALT+LEFT+SHIFT
        +PrintScreen            Toggles HighContrast on/off

[MS Natural Keyboard]
        Win+R                   Run dialog
        Win+M                   Minimize All
        Shift-Win+M             Undo Minimize All
        Win+F1                  Windows Help
        Win+E                   Explorer
        Win+F                   Find Files or Folders
        CTRL+Win+F              Find Computer
        Win+Tab                 Cycle through taskbar buttons
        Win+Break               PSS Hotkey... (System properties)

Keyboard-only access to Windows 95

by Alan Cantor

Full text of the article on Keyboard-only access to Windows 95


1. Use Alt + underlined character to select a menu.

Or

Press F10 to toggle menu mode. (Choose your method!)

2. Press the underlined character to select an item on a menu.

3. Use the first letter to select file names from a list (e.g., in
Windows Explorer, on desktop, in folders.) This is often the fastest way
to move around a long file list.

4. Useful key combos to experiment with: Tab; Ctrl + Tab; Ctrl +
PgUp;  Ctrl + PgDown. Hold down these in combination with Shift key to
change direction.

5. Other useful shortcut keys: Spacebar; Home; End; Ctrl+ Home; Ctrl + End.

6. Task switching: Alt + Tab and Alt + Esc. The latter is not well known,
but indispensible.

7. "Delete" key often deletes an item.

8. Backspace key moves "up" one level in a directory tree. Works in
folders and with Windows Explorer. (See what I mean about lousy keyboard
interface? NOt exactly intuitive, is it?)

9. Press Spacebar to select an item, Enter to "double click."

10. Keyboard shortcuts that almost always work: Start menu: Ctrl + Esc.
Cancel: Esc. Exit: Alt + F4. Open, New, Save, Bold, Italic, Underline :
Ctrl O, N, S, B, I, U. Undo: Ctrl + Z or Alt + Bkspace.

Bilbo Home Page