MS Windows Explorer Shortcuts


Shortcuts for Windows 98

This summarizes the shortcuts that are built into Microsoft Windows 98 for using the keyboard and mouse to accomplish common actions quickly.

Shortcuts for Objects, Folders, and Windows Explorer

General Keyboard-only Commands

Accessibility Shortcuts

Microsoft Natural Keyboard Keys
Shortcuts for Objects, Folders, and Windows Explorer

The following brief procedures and tables summarize the standard shortcuts for working with objects in the Windows 98 user interface, including folders on the desktop and Microsoft Windows Explorer.

To copy a file

* Press CTRL while you drag the file to a folder.

To create a shortcut

* Press CTRL+SHIFT while you drag the file to the desktop or a folder.

To close the current folder and all of its parent folders

* Press SHIFT and click the Close button on the folder.

To tab through pages in a properties dialog box

* Press CTRL+TAB or CTRL+SHIFT+TAB.

To switch between opening a new window and closing an existing window

* Press CTRL and double-click a folder.

# If you have more than one window open, this operation closes the active window.
# If only one window is open, this operation will open a new window.

To bypass Autorun when inserting a compact disc

* Press SHIFT while inserting the compact disc.

Common shortcuts for a selected object
Shortcut Action

CTRL+C Copy.
CTRL+O Open.
CTRL+P Print.
CTRL+S Save.
CTRL+V Paste.
CTRL+X Cut.
CTRL+Z Undo.
F1 Display contextual Help window.
SHIFT+F1 Activate context-sensitive Help mode (What’s This?).
SHIFT+F10 Display pop-up menu.
SPACEBAR Select (same as 1 click of mouse button).
ESC Cancel.
ALT Activate or inactivate menu bar mode.
ALT+TAB Display next primary window.
ALT+ESC Display next window.
ALT+SPACEBAR Display pop-up menu for window.
ALT+HYPHEN Display pop-up menu for active child window (MDI).
ALT+ENTER Display properties.
ALT+F4 Close active window.
ALT+F6 Switch to next window within application (between modeless secondary windows and their primary window).
ALT+PRINT SCREEN Capture focus window to Clipboard.
PRINT SCREEN Capture desktop image to Clipboard.
CTRL+ESC Access Start button in taskbar.
F2 Rename.
F3 Find.
DELETE Delete.
SHIFT+DELETE Delete file immediately without putting it in Recycle Bin.
ALT+double-click Display properties.
CTRL+click the right mouse button Place alternative commands on the pop-up menu (Open With).
SHIFT+double-click Explore an object; if the object does not have an Explore command, this starts the default action (usually the Open command).
CTRL+F6 Display next child window (MDI).
CTRL+TAB Display next tabbed page or child window (MDI).
CTRL+ALT+DEL Reserved for system use.
Shortcuts for managing folders and Windows Explorer
Shortcut Action

F4 In Windows Explorer, display combo box and move input focus to list.
F5 Refresh display.
F6 (TAB) In Windows Explorer, move focus between panes.
CTRL+G In Windows Explorer, choose Go To command.
CTRL+Z Undo.
CTRL+A Select All.
BACKSPACE Go to parent folder.
Shortcuts in the Windows Explorer tree
Shortcut Action
* on numeric keypad Expand everything under selection.
+ on numeric keypad Expand selection.
– on numeric keypad Collapse selection.
RIGHT ARROW Expand current selection if it is not expanded; otherwise, go to first child.
ALT+RIGHT ARROW Move forward to a previous view.
LEFT ARROW Collapse current selection if it is expanded; otherwise, go to parent.
ALT+LEFT ARROW Move backward to a previous view.
CTRL+ARROW Scroll without moving selection.
SHIFT+click the Close button Close selected folder and all of its parent folders.
Shortcuts for Internet Explorer
Shortcut Action

TAB+ENTER Activate a selected link.
SHIFT+F10 Display a shortcut menu for a link.
CTRL+O Go to a new location.
ALT+RIGHT ARROW Go to next page.
ALT+LEFT ARROW Go to previous page.
SHIFT+CTRL+TAB Move back between frames.
CTRL+TAB Move forward between frames.
HOME Move to beginning of document.
END Move to end of document.
CTRL+N Open a new window.
CTRL+P Print current page or active frame.
F5 Refresh current page.
UP ARROW Scroll toward beginning of a document.
PAGE UP Scroll toward beginning of a document in larger increments.
DOWN ARROW Scroll toward end of a document.
PAGE DOWN Scroll toward end of a document in larger increments.
ESC Stop downloading a page.
CTRL+S Save current page.
CTRL+ARROW Skip to break and separation characters in URLs (// / . , ? +).
CTRL+END Skip to the end of the auto-completed URL.
Shortcuts in the common Open and Save dialog boxes
Shortcut Action

ESC Cancel current task.
ALT+underlined letter Click corresponding command.
ENTER Click selected button.
TAB Move forward through options.
SHIFT+TAB Move backward through options.
CTRL+TAB Move forward though tabs.
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB Move backward though tabs.
SPACEBAR Click a button if current control is a button; select (clear) check box if current control is a check box; or click option if current control is an option button.
BACKSPACE Open a folder one level up, if it is selected in Save As or Open dialog box.
F4 Display Look In or Save In list within Save As or Open dialog box.
F5 Refresh view.
BACKSPACE Go to parent folder if focus is on View window.
General Keyboard-only Commands

The following table shows commands for completing actions from the keyboard.
Shortcut Action

ALT+ESC Display next window.
ALT+SPACE Display pop-up window for window.
ALT+HYPHEN Display pop-up window for active child window.
ALT+ENTER Display properties.
ALT+underlined letter in menu bar Carry out corresponding command on main menu bar, such as Format menu bar.
SHIFT+underlined letter in menu item Carry out corresponding command of menu item, such as Font command, located in Format menu.
ALT+F4 Close application or window.
ALT+F6 Switch to next window in application.
ALT+TAB Switch to window you last used, or switch to another window by holding down ALT and repeatedly pressing TAB.
ALT+PRINT SCREEN Copy active window to Clipboard.
PRINT SCREEN Copy desktop to Clipboard.
CTRL+F4 Close current window in (MDI) programs.
CTRL+F6 Display next child window.
CTRL+ALT+DEL Task List.
F1 Start Help.
F10 Go to menu mode.
SHIFT+F10 Display context menu for selected item.
CTRL+ESC Display Start menu and move focus to taskbar.
CTRL+ESC, ESC Move focus on taskbar so you can use TAB and then SHIFT+F10 for context menu, or use TAB and arrow key to change tasks, or use TAB to go to desktop.
ALT+TAB Switch to next running application.
ALT+M When focus is on taskbar or desktop, minimize all windows and move focus to desktop.
ALT+S When no windows are open and no items are selected on desktop, display Start menu; then use arrow keys to select menu commands.
Accessibility Shortcuts

The following table summarizes the Windows 98 shortcuts for Accessibility features. For more information about these features, see Appendix H, "Accessibility."
Shortcut Action

Press SHIFT 5 times Toggle StickyKeys on and off.
Press RIGHT SHIFT for 8 or more seconds Toggle FilterKeys (SlowKeys, RepeatKeys, and BounceKeys) on and off.
Press NUM LOCK for 5 seconds Toggle ToggleKeys on and off.
Press LEFT ALT+LEFT SHIFT+NUM LOCK Toggle MouseKeys on and off.
Press LEFT ALT+LEFT SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN Toggle High Contrast mode on and off.
Microsoft Natural Keyboard Keys

The following table summarizes the shortcut keys available on the Microsoft Natural® Keyboard.
Shortcut Action

Application key or SHIFT+F10 Display pop-up menu for selected object.
Windows logo key Display Start menu.
WIN+F1 Start Help.
WIN+TAB Cycle through taskbar buttons.
WIN+E Start Windows Explorer.
WIN+F Find files or folders.
WIN+CTRL+F Find computer.
WIN+M Minimize All.
SHIFT+WIN+M Undo Minimize All.
WIN+R Display Run dialog box.
WIN+BREAK Hot key used to display System Properties dialog box; reserved for system use.
WIN+number Reserved for manufacturer’s use.