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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 taking my 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 while clicking Tab to reach the desired file or program

Working with Word

To...

Use this shortcut

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

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 + <

Increase 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 print

Alt + Ctrl + I

Accelerating Excel

To...

Use this shortcut

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

Ctrl + 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

To...

Use this shortcut

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 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 Home Magazine.