Keyboard Control


For


Windows Millennium,


98 and 95

The following keyboard commands assist as an alternative to using the mouse in Windows Millennium, 98 and 95 from Microsoft. They provide accessibliity through the speed and ease of the keyboard. They are also good for getting any user out of scrapes, when for some reas on a mouse isn't available.

NOTE: There will be some redundency in this document as it is a combination of two documents. It is, however, marked for easy navigation.
The primary purpose of this page is to offer 'mouseless' commands. A VERY few of those listed below do use the mouse, but were included in the original texts and were therefore not removed.

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows Millennium,
98 and 95


SUMMARY


This article lists keyboard shortcuts you can use with Microsoft Windows. The following list provides some of the most frequently memorized key combinations:


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Contents

Top of Page

General Windows Keyboard Shortcuts (for Windows 98 and 95)

Windows Millennium, 98 and 95 commands below

Windows System Key Combinations

Windows Program Key Combinations

Shell Objects And General Folder/Windows Explorer Shortcuts

Accessibility Shortcuts

Microsoft Natural Keyboard Keys

Dialog Box Keyboard Commands

Bottom of Page


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Gwneral Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

NOTE: This section covers Microsoft Windows 98 and 95.

To: Select a menu, or select or clear the check box by the letter underlined in the menu name.
Press: ALT+letter key, where the key is the underlined letter in a menu command

To: Undoes the last action (Undo command in Edit menu); use within a window. Note that not all actions, such as shutting down, can be undone.
Press: ALT+BACKSPACE or CTRL+Z

To: Switch view from current application window to next open application window, including minimized windows on the taskbar; press ESC more than once to switch through successive windows.
Press: ALT+ENTER

To: Switch view from current application window to next open application window, including minimized windows on the taskbar in the reverse direction; press ESC more than once to switch through successive windows.
Press: ALT+SHIFT+ENTER

To: Display the properties of a selected item while working in a window.
Press: ALT+ENTER

To: Switch view from current application window to next open application window, including minimized windows on the taskbar; press ESC more than once to switch through successive windows.
Press: ALT+ESC

To: Switch view from current application window to next open application window, including minimized windows on the taskbar in the reverse direction; press ESC more than once to switch through successive windows.
Press: ALT+SHIFT+ESC

To: Close the active application window.
Press: ALT+F4

To: Display Document menu from the leftmost icon on the main toolbar of the active document window.
Press: ALT+HYPHEN

To: Minimize all windows when taskbar has been selected.
Press: ALT+M

To: Copy the active window to the Windows Clipboard.
Press: ALT+PRINTSCREEN

To: Redo the previously undone action; works within a window.
Press: ALT+SHIFT+BACKSPACE

To: Open the menu of the leftmost icon on the main toolbar bar of the active window; this menu typically contains the following commands: Restore, Move, Size, Minimize, Maximize and Close.
Press: ALT+SPACEBAR

To: Close the active window.
Press: ALT+SPACEBAR+C

To: Minimize the active window.
Press: ALT+SPACEBAR+N

To: Restore the active window.
Press: ALT+SPACEBAR+R

To: Maximize the active window if it is minimized.
Press: ALT+SPACEBAR+X

To: Move from active application window to the previously used application window; to select an application from a list of the open applications, hold ALT down and press TAB more than once to move through the list from left to right.
Press: ALT+TAB

To: Move from active application window to the previously used application window; to select an application from a list of the open applications, hold ALT and SHIFT down and press TAB more than once to move through the list from right to left.
Press: ALT+SHIFT+TAB

To: Select the next icon with the specified name or initial letter while working on Desktop or Taskbar.
Press: Any printing character

To: Select the menu command with the underlined character (access key) on an open menu within the window.
Press: Any printing character

To: Select the next icon with the specified name or initial letter while working in Windows Explorer- Tree View; repeating the character selects successive items beginning with the same character.
Press: Any printing character

To: Move to the next item with the specified name or initial letter when working in dialog boxes. Use BACKSPACE to change; in a multiple selection list box, this command moves to an item without selecting it.
Press: Any printing character

To: Select the icon or taskbar button adjacent to starting point in the direction of the arrow while working on Desktop or Taskbar.
Press: ARROW KEY

To: Select the next item in the indicated direction while working in Windows explorer;
add SHIFT to select or deselect additional items; add CTRL to move to the item without selecting it; in Details View there is only one column, so RIGHT and LEFT ARROW
Press: ARROW KEY

To: Expand view of everything under the current selection when working in Windows Explorer-Tree view.
Press: ASTERISK (on the numeric keypad)

To: Display the contents of the parent directory of an active directory while working in Windows Explorer; it may open a new window, depending on the options selected.
Press: BACKSPACE

To: Display the contents of the parent directory of an active directory while working in Windows Explorer-Tree View; it may open a new window, depending on the options selected.
Press: BACKSPACE

To: View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer-TreeView.
Press: BACKSPACE

To: Select all the items in the active window (You also can choose Select All from the Edit menu.).
Press: CTRL+A

To: Display the Close Program dialog box in order to close active programs, or to shut down the entire computer system.
Press: CTRL+ALT+DELETE

To: Open the Windows NT Security dialog box to choose from the following options: Lock Workstation, Logoff, Shut Down, Change Password, Task Manager, and Cancel; if you are not logged on, command opens the logon dial
Press: CTRL+ALT+DELETE

To: Undo previous action taken within a window.
Press: CTRL+BACKSPACE

To: Copy selected item(s) to the Windows Clipboard when working in Windows Explorer.
Press: CTRL+C

To: Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph within a window.
Press: CTRL+DOWN ARROW

NOTE: Not a 'mouseless' command but included in original text.
To: Copy a selelcted file to a folder by dragging the file to the folder.
Press: CTRL+DRAG A FILE

To: Display Windows Start menu.
Press: CTRL+ESC

To: Display Run dialog box after displaying Start menu.
Press: CTRL+ESC and then R

To: Display the Find All Files dialog box while working in Windows Explorer.
Press: CTRL+F or F3

To: Close the active document window.
Press: CTRL+F4

To: Go to the next document window in the active application. Add SHIFT to go to the previous document window.
Press: CTRL+F6

To: Go to the previous document window in the active application.
Press: CTRL+SHIFT+F6

To: Display the Go To Folder dialog box (You also can choose Go To from the Tools menu).
Press: CTRL+G

To: Copy the selected item(s) to the Clipboard. (You also can choose the Copy command from the Edit menu.).
Press: CTRL+INSERT OR CTRL+C

To: Move the cursor's position to the beginning of the previous word.
Press: CTRL+LEFT ARROW

To: Open the New dialog box.
Press: CTRL+N

To: Display the Open dialog box (You also can choose the Open command from the File menu.).
Press: CTRL+O

To: Display the Print dialog box (You also can choose the Print command from the File menu).
Press: CTRL+P

To: Display next tab when working with a dialog box with multiple tabs.
Press: CTRL+PAGE DOWN or CTRL+TAB

To: Display the previous tab when working with a dialog box with multiple tabs.
Press: CTRL+PAGE UP or CTRL+SHIFT+TAB

To: Move the cursor's position to the beginning of the next word.
Press: CTRL+RIGHT ARROW

To: Open the Save dialog box (You also can choose the Save command from the File menu).
Press: CTRL+S

To: Highlight a selected block of text.
Press: CTRL+SHIFT+ANY ARROW KEY

NOTE: Not a 'mouseless' command but included in original text.
To: Create a shortcut icon for a selected file in a selected place.
Press: CTRL+SHIFT+DRAG A FILE

To: Select the active item; use after moving with the CTRL key to select separate groups of items.
Press: CTRL+SPACEBAR

To: Deselect the active item; use after moving with the CTRL key to select separate groups of items.
Press: CTRL+SPACEBAR

To: Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
Press: CTRL+UP ARROW

To: Paste a copied item(s) from the Clipboard into a selected location (You also can choose Paste from the Edit menu.).
Press: CTRL+V

To: Copy and remove the selected item(s) from their original location to the Clipboard. (You also can choose the Cut command from the Edit menu.).
Press: CTRL+X

To: Undo the last action; note: some actions, like Shutdown, cannot be undone (You also can choose Undo from the Edit menu.).
Press: CTRL+Z

To: Delete the selected item(s), or to delete the character to the right of the cursor; if items are files they will be moved to the Recycle Bin.
Press: DELETE

To: Delete the selected item(s), or to delete the character to the right of the cursor; if items are files they will be moved to the Recycle Bin.
Press: DELETE

To: Disply the next or previous tab page in dialog boxes with tabs.
Press: DOWN ARROW or UP ARROW

To: Opens the selected menu when focus is on the menu title, but activates a menu item when focus is on a menu item. If the selected menu item is unavailable, ENTER closes the menu.
Press: ENTER

To: Open or display a selected item; it may open a new window, depending on the options you have selected. (You also can choose Open from the File menu.).
Press: ENTER

To: Close an open menu and return to the parent menu if there is one, or return to the menu title. If already at the menu title, return to position previous to activating the menu bar.
Press: ESC

To: Cancel the current task.
Press: ESC

To: Select the last item in the current list.
Press: END

To: Move to the first item in the current list without selecting it.
Press: HOME+CTRL

To: Move to the last item in the current list without selecting it.
Press: END+CTRL

To: Select the first item in the list and additional items below it.
Press: SHIFT+HOME

To: Select the last item in the current list and additional items above it.
Press: SHIFT+END

To: Select the first item on the tree, when working in Windows Explorer - Tree View.
Press: HOME

To: Select the highest setting in a dialog box with slide out menus.
Press: HOME

To: Select the lowest setting in a dialog box with slide out menus.
Press: END

To: Select the first item in a list box.
Press: HOME

To: Select the last item in a list box.
Press: END

To: Select the first item and additional items in an extended selection list box.
Press: SHIFT+HOME

To: Select the last item and additional items in an extended selection list box.
Press: SHIFT+END

To: Move to the first item in an extended selection list box without selecting it. In a multiple selection list box, this moves cursor without changing the selection.
Press: HOME+CTRL

To: Move to the last item in an extended selection list box without selecting it. In a multiple selection list box, this moves cursor without changing the selection.
Press: END+CTRL

To: Close a branch, or select the parent of the current item, when working in Windows Explorer - Tree View.
Press: LEFT ARROW

To: Switch the focus between menus on the menu bar in the direction of the arrow. If the original menu was open, the target menu is opened as well, and the first item in it gets the focus.
Press: LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW

To: Select the next lower setting in a dialog box with slide out menus.
Press: LEFT ARROW

To: Select the next lower setting in a dialog box with slide out menus.
Press: UP ARROW

To: Close everything under the current selection when working in Windows Explorer - Tree View.
Press: MINUS SIGN (on the numeric keypad)

To: Select a lower or higher setting when working in a dialog box with slide out menus, depending on the application; this is the equivalent of pressing an arrow key many times.
Press: PAGE DOWN

To: Select a lower or higher setting when working in a dialog box with slide out menus, depending on the application; this is the equivalent of pressing an arrow key many times.
Press: PAGE UP

To: In Windows Explorer, go the top item on the screen. Use a second time to select the item one screen above.
Press: PAGE UP

To: In Windows Explorer, go the bottom item on the screen. Use a second time to select the item one screen below.
Press: PAGE DOWN

To: In Windows Explorer, select additional items above an already selected item.
Press: SHIFT+PAGE UP

To: In Windows Explorer, select additional items below an already selected item.
Press: SHIFT+PAGE DOWN

To: In Windows Explorer, move to additional items above an already selected item, without selecting the additional items.
Press: PAGE UP+CTRL

To: In Windows Explorer, move to additional items below an already selected item, without selecting the additional items.
Press: PAGE DOWN+CTRL

To: In Windows Explorer Tree View, move to the top item on the screen. Use a second time to move up one screen.
Press: PAGE UP

To: In Windows Explorer Tree View, move to the bottom item on the screen. Use a second time to move down one screen.
Press: PAGE DOWN

To: In dialog boxes and combo boxes, move a selected item up one screen.
Press: PAGE UP

To: In dialog boxes and combo boxes, move a selected item down one screen.
Press: PAGE DOWN

To: In an extended selection list box, select additional items above an already selected item.
Press: SHIFT+PAGE UP

To: In an extended selection list box, select additional items below an already selected item.
Press: SHIFT+PAGE DOWN

To: In an extended selection list box, move to additional items above an already select item, without selecting the additional items. In a multiple selection list box, use to move without changing the selection.
Press: CTRL+PAGE UP

To: In an extended selection list box, move to additional items below an already select item, without selecting the additional items. In a multiple selection list box, use to move without changing the selection.
Press: CTRL+PAGE DOWN

To: In Windows Explorer, Tree view, expand everything under the current selection back to a previously opened state, or use to open only one level if it has not previously been opened.
Press: PLUS SIGN (on the numeric keypad)

To: Copy an image of the screen to the Windows Clipboard.
Press: PRINT SCREEN

To: In Windows Explorer, Tree view, open a branch, or select the first item in the branch.
Press: RIGHT ARROW

To: Open a selected menu;
DOWN ARROW selects the next command in the list.
Press: DOWN ARROW

To: Open a selected menu; UP ARROW selects the previous command in the list.
Press: UP ARROW

To: Select the next visible object above when working in Windows Explorer-Tree View.
Press: UP ARROW

To: Select the next visible object below when working in Windows Explorer-Tree View.
Press: DOWN ARROW

To: Select the previous item in a dialog box.
Press: UP ARROW

To: Select the next item in a dialog box.
Press: DOWN ARROW

To: In an extended selection list box, select additional items above an already selected item.
Press: SHIFT+UP ARROW

To: In an extended selection list box, select additional items below an already selected item.
Press: SHIFT+DOWN ARROW

To: Move to additional items above a selected item without selecting the additional items.
Press: CTRL+UP ARROW

To: Move to additional items below a selected item without selecting the additional items.
Press: CTRL+DOWN ARROW

To: Display Windows Help.
Press: WIN+F1

To: Opens the Start menu from the taskbar.
When you use CTRL+ESC, you can press ESC again to place the keyboard focus on the Start button.
When you use the Windows logo key, pressing ESC again closes the Start menu.
Press: Windows logo key or CTRL+ESC

To: Open the System Properties dialog box. (You also can choose the Systems item in Control Panel.).
Press: Windows logo key+BREAK

To: Open the Find Computer dialog box. (You also can choose the Computer command from the Find item in the Start menu.).
Press: Windows logo key+CTRL+F

To: Open the Windows Explorer. (You also can choose the Windows Explorer command from the Program item in the Start menu.).
Press: Windows logo key+E

To: Open the Find All Files dialog box. (You also can choose the Files Or Folders command from the Find item in the Start menu.).
Press: Windows logo key+F

To: Minimize all open windows. The keyboard focus goes to the least recently selected icon on the desktop.
Press: Windows logo key+M

To: Expand previously opened windows and return focus to the most recently used application.
Press: Windows logo key+M+SHIFT

To: This shortcut key is reserved for use by computer manufacturers.
Press: Windows logo key+number

To: Display the Run dialog box. (You also can choose the Run command in the Start menu.).
Press: Windows logo key+R

To: Select and cycle through the taskbar buttons.
Press: Windows logo key+TAB

To: Display Help information for the active object or the window as a whole.
Press: F1

To: Activate, or select, the main toolbar beginning with the first toolbar option on the left, usually File;
After the first option is activated you can navigate through toolbar and menu options using the appropriate ARROW keys; press F10 or ALT again
Press: F10 or ALT

To: Rename a selected item (A bold rectangle appears around the title creating a text box,
Type the new name and press ENTER;
Press ESC to cancel. Some icons on the desktop cannot be renamed).
Press: F2

To: Open the Find All Files dialog box.
Press: F3

To: Open the drop-down list box on the toolbar. Pressing F4 again moves the keyboard focus back to the previously used item.
Press: F4

To: Refresh the current window (You also can choose Refresh from the View menu.).
Press: F5

To: Move between active panes and the toolbar.
Press: F6 or TAB

To: in dialog boxes with the slide out option, select the next highest setting.
Press: RIGHT ARROW

To: in dialog boxes with the slide out option, select the next highest setting.
Press: DOWN ARROW

To: Use with tabbed dialog boxes and when the focus is on a tab selector, to choose the next or previous tab in the current row and to display the page.
Press: RIGHT ARROW or LEFT ARROW

To: Bypass the AutoPlay feature by holding the SHIFT key down while you insert a CD-ROM ;
hold down the SHIFT key while Microsoft Word is loading to suppress the AutoExec macro.
Press: SHIFT

To: Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop in the direction of the chosen ARROW KEY, or to select text within a document.
Press: SHIFT+ANY ARROW KEY

To: Delete selected item(s) immediately without moving the item(s) to the Recycle Bin.
Press: SHIFT+DELETE

To: Display a shortcut menu that shows a list of commands relevant to the selected object.
Press: SHIFT+F10 or Application key (also the right mouse click)

To: In extended selection list box, move without changing the selection. You can then:
Press CTRL+SPACEBAR or SHIFT+SPACEBAR to select additional items. The list box returns to normal operation when you press SHIFT+F8 a second time or switch to another Press: SHIFT+F8

To: Paste copied items(s) from the Clipboard (You also can choose the Paste command from the Edit menu.).
Press: SHIFT+INSERT OR CTRL+V

To: Extend the selection to the current item; if you have already selected more than one item, it selects only the items from the first item you selected to the current item.
Press: SHIFT+SPACE

To: Extend the selection from the last selected item to the current item in an extended selection dialog box, combo box or list-box.
Press: SHIFT+SPACE

To: When typed alone, selects the current item if it is not already selected. Use after moving with the CTRL key to select separate groups of items.
Press: SPACE

To: Select or deselect the current item in an extended-selection list box.
Press: SPACEBAR or CTRL+SPACE

To: Move between the last selected icon on the desktop, the Start button on the taskbar, and the taskbar as a whole. There is no visual indication of the focus on the taskbar, but you can use the arrow keys to move between the taskbar buttons. You also;
Press: TAB

Flash to : Contents , Top of Page or Bottom of Page

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NOTE: Information from this point forward applies to Microsoft Windows Millennium, 98 and 95

Windows System Key Combinations

Help
F1

Open Start menu
CTRL+ESC

Switch between open programs
ALT+TAB

Quit program
ALT+F4

Delete items permanently
SHIFT+DELETE

Flash to : Contents , Top of Page or Bottom of Page


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Windows Program Key Combinations

Copy
CTRL+C

Cut
CTRL+X

Paste
CTRL+V

Undo
CTRL+Z Bold
CTRL+B

Underline
CTRL+U

Italic
CTRL+I

Flash to : Contents , Top of Page or Bottom of Page


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More Information

F1:
Starts Windows Help.

F10:
Activates menu bar options.

SHIFT+F10:
Opens a context menu for the selected item. This is the same as right-clicking an object.

CTRL+ESC:
Opens the Start menu. Use the ARROW keys to select an item.

CTRL+ESC, ESC:
Selects the Start button.
Press TAB to select the taskbar, or press SHIFT+F10 for a context menu.

ALT+DOWN ARROW:
Opens a drop-down list box.

ALT+TAB:
Switch to another running application.
Hold down the ALT key and then press the TAB key to view the task-switching window.

SHIFT:
Press down and hold the SHIFT key while you insert a CD-ROM to bypass the auto-run feature.

ALT+SPACE
Displays the main window's System menu. From the System menu, you can restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the window.

ALT+- (ALT+hyphen)
Displays the Multiple Document Interface (MDI) child window's System menu. From the MDI child window's System menu, you can restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the child window.

CTRL+TAB
Switch to the next child window of a Multiple Document Interface (MDI) application.

ALT+<underlined letter in menu>
Opens the corresponding menu.

ALT+F4
Closes the current window.

ALT+DOWN ARROW:
Opens a drop-down list box.

CTRL+F4
Closes the current Multiple Document Interface (MDI) window.

ALT+F6
Switch between multiple windows in the same program. For example, when the Notepad Find dialog box is displayed, ALT+F6 switches between the Find dialog box and the main Notepad window.

Flash to : Contents , Top of Page or Bottom of Page


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Shell Objects and General Folder/Windows Explorer Shortcuts

For a Selected Object:

F2
Rename object

F3
Find: All Files

CTRL+X
Cut

CTRL+C
Copy

CTRL+V
Paste

SHIFT+DEL
Delete selection immediately, without moving the item to the Recycle Bin.

ALT+ENTER
Open the property sheet for the selected object.

To Copy a File:
Press down and hold the CTRL key while you drag the file to another folder.

To Create a Shortcut:
Press down and hold CTRL+SHIFT while you drag a file to the desktop or a folder.

General Folder/Shortcut Control

F4
Selects the Go To A Different Folder box and moves down the entries in the box (if the toolbar is active in Windows Explorer).

F5
Refreshes the current window.

F6
Moves among panes in Windows Explorer.

CTRL+G
Opens the Go To Folder tool (in Windows 95 Windows Explorer only).

CTRL+Z
Undo the last command.

CTRL+A
Select all the items in the current window.

BACKSPACE
Switch to the parent folder.

Windows Explorer Tree Control

Numeric Keypad *
Expands everything under the current selection.

Numeric Keypad +
Expands the current selection.

Numeric Keypad -
Collapses the current selection.

RIGHT ARROW
Expands the current selection if it is not expanded, otherwise goes to the first child.

LEFT ARROW
Collapses the current selection if it is expanded, otherwise goes to the parent.

Property Sheet Control

CTRL+TAB/CTRL+ SHIFT+TAB:
Move through the property tabs.

Flash to : Contents , Top of Page or Bottom of Page


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Accessibility Shortcuts

Tap SHIFT Key 5 times
Toggles StickyKeys on and off.

Press down and hold the right SHIFT key for 8 seconds
Toggles FilterKeys on and off.

Press down and hold the NUM LOCK key for 5 seconds
Toggles ToggleKeys on and off.

Left ALT+Left SHIFT+NUM LOCK
Toggles MouseKeys on and off.

Left ALT+Left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN
Toggles High Contrast on and off.

Flash to : Contents , Top of Page or Bottom of Page


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Microsoft Natural Keyboard Keys

WINDOWS
Start Menu

WINDOWS+R
Run dialog box

WINDOWS+M
Minimize All

SHIFT+WINDOWS+M
Undo Minimize All

WINDOWS+F1
Help

WINDOWS+E
Windows Explorer

WINDOWS+F
Find Files or Folders

WINDOWS+D
Minimizes all open windows and displays the desktop

CTRL+WINDOWS+F
Find Computer

CTRL+WINDOWS+TAB
Moves focus from Start, to Quick Launch bar, to System Tray.
Use RIGHT ARROW or LEFT ARROW to move focus to items on Quick Launch bar and System Tray

WINDOWS+TAB
Cycle through taskbar buttons

WINDOWS+BREAK
System Properties dialog box

Application key
Displays a context menu for the selected item

Microsoft Natural Keyboard with IntelliType Software Installed

WINDOWS+L
Log off Windows

WINDOWS+P
Opens Print Manager

WINDOWS+C
Opens Control Panel

WINDOWS+V
Opens Clipboard

WINDOWS+K
Opens Keyboard Properties dialog box

WINDOWS+I
Opens Mouse Properties dialog box

WINDOWS+A
Opens Accessibility Options(if installed)

WINDOWS+SPACEBAR
Displays the list of IntelliType Hotkeys

WINDOWS+S
Toggles the CAP LOCK key on and off

Flash to : Contents , Top of Page or Bottom of Page


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Dialog Box Keyboard Commands

TAB
Move to the next control in the dialog box.

SHIFT+TAB
Move to the previous control in the dialog box.

SPACEBAR
If the current control is a button, this clicks the button. If the current control is a check box, this toggles the check box. If the current control is an option button, this selects the option button.

ENTER
Equivalent to clicking the selected button (the button with the outline).

ESC
Equivalent to clicking the Cancel button.

ALT+<underlined letter in dialog box item>
Move to the corresponding item.

Flash to : Contents , Top of Page or Bottom of Page


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