Shortcuts in Windows

This applies to Windows 7 and Vista

The Windows Keyboard

Ever wonder what the "Windows" button was for on the Keyboard? Here are a few common shortcuts:

Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard Shortcuts List

If you want a list of ALL the Keyboard shortcut keys, open this Macro to view them.

  • Open Microsoft Word
  • From the View tab, in the Macros group, choose Macros View Macros
  • In the Macros in: box, select Word commands
  • In the Macro name: box, select List Commands
  • Click Run, note the List Commands dialog box opens
  • Choose Current keyboard settings and click OK

Creating Shortcuts

You can create a link to open anything that you can create a path for, or even an Internet link. This is a two part operation done at once, i.e. create the shortcut and insert the "link/path".

To create the Shortcut

  • Right mouse click the desktop
  • Choose New, then Shortcut (the Create Shortcut dialog box will open)

  • In the Type the location of the item box, enter your program, location or command (see attached examples)
  • Click Next
  • Give the shortcut a name
  • Click Finish

Creating Keyboard Shortcuts for existing Shortcuts

You can create a Keyboard Shortcut for an existing shortcut to open it. To do this…

  • Locate the shortcut icon
  • Right mouse click the icon and choose Properties (The Shortcut tab should open)
  • Click into the Shortcut Key box (It probably says "None")
  • Select your keyboard shortcut e.g. Ctrl +Alt + Q (Its best to use 2 function keys e.g. Ctrl +Alt, to avoid overwriting existing keyboard shortcuts)
  • Click OK

Creating Shortcuts for Folders or Files

You can create a shortcut for a file or a folder. The folder shortcut can be used to open it or if you want to put a file into the folder just drag it to the shortcut.

  • Right mouse click the Folder (or file) icon
  • Choose Create Shortcut
    Note the shortcut will appear in the same folder
  • Drag or Cut & Copy the Shortcut Icon to where you want it located (for example the Desktop)

You can use another drag method to create the shortcut, in this example to the Desktop.

  • Minimise any open windows until you have a clear Desktop
  • Open the folder that holds the file/folder you want to shortcut to, making sure you can see the Desktop behind the folder
  • Locate the file or folder

Use this sequence:

  • Click and hold the icon
  • Hold down both the Shift key and the Ctrl key (on the keyboard) of the file or Folder
  • Drag the icon to the Desktop
  • Release the mouse
  • Release Shift and Ctrl keys

This will create a shortcut to the file/folder. You can then move the shortcut to anywhere you like, including another folder and no matter where it is, it will always open the file/folder.

Change the Icon

You can change the Icon for your shortcuts.

To Change the Icon on the Shortcut

  • Right mouse click the Icon and choose Properties. A dialog box opens
  • Make sure the Shortcut tab is selected
  • Click the Change Icon button (at the bottom of the page)
  • Select an Icon and click OK
  • Click OK in the dialog box to apply.