CLOSED: [2017-09-10 Sun 20:21] :PROPERTIES: :CREATED: [2017-09-09 Sat 13:22] :ID: 2017-09-10-keyboard-shortcuts :END: :LOGBOOK: - State "DONE" from "STARTED" [2017-09-10 Sun 20:21] :END: Every computer user gets a more decent computer life by applying [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_shortcut][keyboard shortcuts]] to his or her daily work. This is absolutely nothing which should be used by so-called "[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geek][geeks]]" or "[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerd][nerds]]" only. Anybody should learn basic keyboard shortcuts to avoid inefficient mouse interaction which takes much longer when the fingers are on the keyboard already. I personally do like to learn new keyboard shortcuts by placing so-called [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheat_sheet][cheat sheets or reference cards]] beneath the monitor. When a shortcut is applied several times daily, you will notice that you don't need your cheat sheets any more after a couple of days. The following tables summarize the most basic keyboard shortcuts from my perspective. They are of use for any computer user, for all usage levels from the occasional user up to the hard-core programmer. This should be taught in every school. *** General Here come the most basic ones which should not be new to any experienced computer user. | Press this key | To do this | |------------------+-------------------------------------| | F1 | Show a help screen | | Ctrl + C | Copy seletion/item | | Ctrl + X | Cut seletion/item | | Ctrl + V | Paste seletion/item | | Alt + Tab | Switch between windows | | Ctrl + A | Select all items | | Ctrl + R (or F5) | Refresh | | Ctrl + Z | Undo | | F2 | Rename selected item | | Ctrl + Right | Move the cursor: next word | | Ctrl + Left | Move the cursor: previous word | | Ctrl + Down | Move the cursor: next paragraph | | Ctrl + Up | Move the cursor: previous paragraph | | TAB | Jump to the next input field | *** Multi-Selection Working with the mouse and keyboard combined, you get advanced selection possibilities: When you are selecting items in a list, like files in the file explorer, you can select multiple items with holding the =Ctrl= key and using the mouse button. You can select a range of items by clicking the first item and then holding the =Shift= key while clicking the last item. Of course, you can combine the two methods. Imagine you have selected a range of items with the method above. Then you are able to deselect single items of this selection by =Ctrl=-clicking those items. *** Windows-Specific Here is a short list of [[https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12445/windows-keyboard-shortcuts][keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Windows]]. Many of them are available on other systems as well. The =Win= key is the key with the Windows logo which is placed on the left bottom side between the =Ctrl= and the space key. | Press this key | To do this | |--------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------| | Win + D | Show/hide desktop | | Win + L | Lock computer | | Win + E | Open File Explorer | | Win + M | Minimize all windows | | Win + Shift + M | Restore minimized windows | | Win | Start menu: start typing for instant searching apps and files | | Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Open Task Manager | Since the most recent versions of Windows, even Microsoft provides [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_desktop][virtual desktops]] which I really like. I use them so that I don't have to minimize, maximize, or search open windows. For me, I tend to use four virtual desktops: 1 for communication tools, 2 for web browsing, 3 and 4 for working tasks. | Press this key | To do this | |--------------------+-----------------------------------| | Win + Tab | Open Task view | | Win + Ctrl + D | Add a virtual desktop | | Win + Ctrl + Right | Go to left virtual desktop | | Win + Ctrl + Left | Go to left virtual desktop | | Win + Ctrl + F4 | Close the current virtual desktop | With virtual desktops, you have to deal with different windows only per virtual desktop. Therefore, you only see your browser windows on virtual desktop 2. This way, you are avoiding being drowned in too many windows. For the same reason, I configure Windows so that it does not collate windows of the same application in the task bar. Other operating systems are quite flexible in terms of virtual desktops and let you decide what keyboard shortcuts you are using for switching virtual desktops and so forth. Windows is quite restrictive and does not even let you move windows between virtual desktops. For managing the windows on a (virtual) desktop, you can use the following commands: | Press this key | To do this | |------------------+------------------------------------------------------| | Win + Up | Maximize the window | | Win + Down | Hide/minimize window | | Win + Left/Right | Maximize window to the left/right side of the screen | *** Web Browsers We do spend much time in web browsers like Firefox or Chrome. All browsers I am aware of are using common keyboard bindings such as the following: | Press this key | To do this | |---------------------+--------------------------------------------------------| | Ctrl + T | New tab | | Ctrl + W | Close tab (window) | | Ctrl + L | Go to and select address bar: start typing for new URL | | Ctrl + Page Up/Down | Next/previous tab | | Ctrl + Click | Open URL in new tab | | Shift + Click | Open URL in new window | I suggest using one browser window per task. For example when you are coding Python, keep all Python-related tabs in one browser window. Use different browser windows for social networking, news, and any other task you are doing.