Basic Keyboard Skills

You can perform desktop tasks using your keyboard instead of your mouse. When you use your keyboard for desktop navigation, note the following:

• The Alt key is the same as the Extend char key on some keyboards

• Return is the same as Enter on some keyboards

• Pressing Esc halts most interactive operations

• In Style Manager, the Window Behavior setting must be Click In Window To Make Active (this is the default value)

  For more information on the Window Behavior setting, refer to Chapter 7, Customizing the Desktop Environment.

Keyboard focus uses the highlight to show you which element of a window, menu, or control will respond to your input. To activate a selected menu item or control (such as a button), press the Spacebar.

Here's a summary of several common keyboard operations:

• To move the highlight to the next window: Press Alt+Tab.

• To move the keyboard highlight within a window: Press Tab and the arrow keys (up, down, left, and right).

• To close a window and remove it from the workspace: Press Alt+F4.

• To minimize a window (turn it into an icon): Press Alt+Spacebar, then N to choose Minimize from the Window menu.

• To move a window: Press Alt+Spacebar, then M to choose Move from the Window menu. Press the arrow keys to move the window up, down, left, or right, then press Return.

  Hold down Control while you press an arrow key to move the window faster.

For more information about using your keyboard for desktop navigation, refer to Appendix A, Keyboard Shortcuts for the Desktop. For information on currency symbols and characters from other languages, see "Composing Special Characters". For information on displaying, manipulating and printing characters from the Thai and Hebrew Locales, see Appendix D, Locale Notes.