Using the Keyboard
Your notebook keyboard is very similar to that of a typewriter, but the keyboard has additional keys that perform specific
computer-related tasks.
Keyboard
Key
Description
Numeric keypad
Contains the keys found on a typical calculator. Use the numeric keypad area to type numbers or to
perform mathematical calculations such as addition and subtraction. Note that you must press the Num Lock key to activate
the numeric keypad. (When you do so, the Num Lock light will be on.) Press the Num Lock key again to deactivate it.
Navigation keys
The Left/Right/Up/Down arrow keys are devoted to move the cursor on the screen, and also function
as the Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down keys, respectively.
Correction keys
The Insert, Back Space, and Delete keys enable you to make corrections in your documents.
Function keys The 12 function keys along the top of the keyboard are used to perform designated tasks. For example, in
many applications, F1 is the Help key. The task associated with each function key may vary from one application to the
next.
Escape key
The Esc (Escape) key is used to cancel commands.
Print Screen key
The Print Screen key takes an electronic snapshot of the screen and places it in the Windows
®
Clipboard. You can then paste the screen shot into a document and print it.
Operator keys
(Shift, Ctrl, Alt keys)
Several keys are always used with at least one other key: Ctrl, Alt, and Shift. When held down with
another key, the Ctrl (Control) and Alt (Alternate) keys offer another way to give commands. For example, in many
applications, instead of choosing the Save command from a menu, you can hold down Ctrl and press S (referred to as
Ctrl+S). The Shift key operates the same way as on a typewriter; it is used to produce capital letters or special symbols
such as @ and $.
Windows key
The key with the Windows logo displays the Windows Start menu; it is the equivalent of clicking the Start
button on the taskbar. See
Combinations and functions with the Windows key
for more information.
Fn key
The Fn key is used in combination with other keys to issue commands. See
Combinations and functions with
the Fn key
for more information.
Applications key
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