Cutting Corners
We all know time is money, and that the best thing we can do is to maximize what we can get done in a given amount of time. Shortcuts in operating systems, browsers, and other programs increase efficiency, which for any IT company is a godsend. Efficiency is what IT services are all about. It is the goal to fix as many problems, support as many users, and prevent as many issues as possible. Thus, these keyboard commands come into play by allowing more work to get done in the same eight-hour work day. It does not seem like it saves a lot of time, but the few seconds shaved off menial tasks adds up over the course of a career.
Compatibility
These shortcuts seem too good to be true. Do they only work with specialty software? Do they require powerful machines? The answer, thankfully, is no to both! These shortcuts work in many Microsoft products like Word and PowerPoint, the most popular web browsers like Chrome and Firefox, and even on Apple Macs! In other words, these shortcuts can be used in the day to day tasks that a user is going to experience. The exact work that most users do in a day is exactly why these shortcuts were built into so many prevalent products.
List of commands
Below are some of the most common commands. It is important to know that this list is very incomplete. However, it contains commands that even professional IT consultants use daily.
| Command | What it does | Where to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl + A | Select all the text | Word, web pages, email |
| Ctrl + C | Copy selected text | Word, web pages, email |
| Ctrl + V | Paste selected text | Word, email |
| Ctrl + P | Print a document | Word, web pages, email |
| Ctrl + F | Search for a word in a document | Word, web pages, email |
| Ctrl + T | Open a new tab in a browser | Chrome, Firefox |
| Ctrl + W | Closes the current tab | Chrome, Firefox |
| Alt + F4 | Closes the current window | Any window that is open |
These commands are the same in a Mac computer, simply use the Command key instead of the Ctrl key. Moreover, Windows allows the creation of custom shortcut keys! The instructions are as follows:
- Find the program you intend to create a shortcut for.
- Right-click on it and select “Create Shortcut.”
- Renaming is optional.
- Right-click on the shortcut that was just created and select “Properties.”
- Select the “Shortcut” tab.
- Select the “Shortcut key box” and press a letter. That letter will be tied to the shortcut!
- To run the new key commands, press Ctrl + Alt + [your selected letter]
I hope you find these tips helpful. For more details on how to apply these tips to your business, please contact me, your strategic technology planner, at SecurityFrist@BrickTechIT.com or at (407) 244-4494.
BrickTech provides IT Support, IT Consulting, Managed IT Services and offers VoIP phone systems in Orange County and Seminole County including Orlando, Winter Park, Oviedo, Maitland, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Longwood, Lake Mary, Sanford and surrounding areas.
