What do the "Function Keys" Do on a Keyboard?

Function Keys are those marked F1 - F12 Keys located across the top of most keyboards.  The following is a "generic" list of the commands those keys will do:

F1	Brings up the help screen
F2	Renames any file or folder that you have highlighted
F3	To search for a file or folder
F4	Display the address bar list in Windows Explorer
F5	Refresh the active window
F6	Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
F7	Doesn’t have any function in Windows, but will work for various commands in different application software programs
F8	This key is normally used to access Safe Mode (a trouble shooting mode that starts the computer with as few drivers as possible) when it is pressed during the computer’s boot up process.
F9	Doesn’t have any function in Windows, but will work for various commands in different application software programs
F10	Activate the menu bar in the active program
F11	This is a toggle key which allows you to go to Full Screen Mode on the Internet when using Browsers, such as Internet Explorer, Chrome & Firefox
F12	Doesn’t have any function in Windows, but will work for various commands in different application software programs

  

On some keyboards, including laptops and portable devices – the Function Keys will have “icons” on them – depending on the manufacturer, you will have to use your Fn key to activate either the Function Key or the Icon commands

Portable computers have Fn keys (because for their overall fewer numbers of keys).  In some cases the Fn key is a different style or color, so that corresponding other keys on the keyboard in that same color or style require you to use the Fn key to activate that specific command

Keyboard Shortcuts with the CTRL Key

Using Keyboard shortcuts – is often a quicker and easier way to activate a command than grabbing for the mouse…

Try using some of these popular keyboard shortcuts with the CTRL KEY (remember  a full keyboard has two (2) CTRL KEYS on the bottom keyboard row - one on the right and one on the left of the space bar, whereas many laptops, notebooks, etc only have one due to space  constraints.

• CTRL KEY - Holding the CTRL KEY down and pressing other key combinations will initiate quite a few actions (including these noted to the right) The commands vary based on what program you are in..

• CTRL with the + or – will magnify or de-magnify what you are seeing on the monitor when you are on the Internet; Great when you forget your glasses or reading fine print

• CTRL + H: In Word this opens the Find/Replace Dialog Box; but when you are on the Internet this opens the browsing HISTORY

• CTRL + N: On the Internet, this opens New Window; In Outlook, this opens a New Mail Message; In most WP programs, like Word & Excel, it opens a New Document

• CTRL + P: In most application programs (Word or on the Internet) this will open your Print Dialog Box so you can choose what you want to print and how many

• CTRL + S: In most application programs, this will open the SAVE Dialog Box

• CTRL + T: On the Internet, this will open a new TAB for tabbed browsing

• CTRL + A: Will highlight everything in a document (word, excel, power point allowing you to change formatting etc) or, use CTRL + A when you want to highlight all the the files or folders to copy and or move them to another location - such as to & from your computer and or flash or portable hard drive..