Secrets of the F Keys

Do you ever wonder why those F keys are at the top of your keyboard?  Are you curious about their functions?  We were recently challenged with uncovering the mystery.  Commonly known as Function keys, they may have a variety of uses or no use at all depending on your operating system and the program that you have open.  Some functions depend on whether you are using a full size keyboard or a laptop. Here are some of the common uses for these keys.

F1

• Almost always used as the help key, almost every program opens a help screen when this key is pressed.
• Windows Key + F1 opens the Microsoft Windows help and support center.

F2

• In all versions of Windows it renames a highlighted icon, file, or folder.
• In Excel it allows you to edit the cell.
• Alt + Ctrl + F2 opens "open document "  dialog window in Microsoft Word.
• Ctrl + F2 displays the print preview window in Microsoft Word.

F3

• Opens a search feature when at the Windows Desktop.
• Shift + F3 will change the highlighted text in Microsoft Word from upper to lower case or a capital letter at the beginning of every word.
• Windows Key + F3 opens the Advanced Find window in Microsoft Outlook.

F4

• Repeats the last action performed (Word 2000+).
• Alt + F4 closes the program window currently active in Microsoft Windows.
• Ctrl + F4 closes the open window within the current active window in Microsoft Windows.

F5

• In all modern Internet browsers, pressing F5 will reload the information in the active tab.
• Opens the find, replace, and go to window in Microsoft Word.
• Starts a slideshow in PowerPoint.

F6

• Move the cursor to the address bar in Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and most other Internet browsers.
• Reduces laptop speaker volume (on some laptops).

F7

• Commonly used to spell check and grammar check a document in Microsoft programs such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, etc.
• Shift + F7 runs a Thesaurus check on the highlighted word.
• Increases laptop speaker volume (on some laptops).

F9

• Recalculates a formula in Microsoft Excel.
• Activates the Send and Receive e-mail in Microsoft Outlook.
• Reduces laptop screen brightness (on some laptops).

F10

• In Microsoft Windows activates the menu bar of an open application.
• Shift + F10 is the same as right-clicking on a highlighted icon, file, or Internet link.  It activates the shortcut menu in MS Office.
• Increases laptop screen brightness (on some laptops).

F11

• Enters and Exits full screen mode in all modern Internet browsers to hide or restore the Menu bar.

F12

• Open the Save As window in Microsoft Word.
• Ctrl + F12 opens a document In Word.
• Shift + F12 saves the Microsoft Word document (like Ctrl + S).
• Ctrl + Shift + F12 prints a document in Microsoft Word.

If you have enjoyed this tip and have one of your own that you would like to share, please feel free to email your suggestion to techministry@fbcswedesboro. org .