What that row of keys F1- F12 is for
I sometimes get asked about the purpose of the row of keys F1 to F12 that are at or near the top of most keyboards. These are often called function keys and their purpose is to provide shortcuts to various actions. Their precise nature depends on what program is active and varies from one program to the next. However, here are some examples:
- F1 Opens the Help Menu in many programs
- F2 Rename selected file or folder
- F3 Search for a file or folder
- F4 Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
- F5 Refresh the active window
- F6 Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
- F7 Choose the Spelling command in Microsoft Word 2002
- F8 Used to extend selection in Word. Press once to select a word, twice to select a sentence, and so forth
- F9 Refresh or update selected fields in Word 2002
- F10 Select the Menu Bar in Word 2003
- F11 Full screen display in Internet Explorer and Firefox
- F12 Display the Save As dialog box in Word 2003
Note that the function keys are also often used in combination with the Shift, Alt, and Ctrl keys. Consult the help files for a particular application to see what keyboard shortcuts apply. For Microsoft applications there is a compendium available at this link.
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