Is there such a thing as a 'standard' list of hot-keys? Most applications, particularly Microsoft, use the key to access help; to enable edit mode in a cell, etc., etc.

Is there a guidline that specifies this information? I have heard of a 'common user access' text, but the only one I found was out of print and probably out dated by current standards.

Any suggestions?

Greg,

Searched my MSDN Library CDs and found "The Windows Interface Guidelines for Software Design". Here's one of the chapters - "Appendix B Keyboard Interface Summary". Hope you can use it.

- Oystein -

This appendix summarizes the common keyboard operations, shortcut keys, and access key assignments.

Table B.1 displays a summary of the keys used for navigation.

Table B.1 Common Navigation Keys

Key

Cursor movement

CTRL+cursor movement

LEFT ARROW

Left one unit.

Left one proportionally larger unit.

RIGHT ARROW

Right one unit.

Right one proportionally larger unit.

UP ARROW

Up one unit or line.

Up one proportionally larger unit.

DOWN ARROW

Down one unit or line.

Down one proportionally larger unit.

HOME

To the beginning of the line.

To the beginning of the data (topmost position).

END

To the end of the line.

To the end of the data (bottommost position).

PAGE UP

Up one screen (previous screen, same position).1

Left one screen (or previous unit, if left is not meaningful).

PAGE DOWN

Down one screen (next screen, same position).1

Right one screen (or next unit, if right is not meaningful).

TAB2

Next field.

To next tab position (in property sheets, next page).

1 "Screen" is defined as the height of the visible area being viewed. When scrolling, leave a nominal portion of the previous screen to provide context. For example in text, PAGE DOWN includes the last line of the previous screen as its first line.

2 Using the SHIFT key with the TAB key navigates in the reverse direction.

Table B.2 lists the common shortcut keys. Avoid assigning these keys to functions other than those listed.

Table B.2 Common Shortcut Keys

Key

Meaning

CTRL+C (1)

Copy

CTRL+O

Open

CTRL+P

Print

CTRL+S

Save

CTRL+V (1)

Paste

CTRL+X (1)

Cut

CTRL+Z (1)

Undo

F1

Display contextual Help window.

SHIFT+F1

Activate context-sensitive Help mode (What's This?).

SHIFT+F10

Display pop-up menu.

SPACEBAR (2)

Select (same as mouse button 1 click).

ESC

Cancel

ALT

Activate or inactivate menu bar mode.

ALT+TAB (3)

Display next primary window (or application).

ALT+ESC (3)

Display next window.

ALT+SPACEBAR

Display pop-up menu for the window.

ALT+HYPHEN

Display pop-up menu for the active child window (MDI).

ALT+ENTER

Display property sheet for current selection.

ALT+F4

Close active window.

ALT+F6 (3)

Switch to next window within application (between modeless secondary windows and their primary window).

ALT+PRINT SCREEN

Capture active window image to the Clipboard.

PRINT SCREEN

Capture desktop image to the Clipboard.

CTRL+ESC

Access Start button in taskbar.

CTRL+F6

Display next child window (MDI).

CTRL+TAB

Display next tabbed page or child window (MDI).

CTRL+ALT+DEL

Reserved for system use.

1 The system still supports shortcut assignments available in earlier versions of Microsoft Windows (ALT+BACKSPACE, SHIFT+INSERT, CTRL+INSERT, SHIFT+DELETE). You should consider supporting them (though not documenting them) to support the transition of users.

2 If the context (for example, a text box) uses the SPACEBAR for entering a space character, you can use CTRL+SPACEBAR. If that is also defined by the context, define your own key.

3 Using the SHIFT key with this key combination navigates in the reverse direction.

Table B.3 lists shortcut key assignments for keyboards supporting the new Windows keys. The Left Windows key and Right Windows key are handled the same. All Windows key combinations, whether currently assigned or not, are strictly reserved for definition by the system only. Do not use this key for your own application-defined functions.

Table B.3 Windows Keys

Key

Meaning

APPLICATION key

Display pop-up menu for the selected object.

WINDOWS key

Display Start button menu.

WINDOWS+F1

Display Help Topics browser dialog box for the main Windows Help file.

WINDOWS+TAB

Activate next application window.

WINDOWS+E

Explore My Computer.

WINDOWS+F

Find a file.

WINDOWS+CTRL+F

Find a computer.

WINDOWS+M

Minimize All.

SHIFT+WINDOWS+M

Undo Minimize All.

WINDOWS+R

Display Run dialog box.

WINDOWS+BREAK

Reserved system function.

WINDOWS+number

Reserved for computer manufacturer use.

Table B.4 lists the key combinations and sequences the system uses to support accessibility. Support for these options is set by users with the Windows Accessibility Options.

Table B.4 Accessibility Keys

Key

Meaning

LEFT ALT+LEFT SHIFT+NUM LOCK

Toggle MouseKeys

SHIFT (pressed five consecutive times)

Toggle StickyKeys

RIGHT SHIFT (held eight or more seconds)

Toggle FilterKeys (SlowKeys, RepeatKeys, and BounceKeys)

NUM LOCK (held five or more seconds )

Toggle ToggleKeys

Table B.5 lists the recommended access key assignments for common commands. While the context of a command may affect specific assignments, you should use these access keys when you including these commands in your menus and command buttons.

Table B.5 Access Key Assignments

About

Insert Object

Quick View

Always on Top

Link Here

Redo

Apply

Maximize

Repeat

Back

Minimize

Restore

Browse

Move

Resume

Close

Move Here

Retry

Copy

New

Run

Copy Here

Next

Save

Create Shortcut

No

Save As

Create Shortcut Here

Open

Select All

Cut

Open With

Send To

Delete

Paste

Show

Edit

Paste Link

Size

Exit

Paste Shortcut

Split

Explore

Page Setup

Stop

File

Paste Special

Undo

Find

Pause

View

Help

Play

What's This?

Help Topics

Print

Window

Hide

Print Here

Yes

Insert

Properties

Avoid assigning access keys to OK and Cancel when the ENTER key and ESC key, respectively, are assigned to them by default.

In addition to Oystein's mention of ms website there are several good books on the subject at most GOOD bookstores.

dsig@teleport.com onmouseover=window.status=imagine … ;return(true)"

David Tod Sigafoos ~ SigSolutions

voice: 503-639-8080

David,

Don't be silly! Who's got time to read books?!

- Oystein -

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