Windows 7 Tips & Tricks
Windows 7 Tips & Tricks Do you know this key? The “Windows” (or “Windows flag”) key is on the lower left-hand corner of your keyboard, between the Ctrl and Alt keys. Lots of short cuts are available by holding down this key while pressing other keys.
When you hold down the Windows flag and tap… D or space bar E L S Tab F1 Press the Ctrl key and the plus sign
This happens… Minimizes all programs and shows your desktop Opens your Windows Explorer (file management) Locks your workstation Allows you to get a screen clipping Cycles through your open programs Displays the Help menu Magnifies information on the screen
1.
Use the search field that appears just above your Start button to find programs and files faster – click the Start button and just start typing the name of the program or file. It will appear at the top of the window for you to select.
2.
Hover your mouse over the little rectangle in the lower right-hand corner of your screen to peek at your desktop. Click the rectangle to minimize all programs and go to your desktop.
3.
Hold down the Ctrl key while using the scroll wheel on your mouse to change the size of the icons on your desktop. (This works in some other applications, too – try it in Word to enlarge the size of the text!)
4.
Right-click anywhere on your desktop and select Gadgets to add a calendar, clock, weather app, etc. to your desktop.
5.
Right-click the task bar and select Properties to change the way the icons appear there. (Try checking “Use small icons” and selecting “Never combine” in the Taskbar buttons dropdown).
6.
Do you ever want to view two files or programs side by side? Click and drag the title bar of a document or program to one side of your monitor or the other until it snaps into place on the side. To re-expand the window, click and drag the title bar to the top of the monitor.
7.
Click and hold the title bar, then “shake” the program or document by moving your mouse rapidly back and forth. This action minimizes all programs/documents except the one you are “holding.”
8.
Like electronic Sticky Notes? You can make as many as you like. Find by typing the word Sticky in the Search field above the Start button. Right-click any note to change its color.
Plano ISD Instructional Technology | April 2013
1 of 2
Word 2010 Tips & Tricks Saving clipart for use in other applications Locate the clipart image you wish to save and insert it into any Word or PowerPoint file. When the image is displayed, right-click the image. Left-click Save as Picture… Navigate to the location where you wish to save the image, give the image a name, and in the Save as type field, select JPEG
To force a page break, press Ctrl+Enter.
Tips for selecting things To select a word, double click. To select a paragraph, triple click.
Shortcuts using the Ctrl key: Ctrl + A = Select All Ctrl + C = Copy Ctrl + V = Paste Ctrl + Z = Undo Ctrl + F = Find Ctrl + B = Bold Ctrl + I = Italic Ctrl + U = Underline Ctrl + N = New Document Ctrl + O = Open Ctrl + P = Print Ctrl + S = Save
Place your cursor in the left margin. Click once for a line, double click to select all lines in a paragraph.
To find a synonym for a word you’ve typed, hold down the Alt key as you leftclick the word.
Crop a picture to a shape Select the picture or pictures that you want to crop to a specific shape. Under Picture Tools, on the Format tab, in the Size group, click the arrow under Crop. Click Crop to Shape and then click the shape you want to crop to.
Sometimes you will want to start something with a numeral, but you don’t want Word to automatically indent as though you’re starting an outline. To prevent this from happening, click File > Options > Proofing. Click the AutoCorrect Options button. Click the AutoFormat As You Type tab. Uncheck the box next to Automatic Numbered Lists.
To create Automatic Borders, type any of the following characters and then press the Enter key. --- (3 hyphens) OR === (3 equal signs) OR ___ (3 underscores) OR *** (3 asterisks)
The group of small icons at the top of the Word window is called the Quick Access Toolbar. It is possible to add icons to this toolbar. Click the arrow at the right end of the toolbar to see the menu, and click More Commands… Add icons such as New, Open, Close, E-mail, etc. (all of these are found on the File Tab menu). You can reorder these icons in the way that makes sense to you. Click Save when finished. To make the Quick Access Toolbar easier to see, click the drop-down menu arrow again and select Show Below the Ribbon.
Plano ISD Instructional Technology | April 2013
2 of 2
When you hold down the Windows flag and tap… D or space bar E L S Tab F1 Press the Ctrl key and the plus sign
This happens… Minimizes all programs and shows your desktop Opens your Windows Explorer (file management) Locks your workstation Allows you to get a screen clipping Cycles through your open programs Displays the Help menu Magnifies information on the screen
1.
Use the search field that appears just above your Start button to find programs and files faster – click the Start button and just start typing the name of the program or file. It will appear at the top of the window for you to select.
2.
Hover your mouse over the little rectangle in the lower right-hand corner of your screen to peek at your desktop. Click the rectangle to minimize all programs and go to your desktop.
3.
Hold down the Ctrl key while using the scroll wheel on your mouse to change the size of the icons on your desktop. (This works in some other applications, too – try it in Word to enlarge the size of the text!)
4.
Right-click anywhere on your desktop and select Gadgets to add a calendar, clock, weather app, etc. to your desktop.
5.
Right-click the task bar and select Properties to change the way the icons appear there. (Try checking “Use small icons” and selecting “Never combine” in the Taskbar buttons dropdown).
6.
Do you ever want to view two files or programs side by side? Click and drag the title bar of a document or program to one side of your monitor or the other until it snaps into place on the side. To re-expand the window, click and drag the title bar to the top of the monitor.
7.
Click and hold the title bar, then “shake” the program or document by moving your mouse rapidly back and forth. This action minimizes all programs/documents except the one you are “holding.”
8.
Like electronic Sticky Notes? You can make as many as you like. Find by typing the word Sticky in the Search field above the Start button. Right-click any note to change its color.
Plano ISD Instructional Technology | April 2013
1 of 2
Word 2010 Tips & Tricks Saving clipart for use in other applications Locate the clipart image you wish to save and insert it into any Word or PowerPoint file. When the image is displayed, right-click the image. Left-click Save as Picture… Navigate to the location where you wish to save the image, give the image a name, and in the Save as type field, select JPEG
To force a page break, press Ctrl+Enter.
Tips for selecting things To select a word, double click. To select a paragraph, triple click.
Shortcuts using the Ctrl key: Ctrl + A = Select All Ctrl + C = Copy Ctrl + V = Paste Ctrl + Z = Undo Ctrl + F = Find Ctrl + B = Bold Ctrl + I = Italic Ctrl + U = Underline Ctrl + N = New Document Ctrl + O = Open Ctrl + P = Print Ctrl + S = Save
Place your cursor in the left margin. Click once for a line, double click to select all lines in a paragraph.
To find a synonym for a word you’ve typed, hold down the Alt key as you leftclick the word.
Crop a picture to a shape Select the picture or pictures that you want to crop to a specific shape. Under Picture Tools, on the Format tab, in the Size group, click the arrow under Crop. Click Crop to Shape and then click the shape you want to crop to.
Sometimes you will want to start something with a numeral, but you don’t want Word to automatically indent as though you’re starting an outline. To prevent this from happening, click File > Options > Proofing. Click the AutoCorrect Options button. Click the AutoFormat As You Type tab. Uncheck the box next to Automatic Numbered Lists.
To create Automatic Borders, type any of the following characters and then press the Enter key. --- (3 hyphens) OR === (3 equal signs) OR ___ (3 underscores) OR *** (3 asterisks)
The group of small icons at the top of the Word window is called the Quick Access Toolbar. It is possible to add icons to this toolbar. Click the arrow at the right end of the toolbar to see the menu, and click More Commands… Add icons such as New, Open, Close, E-mail, etc. (all of these are found on the File Tab menu). You can reorder these icons in the way that makes sense to you. Click Save when finished. To make the Quick Access Toolbar easier to see, click the drop-down menu arrow again and select Show Below the Ribbon.
Plano ISD Instructional Technology | April 2013
2 of 2
