Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts. They’re convenient because you don’t have to remove your hands from the keyboard to grab the mouse and click a button. Here are some of my favorite Microsoft keyboard shortcuts:

Ctrl + S = Save
Ctrl + W = Close the file (without exiting the program)
Ctrl + N = Start a new file (and bypass that extra screen!)
Ctrl + C = Copy
Ctrl + V = Paste
Ctrl + A = Select all
Ctrl + Z = Undo previous command
Ctrl + Y = Redo previous command
Ctrl + F = Find text

Start using one of them until it becomes a habit; then, move on to the next one. Usually, your fingers are already on the keyboard, so why not use the shortcuts? You can still use the mouse to perform the commands; thankfully, the mouse isn’t as hard to find as the remote!

Delivering the Presentation

Keyboard shortcuts are helpful when you’re delivering a presentation:

F5 (the function key) starts the slide presentation.

B toggles to a black screen and then back to the presentation. (Eliminate the visual so the audience focuses on you, especially when you're answering a question that's not related to the current slide or you’re starting your presentation but the slides aren’t part of the introduction.)

W toggles to a white screen and then back to the presentation.

N advances to the next slide (same as pressing ENTER key or clicking the Left mouse button).

P moves back to the previous slide.

HOME key goes to the first slide of the presentation.

END key goes to the last slide of the presentation.

Ctrl+S displays a menu of slides in the program; type the number of the slide to go to and press ENTER. Or, if you know the slide number; type it and press ENTER without using Ctrl+S.

ESC key ends the presentation.

TAB key moves to all hyperlinks on slide; then, press ENTER to select.