The following is taken from:
Windows 32-bit System Developers’ Kit Online Reference
User Interface Style Guide - Keyboard Interface Summary
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) (*) | Left one screen (or previous unit, if left is not meaningful |
| PAGE DOWN | Down one screen (next screen, same position)(*) | Right one screen (or next unit, if right is not meaningful) |
| TAB (**) | Next field | To next tab position (in property sheets, next page) |
(*) "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.
(**) Using the SHIFT key with the TAB key navigates in the reverse direction.
Common Shortcut Keys
| Key | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| CTRL+C (1) | Copy | |
| CTRL+O | Open | |
| CTRL+P | ||
| 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.
Windows Keys
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.
| 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. |
| Key | Meaning |
|---|---|
| LEFT ALT+LEFT SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN | Toggle High Contrast mode |
| 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 |
| 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 | 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.