Australian PC World - The key to keyboard Shortcuts

The key to keyboard Shortcuts

Q I have tried to assign keyboard Shortcuts to a number of icons on my desktop but I do not seem to be able to get them to respond at all. I have assigned the keyboard keys in the Shortcut's Properties menu but when I try to use the shortcut nothing happens. How are these keyboard shortcuts supposed to work?
- Andrew Gallop

A Once you've assigned Shortcut keys to the Shortcut icons on your desktop or in your Start menu, you can easily open programs, files and folders with just a couple of keystrokes. Shortcut keys are also useful for starting another program without leaving the one you're currently using. They work by activating the Shortcut that points to a program, folder or file. To create a Shortcut key, right-click the Shortcut icon, choose Properties, and click on the Shortcut tab. In the Shortcut key box, type in a key combination, click Apply and then OK. To use the shortcut key, just type the key combination you chose.
There are three rules for creating shortcut keys.
1. Use a number or letter combined with <Ctrl> and <Alt> or <Shift>. "Ctrl + Alt" will be automatically added in the Shortcut key field if you type in only a letter or number; <Ctrl>-<Shift> can be assigned by pressing <Ctrl> and <Shift> as you press a letter or number. The function keys <F9> to <F12> can also be used instead of a number or letter.
2. Avoid using the <Tab>, <Backspace>, <Esc>, <Enter>, and <Print Scrn> keys or <spacebar>.
3. Shortcut keys take precedence over the keyboard shortcuts used by Windows 95 and other programs, so it's a good idea to restrict them to a few frequently accessed items.

Use Shortcut keys to launch frequently used applications
If you've followed these rules and your Shortcut keys don't work, check the location of the Shortcut, since Shortcut keys will only function if the Shortcut is on the desktop or in the Start menu hierarchy. Also test the Shortcut by double-clicking it to make sure that it has not broken because its parent file or program has been deleted or moved. If the problem still persists, right-click the Shortcut icon, choose Properties--Shortcut, select Normal from the Run box and choose Apply, then OK. If Minimized was previously selected in this box, then your Shortcut keys were probably working, but the item was appearing on the taskbar, not on the desktop. Changing the option to Normal should make the item open on the desktop instead.
- Belinda Taylor

Category: Win95
Issue: Apr 1998