Use these keyboard shortcuts when your mouse dies
`[i tecbrepubllc.comlartlcleluse·thee&-k.eyboard·shOI'tcYts-wtten-your·mous&-<lles
`Michael Jackman
`
`,...,~
`
`, ,.JTech
`
`u
`
`Occasionally, your mouse dies. When that happens, knowing a few essential keyboard
`shortcuts can let you exit gracefully, saving all your work. In this Daily Feature, Mike
`Jackman describes a few shortcuts and shows you how to customize your own.
`
`It happens occasionally-you're in Windows, and your mouse stops working. For example,
`rve often lost the use of the mouse on the first restart after modifying Wmdows NT 4.0
`networking. In such a case, you have two options: Cut power and lose your work (also a
`dangerous way to reboot), or use keyboard shortcuts to exit gracefully. If you master some
`basic key combinations, you'll be able to navigate in Windows when your mouse dies. You
`may also decide you like the extra speed of working with both hands on the keyboard.
`
`If you know these shortcuts already, you may be wondering why I'm writing this Daily
`Feature. I've come to understand that many experienced Windows users haven't had the
`desire or time to learn keyboard shortcuts. These shortcuts are standard features of the
`Wmdows GUI (Graphical User Interface). Therefore, these conventions are followed by most
`programs running in Windows, not just by Wmdows itself. This fact alone makes keyboard
`shortcuts worth knowing.
`
`If you already know most of these, consider this Daily Feature a refresher. For those of you
`who don't have keyboard shortcuts at your fingertips, the ones presented in the following list
`will work for Wmdows 98, Me, NT, and 2000.
`
`• Arrow keys: Use the up/down arrow keys to navigate vertically within any menu, and
`the right/left keys to move between columns. For example, if you use [Alt]F to open the
`Eile menu in Word, use the arrow keys to navigate within it.
`• [Al.t] plus an underlined letter: In any menu choice, an underlined letter means
`you can activate the feature by holding down [Alt] and pressing the letter. For instance,
`in Word (and almost all Wmdows programs), pressing [Alt]F opens the file menu.
`Within this menu, pressing [ALT]E opens the Versions dialog.
`
`liS
`
`RingCentral Ex-1021, p. 1
`RingCentral v. Estech
`IPR2021-00574
`
`

`

`• [Alt][F4]z This is used to close or exit the program (doses all instances, i.e., all open
`windows within a program). It is the equivalent of clicking the "X" in a window title bar.
`• [Alt]Spaeebar: This combination opens the active window' a syBt:em menu. At the top
`left of e-m:y window's title bar is a small pragmm. ioon. UBUally, you open the system
`menu by eliding the ioon. The resulting short menu leta you minimi?e, menmire,
`move, and teSize the window, close the program, and pezform several other program
`functions. You could hit [Alt]Spacebarto open the system menu, then [Ctrl)M to select
`Mow,. and use the arrow keys to move the window up or down, right. or left. You oould
`also use [Ctrl]S to size the window with the arrow keys.
`• [Alt][Tab): This allows you to move between open programs. As Figure A shows,
`when you hold down the [Alt] key and oontinue to press (.Tab], an indicator (a box)
`moves through a list of ioons, showing which rnnning program you've selected. Below
`the ioons. a description box offe:rs more information about that window. Releasing the
`[Alt] key takes you to that program. I've found this m be one of the moat useful
`W'mdoWII shortcuts of alL
`
`Figure A
`
`~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~
`~ -
`
`\ \Mj-i'trthur\f'"\Prnori'tm FiiP40\Pi'tint "hnp .,._n .-.
`
`Using [Aft] [Tab) lets you navigate through all your open wlndowe \lllthout the mouse.
`
`• [Ctrl][E8c): Opens the Start menu. From there, use the up and dqwn arrom to
`navigate the Start list and the right and left arrows to move between oolumns. For
`instance, to shut down, use [Ctrl][Bse], then the down arrow to highlight Shut Down.
`and then hit [.Enter].
`• [Ctrl][F4]: Closes the current window. This key combination doaea the active open
`document within a program. In a bl'OW!Ier, it cl.osea the active window if more than one
`browser window is open.
`• [Enter]: Use this key to activate a bigbtighted button or open a higbUghted file. It
`works just like dirking or double-eliding the mouse.
`• [E.&e]: Quickly dismi•ses an open dialog bo¥.:.
`• [Shift][Flo]: Opens the oontext menu (just like right-clickingthe mouse).
`
`RingCentral Ex-1021, p. 2
`RingCentral v. Estech
`IPR2021-00574
`
`

`

`• Spacebar: Use this key to make a selection. For instance, Spacebar will check or
`uncheck a checkbox, and it can select or deselect a radio button. Used in conjunction
`with [Tab], you can navigate through and make selections in Web forms and many
`Windows dialogs.
`• [Tab] and [Shift] [Tab]: In a dialog box, the [Tab] key switches forward between
`options, such as buttons, drop-down lists, or entry boxes. [Shift] [Tab] moves through
`options in the opposite direction.
`• [Windows]D: If you have a keyboard with a Windows key (it looks like the Microsoft
`Windows logo), this key combination will minimize all open windows and show you the
`desktop.
`
`As you might imagine, Windows operating systems have many more keyboard shortcuts
`available. These are the ones I consider vital. A full list is beyond the scope of this Daily
`Feature, but you can find the information in Windows help files (search for shortcuts) and
`online.
`
`Make your own shortcuts
`If you're unfamiliar with the customization Windows allows, you might not have realized you
`can make your own keyboard shortcuts. The Command Console (or MS-DOS Prompt in
`Windows 98) is a feature those of us who support these OSs use often, so let's make a
`keyboard shortcut that will open this useful window. My instructions are for Windows 2000,
`but they will work on all the recent Windows operating systems.
`
`The first step is to create a shortcut to the application. In this case, a shortcut is an icon that
`works as a quick way to launch a program or file. For example, all the listings in the Start
`menu are shortcuts that point to executable files or documents. There are a few different
`ways to create a shortcut. Perhaps the easiest way is to highlight a file in Windows Explorer,
`and, while pressing the [Alt] key, drag it over to the desktop. The [Alt] key, used in
`conjunction with dragging a file, creates a shortcut pointing to that file at the destination. Go
`to C:\winnt\systelll32\cmd.exe (C:\ Windows\Command.com in Windows 98), highlight the
`file, and create a desktop shortcut using the [Alt] and drag method.
`
`As you probably know, a shortcut appears as an icon with a curved arrow at the bottom left
`side. In addition, the icon's description begins with "shortcut to .... " In this case, it will read
`Shortcut To Cmd.exe. Now right-click on the Shortcut To Cmd.exe icon (or, if you want to try
`your new keyboard shortcuts, type [Shift][Flo] after highlighting the icon), and choose
`properties.
`
`A tabbed window will open. The tab you11 use to create a keyboard shortcut will depend on
`your OS. In all cases, there will be a text entry box called Shortcut Key. (Click the General tab
`in Windows 2000, the Program tab in Windows 98, or the Shortcut tab in Windows NT.
`Same function, slightly different dialogs. You knew this would happen, right?)
`
`3/S
`
`RingCentral Ex-1021, p. 3
`RingCentral v. Estech
`IPR2021-00574
`
`

`

`Finally, here's the fun part. Click in the Shortcut :Key box. Hold down the [All] key and press
`K. Notioe that the key combination is entered for you. WmdoW1198 is a little less intelligent
`about this. Wmdows NT and 2000 force you to use [Cttl][Ah]+letter cambinations, so you
`don't overwrite reserwd keyboard shortcuts auch as [C!rl]S (Save). At any rate, the reauh
`should look like that shown in F!gare B. Press OK to save changes and dismiss the dialog.
`From now on, when you preas [Cttl][Alt]K, the Command CollSOle will open. Using this
`technique, you can make as many keyboard shartcuts as you like.
`
`Figure B
`
`General Shortcut ) Options ) Font
`
`) Layout ) Colors ) Security )
`
`~ Shortcut to cmd.exe
`
`Target type:
`
`Application
`
`Target location: system32
`
`p Run in separate memory space
`
`r Run as different J::!Ser
`
`~tart in:
`
`jo:\WINNT\system32
`
`Shortcut tey:
`
`Bun:
`
`CQmment:
`
`find Target...
`
`Change Icon ...
`
`DK
`
`Cancel
`
`8pply
`
`Enter 1he key combination you want to use to run a command in the Shortcut Key box.
`
`Using 1he standard WmdoW!I keyboard shom:uts, you should be able to ~t graoefuii.y and
`safely from Wm.daws when your mouse dies. Though the mouse is a dev.ioe invented to make
`computing user-friendly, you IllliY develop a preference for using the keyboard shortcuts
`more often.lD. many cases, keeping your fingers an the keyboard is more efficient than usiDg
`the mouae. lD. addition, by c:reatillg your own customized keyboard shortcuts, you am easily
`and quickl;y launch the applli:ations you need most, making your time spent administering
`
`RingCentral Ex-1021, p. 4
`RingCentral v. Estech
`IPR2021-00574
`
`

`

`your network more productive. For these reasons, I strongly suggest mastering the keyboard
`shortcuts discussed here, and then going on to learn others.
`The authors and editors have taken care in preparation of the content contained herein but
`make no expressed or implied warranty of any kind and assume no responsibility for errors
`or omissions. No liability is assumed for any damages. Always have a verified backup before
`making any changes.
`
`515
`
`RingCentral Ex-1021, p. 5
`RingCentral v. Estech
`IPR2021-00574
`
`