Using keyboard shortcuts and accelerators

You can use keys or key combinations to perform operations that can also be done by using a mouse.

About this task

You can initiate menu actions from the keyboard. Some menu items have accelerators, which allow you to invoke the menu option without expanding the menu. For example, you can enter CTRL+F for find, when the focus is on the details view.

The major accessibility features in the Knowledge Center enable users to use assistive technologies, magnify what is displayed on the screen, and initiate menu actions from the keyboard. In addition, all images are provided with alternative text so that users with vision impairments can understand the contents of the images.

Procedure

You can initiate menu actions from the keyboard in the following ways:

  • Press F10 to activate the keyboard. Then press the arrow keys to access specific options, or press the same letter as the one that is underlined in the name of the menu option you want to select.
    For example, to select the Help Index, press F10 to activate the main menu; then use the arrow keys to select Help > Help Index.
  • Press and hold the Alt key. Then press the same letter as the one that is underlined in the name of the main menu option that you want to select.
    For example, to select the General Help menu option, press Alt+H; then press G.
    Tip: On some UNIX operating systems, you might need to press Ctrl instead of Alt.
  • To exit the main menu without selecting an option, press Esc.

Often the directions for how to access a window or wizard instruct you to right-click an object and select an object from the pop-up menu.

  • To open the pop-up menu by using keyboard shortcuts, first select the object then press Shift+F10.
  • To access a specific menu option on the pop-up menu, press the same letter as the one that is underlined in the name of the menu option you want to select.

The following tables provide instructions for using keyboard shortcuts and accelerators.
Table 1. General keyboard shortcuts and accelerators
Action Shortcut
Access the menu bar Alt or F10
Exit the main menu without selecting an option Esc
Go to the next menu item arrow keys, or the underlined letter in the menu option
Go to the next field in a window Tab
Go back to the previous field in a window Shift+Tab
Go from the browser address bar to the browser content area F6
Find Ctrl+F
Find Next Alt+N
Table 2. Keyboard shortcuts for table actions
Action Shortcut
Move to the cell above or below up or down arrows
Move to the cell to the left or right left or right arrows
Give the next component focus Tab
Give the previous component focus Shift+Tab
Table 3. Tree navigation
Action Shortcut
Navigate out forward Tab
Navigate out backward Shift+Tab
Expand entry Right
Collapse entry Left
Toggle expand/collapse for entry Enter
Move up/down one entry up or down arrows
Move to first entry Home
Move to last visible entry End
Table 4. Editing actions
Action Shortcut
Copy Ctrl+C
Cut Ctrl+X
Paste Ctrl+V
Select All Ctrl+A
Undo Ctrl+Z
Knowledge Center navigation: The major accessibility features in the Knowledge Center enable users to do the following:
  • Use assistive technologies, such as screen-reader software and digital speech synthesizers, to hear what is displayed on the screen. In this Knowledge Center, all information is provided in HTML format. Consult the product documentation of the assistive technology for details on using assistive technologies with HTML-based information.
  • Operate specific or equivalent features by using only the keyboard.
  • Magnify what is displayed on the screen.
The following table gives instructions for how to navigate the Knowledge Center by using the keyboard.
Table 5. Keyboard shortcuts in the Knowledge Center
Action Shortcut
Go to the next link, button, or topic branch from inside a frame (page) Tab
Expand or collapse a topic branch Right and Left arrow keys
Move to the next topic branch Down arrow or Tab
Move to the previous topic branch Up arrow or Shift+Tab
Scroll to the top Home
Scroll to the bottom End
Go back Alt+Left arrow
Go forward Alt+Right arrow
Next frame Ctrl+Tab
Previous frame Shift+Ctrl+Tab
Print the current page or active frame Ctrl+P

  • Standard operating system keystrokes are used for standard operating system operations.