MODIFIER KEYS
Modifier keys alter the way other keystrokes or mouse clicks are interpreted.
Shift
Hold the Shift key down to type capital letters and
other alternate “upper”
characters. The Shift key is sometimes used with the Option
key and or the
Command key to access extra keyboard shortcuts. Holding
down Shift whilst
moving the cursor in a range of text or list of files will
highlight the selection
so that it can be manipulated further with other
actions.
The Caps Lock key is a toggle key. When Caps Lock is on,
every letter that is
typed will be a capital letter.
Option
This key has either the “ ” symbol, or the letters “alt”
or both marked on the key.
It is called the Option key and it changes the function of
other keys which are being
pressed at the same time. It also provides easier access to
various accents and
symbols. When you hold down the Option key and use a mouse,
the mouse action
can change behaviour.
or
Command
This key has either the “” or “ ” symbol or both
marked on the key. It is called the
Command key and it changes what other keys do when pressed
at the same time as
other keys. Different combinations activate different
keyboard shortcut commands
in an application. (
is a trademark of Apple).
Control
The Control or Ctrl key is pressed with other
key-combinations to activate various
keyboard shortcuts. If you use a one button mouse, holding
down the control key
whilst clicking the mouse also gives you the same menu
options found on the right
click button of a two-button mouse.