Gmail keyboard shortcuts.

Gmail keyboard shortcuts are a great way to increase your computing performance.

 

Gmail Keyboard Shortcuts – Some Differences

Gmail shortcuts are somewhat different than browser keyboard shortcuts for two main reasons:

1. Limits on Keystroke Choices: when using Gmail keyboard shortcuts you are working within a web browser so Gmail cannot duplicate any of the standard shortcut key combinations used by Firefox, Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari or Opera web browsers.
2. Functions Vary by Location: Gmail shortcut functionality is based on your location within Gmail. Some shortcuts function only when reading a message or conversation, some work only when viewing conversation lists such as Inbox or All Mail, or viewing Contacts or Tasks.

Activating Gmail’s Keyboard Shortcuts

 
Before these shortcuts can be used you have to make sure that the Keyboard Shortcuts Setting for Gmail is set to “on” in Gmail Settings as shown here:

To help clarify how Gmail keyboard shortcuts are used they have been grouped below by functionality, such as Navigation, Selection, Management or General.

Gmail Top Level View Navigation Shortcuts

These combinations of keystrokes speed up navigating among top level views such as Inbox, Sent Mail, All Mail, Spam, Trash, Drafts, Contacts and Tasks.  All letters in the keystroke combinations are shown in lower case but are not case sensitive. An example: “g then i” means press the “g” key then the “i” key, one right after the other.

• g then i –  Open the Inbox.
• g then s –  Open Starred.
• g then t –  Open Sent Mail.
• g then d –   Open Drafts.
• g then a –  Open All Mail.
• g then c –  Open Contacts.
• g then k –  Open Tasks.

Gmail Selection and Management Shortcuts

These combinations of keystrokes are used within a specific view such as Inbox or All Mail to assist with quickly managing messages and conversations.

• * then a –    Select all conversations.
• * then n –    Deselect all conversations.
• * then r –    Select only read conversations.
• * then u –    Select only unread conversations.
• * then s –    Select only starred conversations.
• * then t –    Select only unstarred conversations.
• x — Select a specific conversation; puts a check in checkbox; works as a toggle.
• s – Stars a specific conversation; works as a toggle.
• . – Open the More Actions dropdown list; works as a toggle.
• e — Archive a conversation from current View into the All Mail View.
• l – Open the Labels dropdown list to allow you to apply a label to a conversation.
• # — Move the selected conversation to the Trash.
• <Shift> + i — Mark selected conversations as read.
• <Shift> + u – Mark selected conversations as unread.

Gmail Message Navigation Shortcuts

These Gmail keyboard shortcuts are used for navigating within conversations lists or views. The small black arrow at the left of the conversation list indicates the current conversation focus.

• u – Return to conversation list (View) from current conversation.
• k – Move to newer conversation; location indicated by black arrow on left.
• j – Move to older conversation; location indicated by black arrow on left.
• <Enter> or o –    Open selected conversation; black arrow indicates selection.
• <Shift> + <Enter> or <Shift> + o — Open a conversation in a new window; black arrow indicates selection.
• p — Read previous message within a conversation.
• n — Read next message within a conversation.
• r – Reply to sender when a conversation is open.
• <Shift> + r — Open the reply in a new window.
• a — Reply to all when a conversation is open.
• <Shift> + a — Open the reply to all in a new window.
• f — Forward current conversation when a conversation is open.
• <Shift> + f — Open the forward current conversation in a new window.
• <Ctrl> + s — Save a new or edited conversation as a draft. Cursor must be in a text field.
• [ -- Archive the current conversation and move to the previous one.
• ] – Archive the current conversation and move to the next one.

Gmail General Top Level Shortcuts

• c – Open a new message.
• <Shift> + c – Open a new message in a new window.
• / — Move cursor to the entry box for Search Mail.
• z – Undo previous action. Mainly used when typing and works as an “undelete”.
• Esc – Remove the cursor from a search box or any input field.

Standard Windows shortcuts such as <Ctrl> + c, <Ctrl> + x and <Ctrl> + v are also useable within Gmail when editing text. Most browser shortcuts such as <spacebar> and Shift + <spacebar> for scrolling up or down a page are also usable.

Hope these keyboard shortcuts help you when using Google Gmail. I’ve provided some context for using the different shortcuts instead of just a standard “laundry list.” If you have a favorite Gmail email shortcut that is not listed here leave a Comment and share it with the other readers.

Firefox keyboards shortcuts

Firefox is the second most popular web browser in the world and it continues to gain popularity and market share. With this rapid growth many users, especially new users, are not aware of the wide range of useful Firefox keyboard shortcuts available. These small combinations of keystrokes when used at the right time can be real productivity boosters. Here are 30 Firefox keyboard shortcuts to help simplify and speed up your daily browsing. Even Firefox veterans may find these useful.

Many of the shortcuts will be a combination of keystrokes. For example “Ctrl + C” means that you should hold down the Ctrl (control) key and press the letter “C”. Use the lowercase letters not uppercase, if using the shift key is need it will be indicated as “Shift”.

Also be sure to check out some other shortcut posts:

Page Navigation Shortcuts

These shortcuts allow you to navigate quickly around a web page, most with only a single keystroke.

• Spacebar — Page down one full screen at a time
• Shift – Spacebar — Page up one full screen at a time
• Down Arrow – Scroll down
• Page Down — Page down one full screen at a time
• Up Arrow –  Scroll Up
• Page Up — Page up one full screen at a time
• End – Go to the Bottom (end) of the page
• Home – Go to the Top of page

Pages, Tabs and Bookmarks

These useful shortcuts help you quickly perform different common tasks within Firefox, manage Tabs and access bookmarks.

• F5 — Reload the current page
• Alt + Home — Go to home page
• Ctrl + L — Go to the Address bar
• Ctrl + K — Go to the search box
• Ctrl + = — Increase the text size, zoom in
• Ctrl + - — Decrease the text size, zoom out
• Ctrl + P — Print the current page
• Ctrl + H — Opens the Browsing History in a column on the left
• Ctrl + T — Open a new tab
• Ctrl + W — Close current tab
• Ctrl + Tab — rotate forward to the next tab
• Ctrl + Shft + Tab — rotate back to the previous tab
• Ctrl + 1-9 — Choose a number to jump to that specific tab
• Ctrl + B — Open Bookmarks Column on Left
• Ctrl + I — Close Bookmarks Column
• Ctrl + D – Create a bookmark for the current page

Mouse Shortcuts

Here are six mouse-related shortcuts for when you already have your hand on the mouse. These shortcuts include the scroll wheel and utilize the clicking function (middle click) of the scroll wheel.

• Shift – scroll down – Go to the previous page
• Shift – scroll up – Go to the next page
• Ctrl – scroll up — Decrease the text size, zoom out
• Ctrl – scroll down — Increase text size, zoom in
• Middle click on link — Open the link in a new tab
• Middle click on a tab — Close the tab

Keystroke shortcuts have been around for many years and Firefox takes useful browser shortcuts to a new level. It may take a little adjusting to get used to using shortcuts but once you do they’ll become second nature for speeding up your web browsing.

How to take a picture of your PC screen

Take a Picture of Your Screen

 

Everyone has had their computer go a little crazy on them.  You know those boxes that pop up with messages like “imminent failure” and “contact your network administrator.”  Today's tip is about the quickest way to communicate those error messages to others who might not believe what you’re saying.  Just take a "screen shot" and email it to them.  Here’s how it’s done: 

Simply press CTRL and Print Scrn/SysRq
in the upper right hand corner of your keyboard:

 

You have now taken a picture of your screen.  Now you could open a blank email and paste it in by pressing CTRL and the letter V at the same time.   

(hint taking screen shots like this and then editing them in a simple program like Paint is how we make the directions in many of these Technology Tips)

 

How to Lock your PC with one click

If you work in a network environment you probably have to log onto your computer each morning using a password and remember to log off each evening before you go.  And for network security reasons you're probably reminded to never leave your computer while it's logged on.  This is especially important in a school setting where a malevolent student could potentially make a real mess of the school network if they had access to a teacher computer. 

Today's tip will help you with a quick way to log on and off your computer when you have to step away from it for a few minutes.  It will save you time as you won't have to log off and then back on again.  Instead you can just "Lock" your computer while you're away from it temporarily.  Please note that this will not work in all network environments or all operating systems.  But you can still give it a try:

To lock your computer press the Windows button (bottom left of your keyboard) and the letter "L" at the same time. 

 

If it works your screen will go blank except for a message that says:

"This computer is in use and has been locked by (Your Username).  To unlock this computer press CTRL+ALT+DEL and type in your password"

This can be a great, easy to use way to lock your computer.  It doesn't work on all computers though.  If it doesn't work on your computer you'd have to contact your network administrator to ask them about it.

How to check spelling in Microsoft Word.

Spell Checking in Microsoft Word

Today's technology tips is just a quick reminder about how to spell check your documents in Microsoft Word.  In this example we'll be using the XP version of Word but it works similarly in other versions and in other word processing programs.

First, make sure the spell checking options are turned on in Word.  Go to "Tools" and select "Options"

On the menu that appears you can select the features you would like.  For example, Word can check your spelling and grammar as you type and underline errors with a red line.  Word can also suggest corrections to your spelling.  In the example below you can see corrected spellings by right clicking on the word with the red underline:

You can also spell check an entire document by either pressing F7 on the keyboard of by going to the "Tools" menu and selecting "Spelling and Grammar."

Or you could press this button on the toolbar: 

This features may operate differently in different versions of Word and different word processing programs.  You will also find these features in most Microsoft Word programs.

How to set multiple homepage in Firefox

Set multiple homepage in Firefox.

Suppose you would like to set Orkut,Google and Yahoo as your homepages, Then try this tweak in Firefox to set multiple homepage. Just follow the steps mentioned below

Go to  Tools > Option >General

In the Firefox drop down menu choose Show my home page. In Home page give your selected homepages separated by a | {pipe symbol or OR sign}

Example:

http://www.google.com|www.orkut.com|www.yahoo.com 

and click OK

Now next time when you start Firefox all your three selected homepages will be display simultaneously.