Key

Purpose

Alt

Works with other keys to enter alternate character

 

codes or functions.

Backspace

Moves the cursor back one space, deleting the

 

character to the left of the cursor.

Enter

Ends a line of keyboard input or executes a

 

command (may be called the Return key in some

 

application program manuals).

Caps Lock

Esc

Num Lock

Changes the letter keys from lower- to uppercase; changes back to lowercase when pressed again. The numeric/symbol keys on the top row of the keyboard are not affected.

Cancels the current command line or operation in MS-DOS. Esc can also have special uses in application programs.

Changes the function of the keys on the numeric/ cursor keypad from numeric entry to cursor positioning; changes back when pressed again.

Scroll Lock

Controls scrolling in some application programs.

Break

 

When pressed with the Ctrl key (hold down Ctrl

 

 

and press Break), sends a break signal to the

 

 

computer to terminate the current operation.

Sys Req

Produces the system request function in certain

 

 

applications.

PrtSc

 

Prints the screen display on a dot-matrix printer.

Home,

End,

Control cursor location in some applications, such

PgUp,

PgDn,

as word processors, game programs, and

 

 

spreadsheets.

Ins

 

Turns the insert function on and off in some

 

 

application programs.

Del

 

Deletes the character at the cursor position.

Using Your Computer

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