Special Keys on the Keyboard

Certain keys on your keyboard serve special functions when your computer is running MS-DOS or application programs. The keyboard layout is shown below, and the special keys are described in the table.

function keys

Key functions

Key

 

Purpose

Tab

I

Moves the cursor one tab to the right in normal

Tab

I

mode and one tab to the left in Shift mode.

 

 

Caps 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 and the symbol

 

 

keys in the main part of the keyboard are not

 

 

affected.

 

 

 

Shift

 

Produces uppercase characters or the top

 

 

symbols on the keys when used with the main

 

 

 

 

character keys. Produces lowercase

 

 

characters when the Caps Lock function is on.

 

 

 

Ctrl

 

Works with other keys to perform special

 

 

(control) functions, such as editing operations

 

 

in MS-DOS and various application programs.

 

 

 

3-2 Using Your Computer