This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Relearning Essential Operations
As previously noted, Windows 8 was designed with tablets and smartphones in mind. What these devices have in common is the touchscreen display—that is, you operate your iPad or iPhone with your fingers, not with a keyboard or mouse.
Similarly, Windows 8 can be operated with touch gestures—if your PC has a touchscreen display, that is. In fact, many operations, such as displaying the Charms bar or viewing running apps, are much easier and more intuitive on a touchscreen display.
All of these features are nice if your new PC has a touchscreen display—which few computers today do. If your PC doesn’t have a touchscreen display, you have to learn the keyboard shortcuts or mouse movements necessary to replicate the touch gestures.
To ease your way into using Windows 8 on your new computer, the following table details how to perform some of the most useful operations—with a keyboard, mouse, or touchscreen display. (Note that not all operations can be performed in all three ways.)
Essential Windows 8 Operations
|
Operation |
Keyboard |
Mouse |
Touchscreen |
|
Close currently running app or window |
Alt+Q |
Drag the top of the app to the bottom of the screen; for Desktop apps, click the X button in top-right corner of the window. |
Touch the top edge of the screen and swipe down about halfway through the screen. |
|
Display Charms bar |
Windows+C |
Mouse over the upper- or lower-right corner of screen. |
Touch the right edge of the screen and swipe to the left. |
|
Display context-sensitive options menu |
Application (menu) key |
Right-click. |
Press and hold the item with your finger. |
|
Display Options bar |
Windows+Z |
Right-click anywhere on the screen. |
Touch the top or bottom of the screen and swipe toward the middle. |
|
Display two Windows 8 apps side-by-side (snap the apps) |
N/A |
Mouse over the top-left corner of the screen and then move the cursor down to display thumbnails of all open apps; select the app to snap and drag its (large) thumbnail to either the left or right side of the screen and then release the mouse button. |
Touch the left edge of the screen, drag your finger to the right, and then quickly drag it back to the left to display the switcher panel; press and drag the app you’d like to snap to the right and then drop it on either the left or right edge of the screen. |
|
Lock computer |
Win+L |
From the Start screen, click username, Lock (where username is the username you use). |
From the Start screen, tap username, Lock (where username is the username you use). |
|
Move an item to a new location |
N/A |
Click and drag, then release. |
Press and hold, drag to new location, and then release. |
|
Open a program or document |
Enter |
Click (sometimes double-click). |
Tap. |
|
Open All Apps Window |
From Start screen, press Ctrl+Tab |
From the Start screen, display the Options bar and click All Apps. |
From the Start screen, display the Options bar and tap All Apps. |
|
Open Windows Help |
Windows+F1 |
From the Charms bar, click Settings, Help. |
From the Charms bar, tap Settings, Help. |
|
Return to Start screen |
Windows key |
Mouse over the lower-left corner of the screen and then click the Start screen thumbnail. |
Open the Charms bar and tap Start. |
|
Scroll down |
PageDown or down arrow |
Click and drag the scrollbar or click the scroll arrows; use the mouse scroll wheel. |
Swipe up. |
|
Scroll left |
PageUp or left arrow |
Click and drag the scrollbar or click the scroll arrows; use the mouse scroll wheel. |
Swipe right. |
|
Scroll right |
PageDown or right arrow |
Click and drag the scrollbar or click the scroll arrows; use the mouse scroll wheel. |
Swipe left. |
|
Scroll up |
PageUp or up arrow |
Click and drag the scrollbar or click the scroll arrows; use the mouse scroll wheel. |
Swipe down. |
|
Search |
Windows+Q |
Display the Charms bar and click Search. |
Display the Charms bar and tap Search. |
|
Shut down Windows |
Alt+F4 |
From the Charms bar, click Settings, Power, Shut Down. |
From the Charms bar, tap Settings, Power, Shut Down. |
|
Switch to previous application |
N/A |
N/A |
Touch the left edge of the screen and swipe rapidly to the right. |
|
View or switch to other open apps |
Alt+Tab |
Mouse over the top-left corner of the screen and then move the cursor downward to display thumbnails of all open documents; click a thumbnail to switch to that item. |
Touch the left edge of the screen, drag your finger to the right, and then quickly drag it back to the left; you can then tap any app thumbnail to switch to that app. |
|
Zoom in to the Start screen |
N/A |
Click anywhere on the zoomed out screen; or press Ctrl key then use the mouse scroll wheel. |
Use two fingers to touch two adjacent points on the screen and then move your fingers apart. |
|
Zoom out of the Start screen |
N/A |
Click the – button in the lower-right corner of the Start screen; or press the Ctrl key and then use the mouse scroll wheel. |
Use two fingers at two distant points on the screen and then pinch your fingers in toward each other. |