What is a numeric keypad? Controlling the mouse cursor from the keyboard. Activating the numeric keypad using keys

The keyboard has a lot useful functions, which can significantly speed up the execution of a series routine actions. Therefore, I suggest you learn about its secrets.

Great invention - PC mouse! If you use your PC only for simple web surfing and playing solitaire, then you don’t need more. However, if there is a need not only to press buttons on the screen, but also to enter at least the same search queries in the browser, then one mouse is not enough. And we move towards us a large “board with buttons” (that’s what it’s called in literal translation from English “keyboard”) - a keyboard...

The keyboard appeared at the dawn of global computerization and for a long time remained the only means of human interaction with a computer. At first it was used as an analogue of a conventional typewriter and actually duplicated its set of buttons. However, with the development of technology, other additional keys gradually began to be added, which made it possible to perform one or another typical task in one press.

As a result, the keyboard has reached us in its current form with a whole bunch of “extra” buttons (101 or more in total) and functions hidden behind them. Therefore, I would like to devote today’s article to a more in-depth study of such a familiar keyboard.

Types of keyboards

Keyboards can be classified according to different criteria. For example, by connection type modern keyboards can be wired(for USB or PS/2 socket) or wireless(connect via Bluetooth (possibly another radio channel) or infrared). By internal structure mechanical(use full mechanical keys on springs and printed circuit board for the location of contact tracks), semi-mechanical(the keys themselves are without mechanics, but the contacts are soldered to circuit board) And membrane (contact tracks separated on a special flexible membrane).

However, these are all differences that are not noticeable at first glance. Much more often, users pay attention to external differences. And here for last years there was quite a lot of variety various models keyboards So large that you can even divide them into specific types!

Traditional keyboards

These are the most common classic rectangular keyboards with more than 101 keys. Typically, such keyboards are of a single color with inscriptions printed on the keys contrasting color(layout - QWERTY). They have a side block with numeric keys (popularly called a “calculator”) and a top row function keys(from F1 to F12). Nothing more unnecessary:

Multimedia keyboards

In fact, these are ordinary keyboards, but with additional keys, switches and/or verniers ("knobs") to control typical multimedia functions(playing music, adjusting volume, controlling the browser, etc.). Due to the need to accommodate new controls, such keyboards usually have slightly larger dimensions than traditional ones:

Gaming keyboards

Like multimedia, gaming keyboards have a number of additional keys. However, most often, such keys are programmable. Using special software, the user can independently specify the execution of a particular function (or even an entire script) for the desired button. In addition, such keyboards may also have their own display or even a touch screen to display various data and additional controls:

Unlike others, the main thing in this class of keyboards is small size. It is important that they can easily fit into an average bag and take with you on the road. For this reason, in such keyboards they either reduce physical size keys, or reduce their number (usually to 83-84 buttons) by “cutting off” the side digital block.

In addition, portability can be achieved in other ways. For example, now you can find silicone flexible keyboards that are rolled up into a tube, or even projected onto the table surface using a special laser projector:

As you can see, there are plenty of different keyboards. But they all work about the same. Therefore, we will consider their main additional functions.

Key blocks

Almost all keyboards are built using standard scheme and have an almost identical key layout. Moreover, the keys are grouped in a special way, which gives us the opportunity to highlight their specific blocks:

The main part is occupied enter keys letters and numbers. Without them, in fact, the keyboard will not be complete. These keys include all numeric keys, Enter, Backspace, and sometimes Shift (as a modifier key for entering capital letters). Their main purpose is to enter text.

There are blocks to the left and right of the input buttons special keys . They themselves practically do not perform any actions, but serve as modifiers that, in combination with the input block keys, can form keyboard shortcuts to perform certain functions (more on this below).

Above the input block there are 12 function keys. Today, not all of them are used by the system, but those that are still activated allow you to perform any action with one click (depending on what program the user is working in).

To the right of the main block of keys are usually located cursor control buttons. They are mainly used to move the cursor mark in text editors one character (arrows), the beginning or end of a line (Home and End), or even a whole page up (PageUp) or down (PageDown). In addition, the Insert button activates text input mode with replacement, and Delete allows you to remove one character after the cursor (unlike Backspace, which removes characters before the carriage).

Finally, not on all keyboards (for example, portable or laptop), but present block number keys . This block is convenient to use for entering numbers, performing calculations in calculator programs or spreadsheets. There are all digital signs, signs of basic arithmetic operations, a separator decimals, Enter key and NumLock.

Numeric keypad

Let's start, perhaps, with the favorite block of all accountants and people who constantly calculate something on the computer. In fact, it is a somewhat stripped-down calculator keyboard with enlarged Enter keys(analogous to "=" on a calculator), "0" and "+" for greater convenience. This block so popular that it is even available as a separate USB keyboard for laptops:

The key here is responsible for activating input NumLock. This is one of three trigger buttons (switches) found on standard keyboard(other CapsLock to enable uppercase letter keys, and the third ScrollLock to switch the operating mode of the cursor keys) and have their own indicators.

If NumLock is "on" (the indicators are usually in the right top corner keyboard), then using the numeric keypad we can use all the buttons of the “calculator”. If it is disabled, then the block buttons acquire other functions, which are usually signed in small print. In fact, in this mode they duplicate the commands of the cursor block, which is located to the left.

The main “wisdom” of the number pad is that if you can’t enter numbers with it, then you need to enable NumLock :).

Function keys

When computers were even larger, and their operators mostly had advanced degrees, the latter wanted to be able to quickly execute one or another microprogram written for their own needs. This is how additional function keys F1 - F12 appeared, which allowed you to “hang” on yourself needed by the user functions.

With distribution Windows opportunity Function key settings have been relegated to the background. Instead for some of the buttons top row execution was specified standard actions(sometimes with an additional modifier key):

• F1- call help for the currently running this moment program;
• F2- renaming the selected file in Explorer;
• F3- launching a regular search in Explorer;
• F4+Alt- closing the current window;
• F4+Ctrl- closing the current browser tab;
• F5- updating the contents of the window in Explorer and some programs (for example, in browsers);
• F6- shifting focus to address bar in browsers);
• F7-F9 - standard features No, concrete actions depend on the program in which the buttons are activated;
• F10- moving focus to the menu bar or calling the main program menu;
• F10+Shift- call the context menu;
• F11- activation/deactivation full screen mode some programs (for example, browsers);
• F12- depends on the program (often used to call up some additional menus or tools).

In principle, function keys perform their tasks in almost the same way everywhere. The only exception may be file managers, which use them in their own way. For example, in them, pressing F3 will start viewing the current file, F5 will start copying it, and F6 will start copying with moving. You can usually see the purpose of the function keys at the bottom of the window. file manager, and reassign in the settings:

Another nuance related to function keys on laptops. The laptop keyboard has an additional special key "Fn", which in combination with one of the F-buttons performs the action that is drawn on it as an icon. For example, Fn+F2 can turn off the sound on the computer, Fn+F3 and Fn+F4 increase or decrease the volume, and Fn+F5 and Fn+F6 adjust the screen brightness:

Special keys

The most significant phenomenon on the keyboard is special keys. They are located in the lower left and right corners of the main input block and allow you to implement many useful combinations with regular number-character buttons.

Modifier keys

First of all, special keys include paired modifier buttons(duplicated both on the right and left): Shift, Ctrl, Alt And Win(with Windows icon).

Shift and Ctrl They do not perform any functions on their own, but only modify pressing one of the main keys. For example, when you simultaneously press Shift and any button with a letter in the input line, the capital version of the pressed letter will be displayed. And pressing the combination with Ctrl key usually causes some function of the currently active program to be executed (for example, Ctrl+S saves a file in most programs).

Keys Alt and Win have independent functions (Alt moves focus to the menu bar, and Win opens the Start menu or switches working space to tablet interface mode (in Windows 8)). But they can also act as modifier keys. At the same time, Alt as a modifier is often used together with the Ctrl or Shift keys, and Win, as a rule, independently to trigger a number of system events.

There are a lot of combinations with modifier keys (they are also called “hot” keys). Moreover, their set in various programs may differ and even be customized by the user. However, there are a number of generally accepted combinations, which, in my opinion, are most conveniently presented in table form:

Other special keys

There are not many keys left outside our attention. To the right of the main input block we can see buttons CapsLock, Tab And Esc.

The first of them is a trigger for switching the letters entered in upper case without holding down SHIFT (pressing them will enter capital letters on the contrary). Tab allows you to use tabs (indentation) in text editors or move focus between areas of the working window in Explorer mode. Esc (or Escape) is also used to cancel actions in some situations.

On the right side of most keyboards at the bottom there is also a button with an image menu and cursor. This button (if it exists) allows you to call the context menu of the active element (analogous to right-clicking the mouse).

Controlling a computer from the keyboard

As we can see, there are a lot of “hot” keys. Memorizing them all at once seems to be an unrealistic task. However, in reality, most of the most useful combinations are remembered quite quickly. And, in principle, there is no particular point in memorizing them all. Enough to understand basic principles control selection and transitions between windows.

Actually, there are two ways to control a computer from the keyboard: cursor control using the numeric keypad and true control from the keyboard. Let's start with the first one as it is simpler and more understandable for those who are used to using a mouse.

Controlling the mouse cursor from the keyboard

To activate the mode of controlling the mouse cursor from the keyboard, you must have a block of numeric keys. You need to press the combination left Alt + left Shift + NumLock, after which (if you are doing this for the first time) a window should appear asking for permission to enable cursor control mode. Click "Yes" and in the tray we will have new icon in the form of a mouse, which will display the state of the current emulation:

If we double-click on this icon, a settings window will appear in front of us (see screenshot above). Here I recommend setting the movement and acceleration speed to maximum, since the average parameters, in my opinion, are quite slow. By the way, you can get to this window and turn on the mode from Control panels section "Special abilities" - "Make your keyboard easier to use".

Well, now - the most important thing is what buttons can control the cursor:

1. Moving the cursor- All number buttons, except for "5" and "0".
2. Single click of the left mouse button- button "5".
3. Double click- "+" button.
4. Hold down the mouse button(for example, for dragging) - button "0".
5. Disabling hold- button ".".
6. Right Mouse Button Activation- button "-".
7. Activating the left mouse button- button "/".
8. Activating left and right buttons simultaneously- button "*".

The NumLock key is responsible for activating/deactivating the cursor control mode from the keyboard. By default, the mode is turned on if the indicator is on, however, to preserve the “calculator” function, I would recommend setting the mode in the settings to activate when NumLock is disabled. But this, as they say, is not for everyone.

Controlling a computer without a mouse

You may like mouse emulation ordinary users However, true “hardcore” people will only frown cynically and continue to operate the computer without a mouse at all. If you want to try the same, then you will need to first remember several key combinations, and also “make friends” with at least the TAB, ALT, SHIFT, CTRL, WIN, ENTER and cursor buttons.

In general, the management principle is as follows:

1. Activation of any action(starting the program, pressing the left mouse button, selecting a menu item) is carried out with the ENTER key.
2. One of the ways you activate the window you need. Running windows can be navigated using the ALT+TAB key combination, it is convenient to launch the program from the desktop using the ENTER button (after selecting the desired shortcut using the arrows), and for quick access to the taskbar use the combination WIN+T.
3. For navigation inside running window program, use the cursor arrows, and to switch between window elements (work area, sidebars, menu bar, etc.) use TAB key(holding SHIFT goes to the elements in reverse order). This method does not work only in text editors (they use their own combinations that need to be remembered separately).
4. For quick access to menu bar press ALT key. Then navigate through the menu using the cursor arrows or call up the desired commands using the letter keys, the letter of which is underlined in a particular menu item.
5. For call the context menu You can use a special key in the lower right row of the keyboard (if there is one) or the key combination SHIFT+F10.

Actually, for starters, it’s enough to remember these simple control techniques. Over time, you will remember other combinations that will allow you to further optimize your daily processes, and, perhaps, you will begin to assign hot keys that are convenient for you. The main thing is to get used to it (statistically, it takes about 2-3 days).

conclusions

Today, a keyboard is practically the only device that allows you to work comfortably at a computer. None touch screens, mice or other control interfaces are not yet capable of fully replacing traditional buttons.

There are a great variety of keyboards, but they all essentially work the same. Even the simplest cheap keyboard without multimedia keys maybe in in capable hands become a powerful tool for managing a wide variety of tasks.

Therefore, learn the assignment of keys, study “hot” combinations and you can become a real computer ninja :)

P.S. Permission is granted to freely copy and quote this article, provided that open credit is given. active link to the source and preservation of the authorship of Ruslan Tertyshny.

Number key block

The purpose of this key block is speed dial numbers and signs arithmetic operations. This key block (Fig. 1.11) can also perform the functions of cursor control keys. It only becomes digital when a key is pressed Num Lock(when the indicator light is on "Num Lock")

Rice. 1.11. Number key block

Key «/» – arithmetic division sign (in macros, programs, Microsoft Excel).

Key «*» – arithmetic multiplication sign (in macros, programs, Microsoft Excel).

Key «-» – arithmetic subtraction sign (in macros, programs, Microsoft Excel).

Key «+» – arithmetic addition sign (in macros, programs, MS Excel).

Key Enter– input. Completely similar to the same key in the alphanumeric block.

Relative to the key Del (Delete key with a dot). It should be noted that in numeric mode it is not always equivalent to a decimal point (Microsoft Excel treats it as a decimal point, but Visual Basic- No).