Copying, pasting text on a computer, laptop in Windows. How to copy text using the keyboard
Operations such as copy and paste are performed very often on a computer. These are the most common operations that are used on a computer. Anything can be copied. An article, a sentence from an article, login data, etc.
Thus, with the help of quick copying to the clipboard, we save a lot of time when working at the computer, because we do not have to manually type the copied material, but only need to press a certain key combination.
But not every computer user, most often they are beginners, do not know that you can copy and paste text using the keyboard without a mouse, and this saves even more time than copying and pasting with the mouse.
In this article we will tell you which buttons on the keyboard are responsible for copying and pasting text or a file into the desired location
Keyboard shortcuts copy paste
In order to copy and paste using keyboard shortcuts, you first need to select the text, file or other object that we want to copy.
If the object to be copied is selected, all that remains is to copy it using the keyboard keys; to do this, hold down the key combination CTRL + C. First, hold down the key CTRL C. And immediately release these two keys.
Thus, the selected text, file, etc. will be copied to the operating clipboard. This data will be stored on the clipboard until you copy or copy something else, thereby overwriting the clipboard with new data.
Ok, we have already copied the data and it is on the clipboard.
Insert a keyboard shortcut
To paste, you need to hold down the keyboard shortcut CTRL + V. This is done in the same way as when copying, only the letter is pressed not C, but V. Press the key CTRL and without releasing it press the key V, after that you can release the keys.
This is how easy it is to copy and paste any information using a keyboard shortcut in any Windows operating system:
- CTRL + C— Copy
- CTRL + V- Insert
Nowadays, almost everyone can work on a computer, but not all users know how to copy text using the keyboard. But this skill can help save time by not making unnecessary movements with the mouse, but replacing them with several presses of “hot keys”. This name refers to combinations that make it much easier to use certain functions.
Basically, this method helps people who actively work with texts - editors, secretaries, journalists. Just a few key combinations will make your work easier in the future. And it takes no more than a few minutes to remember them.
Text selection
To select the information that needs to be copied, use the Shift key - placing the cursor at the beginning of the text, press it and use the mouse to indicate the required number of characters or lines.
The method works in Word, Notepad, and any other text editor, helping to mark a part of a document of any size - even one that does not fit into one window.
The result is selected text, usually marked in black (if the area has a different color, then in inverse color).
Getting individual selected parts
If information that does not require copying should remain between sections of text, the user will find it useful to use the Control key (abbreviated as Ctrl on the keyboard).
Its common use is to enter special characters, but its additional use is to use combinations to quickly execute commands that usually require several actions. If you use “Ctrl” together with the mouse, you can more conveniently copy any area of text:
- Select the desired part of the page;
- While holding down the Ctrl key, move the cursor to the new object;
- Mark another selected text and move on to the next one;
- After selecting all the required data, release Ctrl.
If you select pieces of information without holding down a key, the previous selection will be cleared, since the editor determines that pressing the mouse button will cancel all previously selected objects. Moreover, the method is suitable not only for text editors, but also for tables such as Excel, the cells and columns of which can also be selected in parts - although in this case serious problems may arise with inserting information, the field for placing which must clearly correspond to the initial one.
Changing the scale
If the text is located on several sheets that are not visible in one window, it is convenient to use the zoom out option when selecting it. In this case, the Ctrl key is pressed and the mouse wheel is scrolled in the “toward” direction. In this way, you can see the entire sheet or even several pages on the screen at the same time.
When highlighting too small text and trying to mark objects as accurately as possible, use the same key and mouse wheel. However, they are already turning in the other direction - “away from themselves”. The same method is used for normal reading of small print.
Copying data
In order to place the selected text on the clipboard, press Ctrl + C. This combination copies the data into memory, which, depending on the type and version of the editor, can contain from 1 to 24 objects that are inserted into the document as needed.
Moving Information
You can use the Ctrl key not only to select data, but also to quickly move it. There is no need to copy text if, having selected it, you can simply move it to a new place - and the information on the old one will disappear. This method is convenient for changing words when editing (for example, full name, which is written in a different order for this document).
However, if it is necessary not to remove the copied information, but to leave it in the same place, press Ctrl before moving. And now the text is copied - but much faster than using standard methods. Although it is convenient to copy data this way only if the places of their initial and final placement are on the same page.
Inserting text
After the information is highlighted, you should paste the copied text into the desired location. To do this, first position the cursor, and only then press the combination Ctrl + V. As a result, the text is inserted, sometimes transferring its formatting to the new section. In such a situation, the data is reformatted, setting the style, font and alignment.
Features of using “hot keys”
When using hotkeys, you should know some nuances:
- All combinations are pressed exactly in the order indicated. That is, first, for example, Ctrl is selected, and only then V. By pressing the keys simultaneously, you may not get the desired result;
- The symbols in the combinations are indicated in Latin for ease of use. However, they will work regardless of your keyboard layout.
Conclusion
By learning and remembering the keys used to copy, move and paste copied text in a document, you can save at least 5-10% of your typing time. Through simple actions, the amount of work performed over a certain period increases and the level of fatigue obtained during the work or creative process decreases.
The operating system offers the user many opportunities to make working in applications fast and convenient. It's just that not everyone knows about them. To copy/paste text or an image on the keyboard, there are at least a dozen ways, but everyone usually uses the combination Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V.
Why do we need other methods and combinations? For example, if you want to use both hands for speed. Sometimes it is more convenient to use the combination (Insert), because these keys are on the right side of the keyboard, and with your left hand you will make the Alt+Tab transition between windows. The combinations Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V are more convenient for those who are used to controlling the mouse.
If you absolutely do not know how to copy and manage keyboard shortcuts, we remind you that you first press the first shortcut key and, while holding it, the second. Before doing this, you need to select the object to be copied. This is usually done with the mouse, but special keyboard shortcuts come in handy here too. To select a fragment of text several pages long, you can click on the beginning of the fragment and press Shift, hold down the key, scroll through the document to the desired location and click on the end of the fragment.
The combinations Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V and Ctrl+Insert/Shift+Insert work in any application, including if you are going to copy text from an Internet browser window. You can also use Ctrl+C/Shift+Insert and Ctrl+Insert/Ctrl+V if you want.
Let's now look at how to copy text directly into Word and Excel, within one document. In Word, you can do this by dragging and dropping if you hold down Ctrl. In Excel, any unprotected contents of the top cell to the bottom can be copied on the keyboard using Ctrl+D, and from left to right by pressing Ctrl+R.
Typically, when you copy text or a cell, the fragment is transferred with the original formatting. That is, if the text was highlighted in bold or italics, it will be copied in the same form. Note that as you paste, a small icon appears nearby called Paste Options. By clicking on it, you can choose whether to keep the original formatting. In advanced application settings, you can also set how to copy text fragments - with or without formatting.
When you need to frequently copy text and then format it in the same style, you can use macros - special ones that you define yourself. Using a macro, you can copy/paste text on the keyboard even from another application, and it will immediately take on the desired appearance: the color, font and font size will change, alignment, highlighting will appear, etc. For information on how to make a macro, you can refer to the Word and Excel help systems.
We will not discuss how to copy images separately, because this is done according to similar rules.
In conclusion, it must be said that modern multimedia keyboards sometimes have special keys that allow you to launch certain applications and perform copy/paste, some other actions with just one press. And on some keyboards, in addition to letters and numbers, you can find hints about “hot” key combinations, although remembering them is not at all difficult.
Copying and pasting text or a file, as well as a folder, is a relatively simple procedure. However, many people find it difficult. Therefore, in this article we will look at how to copy and paste text, files and folders. A variety of methods will be presented to your attention.
Operations with text
Let's look at various copy and paste operations with text.
Using the keyboard
In order to copy using the keyboard, you need to select the text and press the key combination Ctrl+C. Then you need to open a new document, click on a blank sheet of paper and press the key combination Ctrl+V.
You can learn more about how to copy and paste using the keyboard in our two other articles:
Using the context menu
- In order to copy text using the context menu, you just need to select a fragment of text with the left mouse button, then call the context menu by clicking the right mouse button. Select "Copy";
- Open a new document, call the context menu again and select "Insert".
Using the software menu
Most text editors have a program menu that allows you to use the clipboard. For example, in the Word text editor, the clipboard is located in the "Home" tab.
- To use it, you need to select the text with the left mouse button, then call up the context menu and click the “Copy” button;
- Then just click on the “Paste” button on the clipboard, and the copied text will be pasted into the selected area of the text document. You can also cut text using the clipboard.
Operations with files and folders
There are special programs that allow you to copy and paste files and folders from one partition to another. Such programs are called file managers; they can also be used to copy and paste information into any other folders, archives, or directories.
To use the copy and paste function, you can use the keyboard method. It was written in the first paragraph of this article - operations with the Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V keys.
File managers are two-panel programs. One of the panels shows folders, and the other shows their contents. Having selected a folder, the user can immediately see what is inside in another panel of the program. This ensures ease of operation, and in particular the copy and paste process.
Just select any file, then press the key combination Ctrl+C, after which you can select another folder, press Ctrl+V, and thus transfer the file. File managers offer the user to assign hotkeys independently. That is, there is no need to use key combinations; you just need to assign one key that will be used for copying and pasting.
One of the most popular file managers at the moment is Total Commander. We also recommend paying your attention to Far Manager. These programs are absolutely free and are designed to help the user optimize his work with files and folders.
