path: root/gnome2-user-guide/C/gosbasic.xml

<!-- -*- indent-tabs-mode: nil -*- -->
<chapter id="basic-skills">
<title>Basic Skills</title>

<!-- Maintained for 2.8 compatibility -->
<anchor id="part1-1"/>
<anchor id="gosbasic-1"/>
<anchor id="gosbasic-46"/> <!-- was Using Windows -->

<highlights>
  <para>This chapter introduces you to the basic skills that you
  need to work with the GNOME Desktop.</para>
</highlights>

<section id="mouse-skills">
  <title>Mouse Skills</title>

  <!-- Maintained for 2.8 compatibility -->
  <anchor id="gosbasic-2"/>

  <indexterm>
    <primary>basic skills</primary>
    <secondary>mouse skills</secondary>
  </indexterm>
  <indexterm>
    <primary>mouse</primary>
    <secondary>basic skills</secondary>
  </indexterm>

  <para>Even if you are very familiar with mouse devices, you should
  still familiarize yourself with the button conventions and action
  terminology used in this manual. This section also describes the
  mouse pointers used throughout the desktop and applications.</para>

  <section id="mouse-conventions">
    <title>Mouse Button Conventions</title>
    <titleabbrev>Conventions</titleabbrev>

    <!-- Maintained for 2.8 compatibility -->
    <anchor id="gosgetstarted-44"/>

    <indexterm>
      <primary>mouse</primary>
      <secondary>button conventions</secondary>
    </indexterm>

    <para>All the instructions in this manual are for the following
    types of mouse devices:</para>
    <itemizedlist>
      <listitem>
        <para>Devices that are configured for right-hand users.</para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
        <para>Three button devices. If you have a two-button mouse device,
        then your system may be configured to allow you to press the left
        and right mouse buttons simultaneously to simulate the effect of
        a middle mouse button press.</para>
      </listitem>
    </itemizedlist>

    <para>The mouse button conventions used in this manual are as
    follows:</para>
    <variablelist>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>Left mouse button</term>
        <listitem><para>The button on the left side of a mouse device
        configured for normal right-hand use.</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>Middle mouse button</term>
        <listitem><para>The middle button of a mouse device configured
        for normal right-hand use.  On many mice with a scroll wheel,
        the scroll wheel can be pushed directly down for a middle mouse
        button click.</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>Right mouse button</term>
        <listitem><para>The button on the right side of a mouse device
        configured for normal right-hand use.</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
    </variablelist>
    <para>To reverse the handedness of your mouse device, start the
    <application>Mouse Preferences</application>, then select the options
    that you require.  If you do reverse the handedness of your mouse device,
    then you must reverse the mouse button conventions used in this manual.
    See <xref linkend="prefs-mouse"/> for more information about setting
    your mouse preferences.</para>
  </section>

  <section id="mouse-actions">
    <title>Mouse Actions</title>
    <titleabbrev>Actions</titleabbrev>

    <!-- Maintained for 2.8 compatibility -->
    <anchor id="gosgetstarted-45"/>
    <anchor id="gosbasic-6"/>

    <indexterm>
      <primary>mouse</primary>
      <secondary>actions</secondary>
    </indexterm>
    <indexterm>
      <primary>mouse</primary>
      <secondary>action terminology</secondary>
    </indexterm>

    <para>The following list describes the actions that you can perform
    with the mouse:</para>

    <variablelist>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>Left mouse button</term>
        <listitem>
          <para>Use the left mouse button to perform the following
          actions:</para>
          <itemizedlist>
            <listitem><para>Select text.</para></listitem>
            <listitem><para>Choose items.</para></listitem>
            <listitem><para>Drag items.</para></listitem>
            <listitem><para>Activate items.</para></listitem>
          </itemizedlist>
          <para>When selecting items from a list, you can hold the
          <keycap>Ctrl</keycap> key to select multiple items, or
          hold the <keycap>Shift</keycap> key to select a contiguous
          range of items.</para>
        </listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>Middle mouse button</term>
        <listitem>
          <para>Use the middle mouse button to perform the following
          actions:</para>
          <itemizedlist>
            <listitem><para>Paste text.</para></listitem>
            <listitem><para>Move items.</para></listitem>
            <listitem><para>Move windows to the back.</para></listitem>
          </itemizedlist>
        </listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>Right mouse button</term>
        <listitem><para>Use the right mouse button to open a context menu for
        an item, if a menu applies.  For most items, you can also use the
        <keycombo><keycap>Shift</keycap><keycap>F10</keycap></keycombo>
        keyboard shortcut to open the context menu once the item has been
        selected.</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
    </variablelist>

    <para>For example, when viewing files in the file manager, you select
    a file by clicking with the left mouse button and open a file by
    double-clicking with the left mouse button.  Clicking with the right
    mouse button will bring up a context menu for that file.</para>

    <tip><para>In most applications, you can select text with your left
    mouse button and paste it in another application using the middle
    mouse button.  This is called primary selection paste, and works
    seperately from your normal clipboard operations.</para></tip>

    <para>The conventions used in this manual to describe actions
    that you take with the mouse are as follows: </para>
    <informaltable frame="topbot">
      <tgroup cols="2" colsep="0" rowsep="0">
        <colspec colname="colspec0" colwidth="36.36*"/>
        <colspec colname="colspec1" colwidth="63.64*"/>
        <thead>
          <row rowsep="1">
            <entry>
              <para>Action</para>
            </entry>
            <entry>
              <para>Definition</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para>Click</para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Press and release the left mouse button,
              without moving the mouse.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para>Click-and-hold</para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Press and do not release the
              left mouse button.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para>Left-click</para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Same as <emphasis>click</emphasis>.
              Left-click clarifies the action when there might be
              confusion with <emphasis>right-click</emphasis>.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para>Middle-click</para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Press and release the middle mouse button,
              without moving the mouse.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para>Right-click</para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Press and release the right mouse button,
              without moving the mouse.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para>Double-click</para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Press and release the left mouse button twice
              in rapid succession without moving the mouse.  You
              can configure the double-click timeout using the
              <application>Mouse Preferences</application>.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para>Drag</para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Click-and-hold a mouse button, then move an object.
              For example, you can drag a window or an icon. The left
              mouse buttons is usually used to perform drag actions,
              although the middle mouse button is sometimes used for
              an alternate drag action.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para>Drag-and-drop</para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Click-and-hold a mouse button, then move an object.
              For example, you can drag-and-drop a window or an icon.
              Release the mouse button to place the object in a new
              location.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para>Grab</para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Point to an item that you can move, and click-and-hold
              on the mouse button. For example, you can grab the titlebar
              of a window, then drag the window to a new location.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
        </tbody>
      </tgroup>
    </informaltable>
  </section>

  <section id="mouse-pointers">
    <title>Mouse Pointers</title>
    <titleabbrev>Pointers</titleabbrev>

    <!-- Maintained for 2.8 compatibility -->
    <anchor id="gosbasic-7"/>

    <indexterm>
      <primary>mouse</primary>
      <secondary>pointers</secondary>
    </indexterm>
    <indexterm>
      <primary>pointers</primary>
      <see>mouse pointers</see>
    </indexterm>

    <para>As you use the mouse, the appearance of the mouse pointer can
    change.  The appearance of the pointer can provide feedback about a
    particular operation, location, or state. The following list describes
    some of the mouse pointers.</para>

    <variablelist>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>
          <inlinemediaobject>
            <imageobject>
              <imagedata format="PNG"
                         fileref="figures/normal_pointer.png"/>
            </imageobject>
            <textobject>
              <phrase>Normal pointer.</phrase>
            </textobject>
          </inlinemediaobject>
          Normal pointer
        </term>
        <listitem><para>This pointer appears during normal use of
        the mouse.</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>
          <inlinemediaobject>
            <imageobject>
              <imagedata format="PNG"
                         fileref="figures/move_pointer.png"/>
            </imageobject>
            <textobject>
              <phrase>Move pointer.</phrase>
            </textobject>
          </inlinemediaobject>
          Move pointer
        </term>
        <listitem><para>This pointer appears during a drag operation.  It
        indicates that when you drop the object, the object is moved from
        the old location to the new location.</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>
          <inlinemediaobject>
            <imageobject>
              <imagedata format="PNG"
                         fileref="figures/copy_pointer.png"/>
            </imageobject>
            <textobject>
              <phrase>Copy pointer.</phrase>
            </textobject>
          </inlinemediaobject>
          Copy pointer
        </term>
        <listitem><para>This pointer appears during a drag operation.  It
        indicates that when you drop the object, a copy of the object is
        created where you drop it.</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>
          <inlinemediaobject>
            <imageobject>
              <imagedata format="PNG"
                         fileref="figures/link_pointer.png"/>
            </imageobject>
            <textobject>
              <phrase>Symbolic link pointer.</phrase>
            </textobject>
          </inlinemediaobject>
          Symbolic link pointer
        </term>
        <listitem><para>This pointer appears during a drag operation.  It
        indicates that when you drop the object, a <firstterm>symbolic
        link</firstterm> to the object is created where you drop the object.
        A symbolic link is a special type of file that points to another file
        or folder.</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>
          <inlinemediaobject>
            <imageobject>
              <imagedata format="PNG"
                         fileref="figures/ask_pointer.png"/>
            </imageobject>
            <textobject>
              <phrase>Ask pointer.</phrase>
            </textobject>
          </inlinemediaobject>
          Ask pointer
        </term>
        <listitem><para>This pointer appears during a drag operation.  It
        indicates that when you drop the object, a menu opens.  The menu
        allows you to choose which drag operation you would like to perform.
        For instance, you may be able to select among moving, copying, and
        creating a symbolic link.</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>
          <inlinemediaobject>
            <imageobject>
              <imagedata format="PNG"
                         fileref="figures/not_available_pointer.png"/>
            </imageobject>
            <textobject>
              <phrase>Not available pointer.</phrase>
            </textobject>
          </inlinemediaobject>
          Not available pointer
        </term>
        <listitem><para>This pointer appears during a drag operation.
        It indicates that you cannot drop the object at the current
        location.</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>
          <inlinemediaobject>
            <imageobject>
              <imagedata format="PNG"
                         fileref="figures/move_panel_object_pointer.png"/>
            </imageobject>
            <textobject>
              <phrase>Move panel object pointer.</phrase>
            </textobject>
          </inlinemediaobject>
          Move panel object pointer
        </term>
        <listitem><para>This pointer appears when you drag a panel object
        with the middle mouse button.</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>
          <inlinemediaobject>
            <imageobject>
              <imagedata format="PNG"
                         fileref="figures/resize_pointer.png"/>
            </imageobject>
            <textobject>
              <phrase>Resize pointer.</phrase>
            </textobject>
          </inlinemediaobject>
          Resize pointer
        </term>
        <listitem><para>This pointer indicates that you can grab the control to
        resize parts of the interface.  This appears over the sides of windows
        and over resize handles between panes.  The direction of the arrows
        indicates in which direction you can resize.</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>
          <inlinemediaobject>
            <imageobject>
              <imagedata format="PNG"
                         fileref="figures/hand_pointer.png"/>
            </imageobject>
            <textobject>
              <phrase>Hand pointer.</phrase>
            </textobject>
          </inlinemediaobject>
          Hand pointer
        </term>
        <listitem><para>This pointer appears when you hover over a hypertext
        link.  This pointer indicates that you can click on the link to load
        a new document or perform an action.</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
    </variablelist>
  </section>
</section>

<section id="keyboard-skills">
  <title>Keyboard Skills</title>

  <!-- Maintained for 2.8 compatibility -->
  <anchor id="gosbasic-51"/>

  <indexterm>
    <primary>basic skills</primary>
    <secondary>keyboard skills</secondary>
  </indexterm>
  <indexterm>
    <primary>keyboard</primary>
    <secondary>basic skills</secondary>
  </indexterm>

  <para>For almost every task that you can perform with the mouse, you can use
  the keyboard to perform the same task.  <firstterm>Shortcut keys</firstterm>
  are keys that provide you with a quick way to perform a task.</para>

  <para>You can use shortcut keys to perform general GNOME Desktop tasks and
  to work with interface items such as panels and windows. You can also use
  shortcut keys in applications. To customize your shortcut keys, use the
  <application>Keyboard Shortcuts</application> preference tool.  See
  <xref linkend="prefs-keyboard-shortcuts"/> for more information about
  configuring keyboard shortcuts.</para>

  <note><para>Many PC keyboars come two keys with a <trademark>Microsoft
  Windows</trademark> logo and one key for accessing context menus.  The
  Windows key is often configured to act as an additional modifier key,
  called the <firstterm>Super key</firstterm>.  The context menu key can
  be used to access the context menu of the selected item, just as the
  <keycombo><keycap>Shift</keycap><keycap>F10</keycap></keycombo>
  keyboard shortcut can.</para></note>

  <para>You can also modify the GNOME Desktop preferences to use keyboard
  accessibility features.  See <xref linkend="prefs-keyboard-a11y"/> for
  more information about the keyboard accessibility features.</para>

  <para>The following sections describe the shortcut keys that you can use
  throughout the desktop and applications.</para>

  <section id="shortcuts-global">
    <title>Global Shortcut Keys</title>

    <!-- Maintained for 2.8 compatibility -->
    <anchor id="gosbasic-62"/>

    <indexterm>
      <primary>shortcut keys</primary>
      <secondary>global</secondary>
    </indexterm>

    <para>Global shortcut keys enable you to use the keyboard to perform tasks
    related to your desktop, rather than tasks on the currently selected window
    or application.  The following table lists some global shortcut keys:</para>

    <informaltable frame="topbot">
      <tgroup cols="2" colsep="0" rowsep="0">
        <colspec colname="colspec0" colwidth="35.67*"/>
        <colspec colname="colspec1" colwidth="64.33*"/>
        <thead>
          <row rowsep="1">
            <entry>
              <para>Shortcut Key</para>
            </entry>
            <entry>
              <para>Function</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>F1</keycap>
              </keycombo></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Opens the <guimenu>Applicantions Menu</guimenu>.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>F2</keycap>
              </keycombo></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Displays the <guilabel>Run Application</guilabel>
              dialog.  See <xref linkend="tools-run-app"/> for more
              information.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para>
                <keycap>Print Screen</keycap>
              </para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Takes a screenshot of the entire desktop.  See
              <xref linkend="tools-screenshot"/> for more information.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>Print Screen</keycap>
              </keycombo></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Takes a screenshot of the currently focused window.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Ctrl</keycap><keycap>Alt</keycap>
                <keycap>Arrow keys</keycap>
              </keycombo></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Switches to the workspace to the specified direction of the
              current workspace.  See <xref linkend="overview-workspaces"/> for
              more information on working with multiple workspaces.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Ctrl</keycap><keycap>Alt</keycap>
                <keycap>D</keycap></keycombo>
              </para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Minimizes all windows, and gives focus to the desktop.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>Tab</keycap>
              </keycombo></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Switches between windows.  A list of windows that you can
              select is displayed. Release the keys to select a window.  You
              can press the <keycap>Shift</keycap> key to cycle through the
              windows in reverse order.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Ctrl</keycap><keycap>Alt</keycap>
                <keycap>Tab</keycap></keycombo>
              </para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Switches the focus between the panels and the desktop.
              A list of items that you can select is displayed.  Release the
              keys to select an item.  You can press the <keycap>Shift</keycap>
              key to cycle through the windows in reverse order.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
        </tbody>
      </tgroup>
    </informaltable>
  </section>

  <section id="shortcuts-window">
    <title>Window Shortcut Keys</title>

    <!-- Maintained for 2.8 compatibility -->
    <anchor id="gosbasic-58"/>

    <indexterm>
      <primary>shortcut keys</primary>
      <secondary>window</secondary>
    </indexterm>

    <para>Window shortcut keys allow you to use the keyboard to perform
    tasks on the currently focused window.  The following table lists
    some window shortcut keys:</para>

    <informaltable frame="topbot">
      <tgroup cols="2" colsep="0" rowsep="0">
        <colspec colname="colspec0" colwidth="35.67*"/>
        <colspec colname="colspec1" colwidth="64.33*"/>
        <thead>
          <row rowsep="1">
            <entry>
              <para>Shortcut Key</para>
            </entry>
            <entry>
              <para>Function</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>Tab</keycap>
              </keycombo></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Switches between windows.  A list of windows that you can
              select is displayed. Release the keys to select a window.  You
              can press the <keycap>Shift</keycap> key to cycle through the
              windows in reverse order.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>F4</keycap>
              </keycombo></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Closes the currently focused window.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>F5</keycap>
              </keycombo></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Unmaximize the current window, if it is maximized.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>F7</keycap>
              </keycombo></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Move the currently focused window.  After pressing this
              shortcut, you can move the window using either the mouse or
              the arrow keys.  To finish the move, click the mouse or press
              any key on the keyboard.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>F8</keycap>
              </keycombo></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Resize the currently focused window.  After pressing this
              shortcut, you can resize the window using either the mouse or
              the arrow keys.  To finish the resize, click the mouse or press
              any key on the keyboard.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>F9</keycap>
              </keycombo></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Minimize the current window.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>F10</keycap>
              </keycombo></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Maximize the current window.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>spacebar</keycap>
              </keycombo></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Opens the <guilabel>Window Menu</guilabel> for the
              currently selected window.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Shift</keycap><keycap>Ctrl</keycap><keycap>Alt</keycap>
                <keycap>Arrow keys</keycap>
              </keycombo></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Moves the current window to another workspace in the
              specified direction.  See <xref linkend="overview-workspaces"/>
              for more information on working with multiple workspaces.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
        </tbody>
      </tgroup>
    </informaltable>
  </section>

  <section id="shortcuts-apps">
    <title>Application Keys</title>

    <!-- Maintained for 2.8 compatibility -->
    <anchor id="gosbasic-59"/>
    <anchor id="gosbasic-61"/> <!-- was Panel Shortcut Keys -->

    <indexterm>
      <primary>shortcut keys</primary>
      <secondary>application</secondary>
    </indexterm>

    <para>Application shortcut keys enable you to perform application
    tasks. You can use shortcut keys to perform application tasks more
    quickly than if you use a mouse. The following table lists some
    common application shortcut keys:</para>

    <informaltable frame="topbot">
      <tgroup cols="2" colsep="0" rowsep="0">
        <colspec colname="colspec0" colwidth="45.00*"/>
        <colspec colname="colspec1" colwidth="55.00*"/>
        <thead>
          <row rowsep="1">
            <entry>
              <para>Shortcut Key</para>
            </entry>
            <entry>
              <para>Command</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Ctrl</keycap><keycap>N</keycap>
              </keycombo></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Create a new document or window.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Ctrl</keycap><keycap>X</keycap>
              </keycombo></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Cut the selected text or region and place it on
              the clipboard.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Ctrl</keycap><keycap>C</keycap>
              </keycombo></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Copy the selected text or region onto the clipboard.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Ctrl</keycap><keycap>V</keycap>
              </keycombo></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Paste the contents of the clipboard.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Ctrl</keycap><keycap>Z</keycap>
              </keycombo></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1">
              <para>Undo the last action.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Ctrl</keycap><keycap>S</keycap>
              </keycombo></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1">
              <para>Save the current document to disk.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0">
              <para><keycap>F1</keycap></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1">
              <para>Load the online help document for the application.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
        </tbody>
      </tgroup>
    </informaltable>

    <para>In addition to these shortcut keys, all applications support a set
    of keys to navigate and work with the user interface.  These keys allow
    you to perform operations that you might normally perform with a mouse.
    The following table describes some interface control keys:</para>

    <informaltable frame="topbot">
      <tgroup cols="2" colsep="0" rowsep="0">
        <colspec colname="colspec0" colwidth="45.00*"/>
        <colspec colname="colspec1" colwidth="55.00*"/>
        <thead>
          <row rowsep="1">
            <entry>
              <para>Keys</para>
            </entry>
            <entry>
              <para>Command</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para>Arrow keys or <keycap>Tab</keycap></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Move between controls in the interface or items
              in a list.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycap>Enter</keycap> or <keycap>spacebar</keycap></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Activate or choose the selected item.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycap>F10</keycap></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Activate the left-most menu of the application window.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycombo>
                <keycap>Shift</keycap><keycap>F10</keycap>
              </keycombo></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Activate the context menu for the selected item.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
              <para><keycap>Esc</keycap></para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
              <para>Close a menu without selecting a menu item,
              or cancel a drag operation.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
        </tbody>
      </tgroup>
    </informaltable>
  </section>

  <section id="shortcuts-access">
    <title>Access Keys</title>

    <!-- Maintained for 2.8 compatibility -->
    <anchor id="gosbasic-63"/>

    <indexterm>
      <primary>access keys</primary>
    </indexterm>

    <para>A <firstterm>menubar</firstterm> is a bar at the top of a window that
    contains the menus for the application.  An <firstterm>access key</firstterm>
    is an underlined letter in a menubar, menu, or dialog that you can use to
    perform an action.  On a menubar, the access key for each menu is
    underlined.</para>

    <para>To open a menu, hold the <keycap>Alt</keycap> key, then press the
    access key.  In the menu, the access key for each menu item is underlined.
    To choose a menu item when a menu is displayed, you can simply press the
    access key for the menu item.</para>

    <para>For example, to open a new window in the <application>Help</application>
    application, press <keycombo><keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>F</keycap></keycombo>
    to open the <guimenu>File</guimenu> menu, then press <keycap>N</keycap> to
    activate the <guimenuitem>New Window</guimenuitem> menu item.</para>

    <para>You can also use access keys to access elements in a dialog.  In a dialog,
    one letter in most dialog elements is underlined. To access a particular dialog
    element, hold <keycap>Alt</keycap>, then press the access key.</para>
  </section>
</section>

</chapter>