Keyboard Shortcuts
Most people use their mouse to control their OS/2 session. Most of the things that can be done with the mouse can also be done with the keyboard. The following are some keyboard combinations that you may find useful.
Where multiple keys are separated by a + symbol it means you need to hold down the first key while tapping the second in order to achieve the indicated effect.
| space | Select current object |
| Enter | open an object or select a menu entry |
| Esc | Remove window or cancel mouse action |
| Alt + Esc | Switch to next window or full screen session |
| Ctrl + Esc | Display list of open windows |
| Shift + Esc Ctrl + space | Display title bar popup menu |
| Del | Delete an object |
| Home | Select first choice |
| End | Select last choice |
| Alt + backspace | Undo |
| Alt + Shift + Tab | Make the desktop active and hide all open windows |
| F1 | Display help |
| F2 | Display general help (help system only) |
| F3 | Either refresh screen or exit (depending on program) |
| Alt + F4 | Close active window |
| F6 | Switch window panel |
| Alt + F6 | Swap between active and help windows |
| F7 | Switch to buttons or back within help and view |
| Shift + F8 | Switch between single and multiple selection |
| F9 | Display keys help (help system only) |
| Alt + F9 | Hide active window |
| Shift + F9 | Edit object title |
| F10 | Switch to menu bar |
| Alt + F10 | Maximize active window |
| Shift + F10 | Display popup menu for selected object |
| F11 | Display help index (help system only) |
| Alt + Ins | Create an object in the clipboard |
| Ctrl + Ins | Copy to the clipboard |
| Shift + Ins | paste from clipboard |
| Ctrl + \ | Deselect all objects |
| Ctrl + / | Select all objects |
In addition to the above, you can also select menu options by pressing the underlined key. You can also change which object or menu entry is selected using the arrow keys.
One combination that is well worth knowing is how to shut down your OS/2 system properly without using the mouse (just in case your mouse stops working mid session). To do this you first press Alt + Shift + Tab to get to the desktop. Next you press Ctrl + \ to deselect all objects on the desktop then Shift + F10 to display the desktop menu from which you can select the shutdown option either using the arrow keys or by pressing D.
