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In an attempt to type faster, I find that my thumb is constantly hitting the "alt" key, throwing out what I have tried to type, and I must go back and start over; is there a shorter method? Keep in mind that my pinky is a 14, my second finger is a 21, and my thumb is off the scale, but I can scratch where it iches.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), October 20, 2001

Answers

well MItch, I don't think we can help someone who is all thumbs! :)

They certainly are making keyboards smaller and smaller. If they get any smaller I will only need one hand to reach all the keys!

-- Laura (LadybugWrangler@hotmail.com), October 20, 2001.


I know what you mean Mitch! My problem is hitting the Caps Lock instead of shift, then looking up at the screen to see a whole paragraph in capital letters, this drives me crazy!!!! Sometimes I re-do it and other times I just leave it because I am always in a hurry and trying to answer as many people as possible!

-- Melissa (me@home.ner), October 21, 2001.

Mitch, as another larger man (6'8"+, 285#) who types I'll suggest you look at some different keyboards. You'll likely find some with slightly differnt key layouts and configurations. Look at used, also. You may want to give up the "Windows keys" in favor of a larger space bar with the ALT & CTRL keys further out to the sides. My office PC keyboard, for example, is from maybe five or six computers ago, but accomodates me better than any of the newer ones. It's trial and error but I know exactly what you mean. I hope this helps.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), October 21, 2001.

This is a reasking of the same question; what I need to know is how to recover from an accidental pressing of the "alt" key? Also just what is it for?

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), October 21, 2001.

Mitch, I haven't the slightest idea what the alt key is for either! See...you aren't the only one! Maybe you can tell me why I get two copies of whatever I cut and paste!

-- Ardie/WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), October 21, 2001.


OK Mitch, sorry to avoid your initial question, not intentional for sure. If you hit the ALT key and some other key it will perform a specific command. I just tried experimenting with my board and ALT + an "F" opens the file section, not every key does something but you can just hit ALT and the various letters and it comes across the bottom of the screen and tells you what it will do. I haven't found one yet that garbles the letters all up so I don't know what to do to fix it. I will keep tring though. It seem slike you would use ALT and the other letter/number instead of using a mouse to point and click.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), October 21, 2001.

Mitch, I went into my HELP index and punched in ALT. It camre up with a bunch of shortcut keys. Most of the ALT commands seem to switch screens to something else. Like hitting alt and tab, switches screens with the previous screen, so hitting it again should bring it back. If you can figure out which key you are accidentally hitting and hit it again, maybe you can restore your work. Hitting ALT all by itself doesn't seem to do anything, it only works when it is used in conjunction with another key. Even the spacebar and ALT does something (can't remember what). Look in your help menu for more intelligent info, my brain is getting tired tonight. Hope this helps a little.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), October 21, 2001.

I type on the computer all day and I understand what your saying. You can use control alt delete to end a task like if your computer freezes up on you like mine has a bad habit of doing. The best way from keeping your thumb from hitting the alt key is to always keep your thumb in the middle of the keyboard. keep the other one just below the keyboard. I am constantly scratching my other hand with my thumbnail. I also have trouble with numbers. SO I use the keypad on the side. best wishes.

-- mindy (speciallady@countrylife.net), October 22, 2001.

New keyboard don't have certain symbols above the number keys. If you hold down the alt key and then type 0162 then release alt, you will get the ¢ symbol. alt 0176 ° symbol. alt 0188 ¼ symbol. alt 0189 ½ symbol and alt 0190 ¾ symbol. This is just a few helpful keys that used to be on "old" typewriters. Anyone remember those manual ones where you skinned your knuckles between the keys?

-- Charleen in WNY (harperhill@eznet.net), October 22, 2001.

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