Main Keypad

(in the middle of the keyboard)

Consists of the alphabet keys with the Number Keys above. You may also see one or two Windows Keys which have a picture of the Windows logo on it. This is used to bring up the Start menu. To the left of the right Ctrl key is the Short-Cut Key which brings up a shortcut menu (the same as the right click of your mouse).

Function Keys

(F1-F12)

Used differently depending on the application being used (for example, in Internet Explorer, the F5 key is used to refresh that window). You will become more experienced with the function keys as you learn, but for now only use these keys when prompted to by the computer.

Number Pad

Also called the numeric keypad. Located on the right hand side of the keyboard. These keys serve a dual function. With the Num Lock key (located on the top left of the number pad) toggled to ON the numbers will work and with the Num Lock key toggled to OFF the secondary function of the key will work. Most keyboards will also have indicator lights for the Num Lock (and Scroll Lock and Caps Lock). The Shift keys will have the same function with the main keypad but only when the button is held down.

This is the keypad number 8. With the Num Lock key turned ON it would type the number eight in a document. With the Num Lock key turned OFF the up arrow would be used to move the cursor up.

Editing Pad

This section of the keyboard is the column of keys between the main keypad and the numeric keypad. The top three keys are the Prt Scr/Sys Rq key (print screen and system request), the Scroll Lock (used to lock a scroll), and the Pause/Break key (used to pause the computer during certain functions). Below these keys are the Insert and Delete keys, the Home and End keys, and the Page Up and Page Down keys. These keys (in conjunction with the arrow keys below) are mainly used in word processing and other applications to view/edit documents.