Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ‫ا ا اد‬

Royal Commission at Yanbu %&' ‫ا)( ا‬

University College – Yanbu %&'-./0‫ا ا‬
Department of ACS & AIT
Yanbu Al-Sinaiyah 3/'4‫ ا‬%&'

2ND Semester 2007-08

CS-001 PREPARATORY COMPUTERS I
TYPING HANDOUT Theory & Laboratory (HO - TYPING)

1. Using Your Keyboard

The keyboard is the most important input device you will be using when working with a
computer. It is used to type instructions that tell the computer what to do. Also, it is used to
type in information you want the computer to process.
There are five keyboard areas on the type of keyboard which is used on all computers in the
Computer Lab. These include the typing keys, the computer keys, the function keys, the cursor
movement keys, and the numeric key pad. Also, the keyboard has a status indicator area. This
area has 3 lights that display the status (either on or off) of Num Lock, Cap Lock, and Scroll
Lock. When one of these indicator lights is on, the corresponding mode is on. The function of
these indicators will be explained in this exercise.

2. Typing keys
This is the main typing area of your keyboard. It resembles the keys on a standard typewriter.
You press and release the keys, and the corresponding letters and numbers appear on the screen
of your monitor. Keys in the typing area work just like those on a conventional English
typewriter. The various keys in this area are discussed below.

2.1. Letter keys:

The letter keys (A-Z) work just like those on an English typewriter. Letters pressed alone
appear on the screen in lowercase type. Letters pressed while holding down the "Shift" key
produce upper-case letters.

2.2. Spacebar:
The "Spacebar" adds a blank space at the cursor between characters. It is used to add spaces
between characters, but NOT to move the cursor.

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 2.3. Number keys:
The number keys (0-9) work just like those on a typewriter. When you press one, the number
appears on the screen. When the "Shift" key is held down and the number pressed, the upper
symbol labeled on the key is displayed.

2.4. Symbol keys:

The symbol keys have two symbols on them. The lower symbol is produced when the key is
pressed alone, the upper symbol is produced when the key is pressed while holding down the
"Shift" key. Symbol keys also include punctuation keys, parentheses, brackets, and
mathematical symbols, like those on a typewriter. The symbol keys include the following: ` ~
@#$%^&*()_-+={}[]:;"'<>,?/\|.

2.5. Caps Lock key:

"Cap Lock" is a toggle key that turns the Caps Lock mode (in the "Status Indicator" area of the
keyboard) on and off. When Caps Lock is on in the status indicator area, all letters you type
are in upper-case. To type a lowercase letter while Caps Lock mode is on, hold down the
"Shift" key while typing the letter.

2.6. Shift keys:

The "Shift" keys are modifier keys that enable you to type upper-case letters and upper symbol
keys. You must first hold down the "Shift" key then press the desired letter, number, or symbol
key.

2.7. Enter key:

The "Enter" key is used to end a typed line and position the cursor at the beginning of the next
line. In DOS, the "Enter" key is pressed to start a command.

2.8. Backspace key:

The "Backspace" key erases the character to the left of the cursor. You can delete multiple
characters by holding down the "Backspace" key.

2.9. Tab key:

The "Tab" key is used to move an on-screen cursor. If "Tab" is pressed alone, it moves the
cursor to the right.

3. Computer keys and Cursor Movement keys

3.1 Computer keys: are not found on typewriters, execute special tasks when used alone
or in conjunction with other keys. For example, the escape key (ESC) can sometimes be used
to interrupt a task. You can use the ALT key and the control key (CTRL) by themselves or in
combination with other keys to perform keyboard shortcuts. The various keys in this area are
discussed below.

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 3.1.1. Esc key:
The "Esc" (Escape) key exits the current activity and returns you to the previous one. "Esc"
also enables you to abandon an error condition and resume activity prior to it.

3.1.2. Insert key:

The "Insert" key turns insert mode on and off. With insert mode on, new information is added
to the screen without losing existing information. The cursor shape often changes to indicate
that insert mode is on.

3.1.3. Delete key:

The "Delete" key erases information from the screen. Each time the "Delete" key is pressed,
the character at the cursor is erased.

3.1.4. Ctrl key:

The "Ctrl" (Control) key is a modifier key that is used in conjunction with another key to
perform a function; it does not perform any function by itself. For example, if you are running
a DOS command, the "Ctrl" and "C" keys can be pressed simultaneously to stop the execution
of the command.

3.1.5. Alt key:

The "Alt" key is also a modifier key that is used in conjunction with another key to perform a
function; it does not perform any function by itself. For example, the "Alt", "Ctrl", and
"Delete" keys can be pressed simultaneously to restart your computer.

3.1.6. Print Screen key:

The "Print Screen" is used to print a paper copy of whatever is on your screen (if a printer is
attached). The "Print Screen" may not print properly if the screen shows a graphic (picture), or
if you are using a networked printer.

3.1.7. Scroll Lock key:

The "Scroll Lock" key is a toggle key that turns Scroll Lock mode (in the "Status Indicator"
area of the keyboard) on and off. When Scroll Lock mode is on, the cursor becomes stationary
and the text scrolls (moves) around it. When Scroll Lock mode is off, the text remains
stationary and the cursor moves instead.

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 3.1.8. Pause key:
The "Pause" key temporarily suspends the activity of the computer. Pressing the "Pause" key
once stops the activity; pressing any typing key (except "Shift" and "Caps Lock") resumes the
activity.

3.2 The Cursor Movement keys: are used to position the cursor on the screen. The various
keys in this area are discussed below.

3.2.1. Arrow keys:

The left, right, up, and down arrow keys move the cursor one position in the direction of the
arrow. The up arrow moves the cursor one line up; the down arrow moves the cursor one line
down. The left arrow moves the cursor one character to the left; the right arrow moves the
cursor one character to the right.

3.2.2. Page Up key:

The "Page Up" key displays the previous page or screen of information. If, for example, you
are on page three of a document, pressing the "Page Up" would bring you to page two of the
document.

3.2.3. Page Down key:

The "Page Down" key displays the next page or screen of information. If, for example, you are
on page three of a four-page document, pressing the "Page Down" would bring you to page
four of the document.

3.2.4. Home key:

The "Home" key moves the cursor to a starting point. The point may be the start of the current
line, the current screen, or the current page. Its exact use varies from program to program.

3.2.5. End key:

The "End" key moves the cursor to an ending point. The point may be the end of the current
line, the current screen, or the current page. Its exact use varies from program to program.

4. Function keys
Keys on top of the keyboard are called function keys (F1, F2, F3,…,F12). They're used to
quickly perform specific tasks in your software applications.

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 Function keys perform different tasks depending on the software being used. For example,
pressing "F1" in one program may display a help menu, while in another it may bring a new file
to the screen.

5. Numeric Pad keys

The numeric key pad lets you either move the cursor on the screen or input numeric data. You
use it to enter numbers with one hand, as if you were using an adding machine. The various
keys in this area are discussed below.

5.1. Num Lock key:

The "Num Lock" is used to turn the Num Lock mode (in the "Status Indicator" area of the
keyboard) on and off. This will alter the mode of the numeric key pad from cursor to number
keys and vice versa.

5.2. Cursor/Number keys:

The function of these keys is determined by the status of Num Lock. If Num Lock mode (in
the "Status Indicator" area of the keyboard) is on, the keys can be used to enter numbers. If
Num Lock mode is off, the keys can be used to move an on-screen cursor, turn on insert mode,
or delete the character at the cursor (refer to the description of Dedicated Cursor Keys).

5.3. Enter key:

The "Enter" key of the numeric key pad functions the same way as the "Enter" key of the
typing area. If the key pad is being used to enter numeric data, the "Enter" key can often be
used as an "equals" key (as on a calculator).

5.4. Del/. (Decimal Point) key:

The function of this key is determined by the status of Num Lock. With Num Lock mode on,
this key is used to type a decimal point (or period). With Num Lock mode off, this key deletes
the character at the cursor.

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 QWERTY keyboard layout

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