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Macros, tips, and templates for Corel® WordPerfect® for Windows®
© Copyright 1996-2012 by Barry MacDonnell. All Rights Reserved.

What are <Alt> key shortcuts?

Underlined, single letters or numbers found on most menus and many dialog boxes correspond to keyboard keys you must press along with the <Alt> key in order to emulate mouse clicking the same menu item or dialog choice.

Usually the underlined letters bear some resemblance to the feature or function you wish to use, such as F for File, or V for View, or 5 for F5. Hence they are sometimes referred to as "mnemonic keys" (mnemonic = "designed to aid memory") or "accelerator" keys.

Most users -- and most help dialogs -- simply call them "shortcut keys" or "keyboard shortcuts."

Thus, when the menu or dialog is visible, you would normally press and hold the <Alt> key while you press the appropriate shortcut key.

[Note: The <Alt> key is not the only key that can be used in this way: The <Ctrl> and <Shift> keys are also often used, either alone, together, or in combination with <Alt> and some other keyboard key. But here we are specifically discussing the underlined Windows <Alt> keys found on various menus and dialogs.]

Can't see the underlines on menus and dialogs?

Sometimes the shortcut key's underlines are hidden on menus and dialogs, even though they are actually there. Pressing just the <Alt> key should temporarily display any underlines that exist on the menu or dialog.

Hidden underlines are most likely due to a Windows setting, not a WordPerfect setting. Here's how to activate them so they always display without having to use the <Alt> key to see them.

Displaying them in Windows XP (and earlier)

The Windows XP setting to always show underlines on menus and dialogs is normally enabled by default. If it is disabled (i.e., to hide the underlines), here's how to enable it.

1. Click the Windows Start icon at the bottom left of your Windows desktop, then click on Control Panel.

[Keyboard alternative: Press <Ctrl+Esc>, or press the Windows logo (flag) key on the bottom row of your keyboard, release it, then press the <C> key.]

2. The Control Panel dialog opens. [Be sure you are in Classic View (all Control Panel icons are showing); if not, in the Control Panel's left pane, select Switch to Classic View (you can also select it with <Tab>, then <Enter>).] Double-click on the Display icon to open the Display Properties dialog.

[Keyboard alternative (in Classic View): Press the <Arrow> keys to select Display, then press <Enter>.]

3. In the Display Properties dialog, click on the Appearance tab, then click the Effects button.

[Keyboard alternative: In the Display Properties dialog box, navigate to the Appearance tab by pressing <Ctrl+Tab>, then select the Effects button by pressing <Alt+E>.]

4. In the Effects dialog box, disable (un-tick) "Hide underlined letters for keyboard navigation until I press the Alt key". Click <OK> twice.

[Keyboard alternative: Press just the <H> key to disable (un-tick) the checkbox, then press <Enter> to return to Display Properties. Then navigate to the OK button by pressing <Tab>, then press <Enter>.]

5. Close the Control Panel with File, Close (or the <X> button at the top right of the Control Panel window) to exit back to the Windows desktop.

[Keyboard alternative: Press <Alt+F>,<C> (or <Alt+F4>)].

Displaying them in Windows Vista and Windows 7

The Windows Vista/7 setting to always show underlines on menus and dialogs is normally disabled by default (i.e., to hide the underlines). Here's how to enable it so the underlines always show (without having to press the <Alt> key so you can see them).

1. Click the Windows Start icon (the round "orb" with a Windows logo in it, at the bottom left of your Windows desktop), then click on Control Panel, Ease of Access, Ease of Access Center.

[Keyboard alternative: Press and hold down the Windows logo (flag) key on the bottom row of your keyboard while you press the <U> key.]

2. Click on "Make the keyboard easier to use." The Make the keyboard easier to use dialog opens.

[Keyboard alternative: Use the <Tab> or <Arrow> keys to navigate to this choice, then press <Enter> to open the dialog.]

3. Enable (tick) the option, "Underline keyboard shortcuts and access keys".

[Keyboard alternative: <Alt+N>.]

4. Click <OK> to save the setting and close the Ease of Access Center.

[Keyboard alternative: <Alt+O>.]

5. Click the <X> button at the top right of the remaining dialog to exit back to the Windows desktop.

[Keyboard alternative: <Alt+F4>.]