"Other Keyboarding Terms"

A Toggle Key is a key on the keyboard that toggles between two modes – like a switch that has two positions, ON and OFF. The most common is the CAPS LOCK key which causes all letters to appear as capitals when it is activated. Other common toggle keys include NUM LOCK (alternates between the numeric keypad used for numeric entry and using it for cursor movement) and SCROLL LOCK (When the scroll lock mode was on, the arrow keys would scroll the contents of a text window instead of moving the cursor, which is not a common problem with modern interfaces). In Excel when Scroll Lock is on, the selection doesn’t move.

Correcting Errors:

There are three basic ways to correct keying errors (errors you make while typing):

1. Backspace - deletes characters as you backspace over them. When you backspace over a character on the screen, the character to the left of the insertion point position is deleted.

2. Overtype - replaces text letter by letter at the insertion point position. This function allows you to replace, or type over, existing text. To use Overtype, press the Insert key. The Overtype mode stays in effect until you press the Insert Key (a toggle key) again. You press the Insert key to turn it on and off. By default, Overtype is off. This means that anything you key is inserted in the text rather than keyed over existing text. If you want to insert or add text, leave Overtype off. If, however, you want to key over something, turn Overtype on by pressing the Insert key. Overtype stays in effect until you press the Insert key again.

3. Delete - deletes characters at the insertion point position. Press the Delete key to erase the character immediately to the right of the insertion point position. When correcting with the Delete key, simply position the insertion point on our just to the left of the character to be deleted. Press the Delete key to remove the character, then key the correct letter.

Another way of deleting or substituting text in a document is to highlight the letter (s), word (s), or paragraph (s) and typing over them - as long as the option "Typing replaces selection" is chosen on the Editing Options of the Options Window under Tools (to check: Go to Tools > Select Options > Edit > Go to Editing Options and make sure that "Typing replaces selection" is checked). You can also press the Backspace key or the Delete key after highlighting.

Tab Key

The first line of a paragraph is usually indented approximately one-half inch. In Microsoft Word there are default tabs every half inch. Later on we'll learn more about Tabs and Indents.

Tabs are particularly helpful for documents containing small columns of text. You could set Tab Stops to your liking (or as needed) or use the Default Tabs (every half inch). Press the Tab key with your Left Little Finger.

Word Wrap

When you key paragraphs of text (for example, in a letter), you do not need to press Enter at the end of each line. Word Wrap is a feature that automatically wraps a word to the next line once that word exceeds the right margin. With Word Wrap, you need to press Enter only to end a paragraph, create a blank line, or end a short line (for example, a person's name in an envelope address).

Test - On October 20 "B Schedule" Day we'll have our next Test. This test will cover the following: Lessons 1 - 10 (study the hand-out that Mrs. Feld gave you on the Keyboarding MicroType 4 Program - with techniques and lessons learned). Also study page 6 of the hand-out and this blog on Toggle keys, Three Ways of Correcting Errors, Tab Key and Word Wrap; as well as the article on the importance of good posture - "Stand Up Straight!"- given to you on October 8, 2008. There will be a timing on this test. If you have any questions or are missing any of these papers, please contact Mrs. Feld.