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KeyBoard Navigation

Menu Mnemonics

Menu Mnemonics, designated by the underlined character in the menu item, permit access of the menu from the keyboard. When the cursor is the Main Window, typing Alt+M, where M is the underlined character, opens the corresponding menu. Once open, typing the underlined character, without the Alt key, activates the menu item.

The Mnemonics in submenus are independent of the mnemonics in the parent menu.

The Mnemonics, along with the menu item labels, are specified in the Resources File.

Mnemonics may not work if the NumLock keyboard mode is on.

Menu Accelerators

Certain keystrokes, typically Alt or Ctrl + a letter, invoke a menu item directly (while the cursor is the Main Window). For example, Ctrl+Q is an Accelerator for Quit.

The Accelerator Text to the right of a menu item shows the Accelerator, if any, for the menu item.

The Accelerators and the Accelerator Text are specified in the Resources File. Careless modification of the File can result in a secret Accelerator if the acceleratorText resource is not set.

Accelerators may not work if the NumLock keyboard mode is on.

Menu Navigation

Once a Main Menu item is open, by either a mouse click or mnemonic, the arrow keys move the focus through the menus.

The Space Bar or Return key, as well as the left mouse button, selects the menu item.

The F1 or Help key displays help on the menu item.

To exit the menu, use the Esc key or click the mouse outside the menu.

Movement in Windows

Within a window, including the Main Window and dialogs, the Tab key moves from element group to element group; Shift+Tab moves in the opposite direction. Within a group, the arrow keys move from element to element.

The Space Bar selects the item that has the focus just as a left mouse click on the item selects it. (Sometimes the Return key selects an item.)