Linux Keyboard Shortcuts

Appendix E.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Here are a few keyboard shortcuts you can use to perform common tasks quickly. Many more are available in addition to what is listed here. 

 

For more command line and keyboard shortcuts, visit: http://sunsite.dk/linux-newbie/lnagficommands.html#shortcuts

 

Ø      [Ctrl] + [Alt] + [Backspace] = kill X. Kills your current X session and returns you to the login screen. Use this if the normal exit procedure does not work.

 

Ø      [Ctrl] + [Alt] + [Delete] = shutdown and reboot. Shuts down your current session and reboots the OS. Use only when the normal shutdown procedure does not work.

 

Ø      [Ctrl] + [Alt] + [Fn] = switches screens. [Ctrl]+[Alt] + one of the function keys displays a new screen. [F1] through [F6] are text (console) screens and [F7] is a graphical screen.

 

Ø      [Alt] + [Tab] = switch tasks. If you have more than one application open at a time, you can use [Alt] + [Tab] to switch among open tasks and applications.

 

Ø      [Ctrl] + [a] = move cursor to the beginning of a line. This works in most text editors and in the URL field in Mozilla.

 

Ø      [Ctrl] + [d] = logout of a terminal or console instead of having to type exit or logout.

 

Ø      [Ctrl] + [e] = move cursor to end of a line. This works in most text editors and in the URL field in Mozilla.

 

Ø      [Ctrl] + [l] = clear the terminal. This shortcut does the same thing as typing clear at a command line.

 

Ø      [Ctrl] + [u] = clear the current line. If you are working in a terminal, use this shortcut to clear the current line from the cursor all the way to the end of the line.

 

Ø      [Middle Mouse Button] = pastes highlighted text. Use the left mouse button to highlight the text. Point the cursor to the spot where you want it pasted. Click the middle mouse button to paste it.

 

Ø      [Tab] = command autocomplete. Use this command when working in a terminal. Type the first few characters of a command and then press the [Tab] key. It will automatically complete the command or show all the commands that match the characters you typed.

 

Ø      [Up] and [Down] Arrow = show command history. When working in a terminal, press the [up] or [down] arrow to scroll through a history of commands you have typed from the current directory. When you see the command you want to use, press [Enter].

 

Ø      clear = clear the terminal. Type this at a command line to clear all displayed data from the terminal window.

 

Ø      exit = logout. Type this at a command line to logout of the current user or root account.

 

Ø      history = show history of commands. Type this at a command line to see a numbered list of the previous 500 commands you typed. To display a shorter list of commands, by type history followed by a space and a number.           For example, history 20.

 

Ø      reset = refresh terminal screen. Type this at a command line to refresh the terminal screen if characters are unclear.