As Virtual Assistants, it is our job to make sure we have a good level of technical knowledge, and can use our tools efficiently. Using keyboard shortcuts is one way of saving time and getting the job done more quickly and efficiently. There are some generic keyboard shortcuts that can be used with most computer programs, and there are others that are specific to a program or software.
When it comes to formatting your publications, I find that keyboard shortcuts are so much easier to use that clicking through the file menus with your mouse, and especially when it comes to things like fine positioning and adjusting size and layout, keyboard shortcuts are invaluable for accuracy. Here are a few shortcuts for Publisher that you can use when formatting your documents.
| Ctrl+B | Make text bold |
| Ctrl+U | Underline text |
| Ctrl+I | Make text italic |
| Ctrl+= | Superscript text |
| Ctrl+Shift+= | Subscript text |
| Ctrl+Shift+K | Make text in small caps |
| Ctrl+Spacebar | Remove formatting from highlighted text |
| Ctrl+Shift+f | Open font menu. You can then use the arrow keys to select, and press enter to change text to that font |
| Ctrl+Shift+P | Open font size menu |
| Ctrl+Shift+> | Increase font size |
| Ctrl+Shift+< | Decrease font size |
| CTRL +T | Switch between making an object transparent or opaque (with a white fill). |
| CTRL+A | Select all objects on the page — if your cursor is not in text in a text box or AutoShape. If your cursor is in a text box and you press these keystrokes, this selects all the text that is in a story — even if the story flows to additional text boxes. |
| CTRL+SHIFT+G | Group selected objects, or ungroup grouped objects. |
| ALT+F6 | Bring object to front. |
| ALT+SHIFT+F6 | Send object to back. |
| Arrow Keys | Nudge a selected object up, down, left, or right. Arrow keys |
| ALT+arrow keys | If the selected object has a cursor in its text, nudge the selected object up, down, left, or right. |
| CTRL+M | Switch between the current page and the master page. |
| F5 or CTRL+G | Display the Go To Page dialog box. |
| CTRL+SHIFT+N | Insert a page or a two-page spread. If you are creating a newsletter, it opens the Insert publication type Pages dialog box. If you are creating a greeting card or program, a message displays asking if you want multiple pages automatically inserted. |
| CTRL+SHIFT+U | Insert duplicate page after the selected page. |
