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Windows Vista

Cut, Copy, and Paste

In many situations, you will want to duplicate or move text, graphics, files, and folders to another location. This location may be elsewhere in the same document, to another document, to a different application, or to another location on your computer. These tasks can be completed by using cut, copy, and paste.

Material that is copied or cut is placed in a storage area called the Clipboard. Once an item is put on the Clipboard, it will remain there until something else is placed there or until the system is turned off. An item on the Clipboard can be pasted multiple times.

return to topCopying Items

Copying items places them on the Clipboard. Once copied, you can paste the Clipboard contents, whether it be elsewhere in the same document, into a different document, or into an altogether different application.

  1. Select the text, graphic, file, or folder to be copied

  2. Press [Ctrl] + [C]
    The selected contents are saved to the Clipboard.
    You are now ready to paste.

return to topCutting Items

Cutting removes the item from its current location and places it on the Clipboard. Once you cut the text or graphics, you can paste within the same document, into a different document, or into a different application.

  1. Select the item (text or graphic) to be cut

  2. Press [Ctrl] + [X]
    The selection has been cut and saved to the Clipboard.
    You are now ready to paste.

return to topPasting Items

When you have cut or copied to the Clipboard, you can paste it within the same document, into a different document, or into a different application. For more information, refer to Moving Between Applications.

  1. Copy or cut the desired item(s)

  2. Place the insertion point where you want to paste the item

  3. Press [Ctrl] + [V]
    The content is pasted.

return to topMoving Between Applications

When you cut or copy text and want to paste it into another document or application, it is necessary to know how to move from one application to the next. The following instructions will explain how you can easily move from one application to the next by using either a key command or minimizing and restoring the programs that are currently in use.

Moving Between Applications: Key Command

  1. Press [Alt] + [Tab]
    A box appears on the screen showing all open applications.

  2. Continue to hold [Alt] while pressing [Tab] to cycle through open programs
    NOTES:
    The application must be open to be included in the program list.
    The application is selected when a box appears around the application icon.

  3. To open the selected application, release [Alt]

Moving Between Applications: Minimizing

When cutting, copying, and pasting between applications, you can minimize an application for easier access to other running applications by conserving space on your monitor's screen.

  1. In the upper-right corner of the window, click MINIMIZEMinimize button
    NOTE: The minimized version of your application appears as an icon located on your Taskbar at the bottom of your screen.
    Windows Taskbar

Moving Between Applications: Restoring

Once you have minimized an application, you can restore it to its former size.

  1. On the Windows Taskbar, click the desired application icon
    The application opens to full size.

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