As a service to our readers, I want to post keyboard shortcuts and other helpful tech tidbits that are useful for individuals who use screen reading software in the Microsoft Windows environment.  These commands will work using all screen readers unless clearly stated otherwise.

The first shortcut I want to point out is one that many of you may be familiar with.  However, every once in a while, I run across someone who does not know it!

The fastest way to exit any program in the Microsoft Windows operating system is to press Alt+F4.  This means that you hold down the Alt key while pressing the F4 key on the top row of your keyboard.

This shortcut exits the program that currently has focus.  If you are working in a file, you will be asked if you want to save the changes you have made to this file.  If you do, press Y and the file will be saved before the program closes.  If you don't want to save the changes you have made to the file you are working in, press N and the program will close, leaving the file just as it was the last time you saved it.