Assigning Your Own Shortcut Key

When you assign your own key combination to the shortcuts you want to use, the first key must be a "modifier" key. The modifier keys you can use are ALT, CTRL, or SHIFT. The second key can be almost any other key on the keyboard. You can also begin your shortcut with two modifier keys followed by the letter you want to use.

Sample shortcut key combinations are: ALT+P, CTRL+SHIFT+T, CTRL+3, ALT+F7, and SHIFT+LEFT ARROW.

Step	Mouse actions	Keyboard actions
1	On the menu bar: Click Tools, and then click Customize.	Open the Tools menu by pressing ALT+T. Open the Customize dialog box by pressing C.
2	In the Customize dialog box: Click the Keyboard button.	Open the Customize Keyboard dialog box by pressing ALT+K.
3	To save the shortcut key changes: In the Customize Keyboard dialog box: Click the Save changes in arrow. In the Save changes in list, click the current document name or template to which you want to save the shortcut key changes.	To save the shortcut key changes: In the Customize Keyboard dialog box: Move to the Save changes in list by pressing ALT+V. In the Save changes in list, use the UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys to highlight the current document name or template to which you want to save the shortcut key changes. Press ENTER.
4	In the Categories list: Click the category that contains the command or other item to which you want to assign a shortcut.	Move to the Categories list by pressing ALT+C. In the Categories list, use the UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys to highlight the category that contains the command or other item to which you want to assign a shortcut.
5	In the Commands list: Click the name of the command or other item to which you want to assign a shortcut. Any shortcut keys that are currently assigned appear in the Current keys list.	Move to the Commands list by pressing ALT+O. In the Commands list, use the UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys to highlight the name of the command or other item to which you want to assign a shortcut. Any shortcut keys that are currently assigned appear in the Current keys list.
6	In the Press new shortcut key box: Press the shortcut key combination you want to use. Note: The key combination will immediately appear as text in the Press new shortcut key box.	Move to the Press new shortcut key box by pressing ALT+N. In the Press new shortcut key box: Press the shortcut key combination you want to use. Note: The key combination will immediately appear as text in the Press new shortcut key box.
7	Click Assign.	Press ENTER.

Screen shot of the Customize dialog box, the Keyboard button is about to be selected

Customize dialog box: Keyboard button

Screen shot of the Customize Keyboard dialog box

Customize Keyboard dialog box