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Using our website
Our websites have been designed to be as easy to use as possible for all users. Features of the site that make it easier to use are explained below.
New windows
Links to non-Shell websites and downloadable files such as PDF, Zip, or Word open in a new browser window when clicked. This allows you to switch between the Shell website and the newly opened window. Links to non-Shell websites will first open a disclaimer statement, which will ask you to click on the ‘Continue your journey’ link to proceed. On all Shell websites, links that open in a new window are clearly marked either by text next to the link title or within the link title tag (alt text).
Page titles
Each page has its own unique page title that clearly explains the page content. This will help you keep track of where you are in the website, and make it possible to distinguish between pages when you have more than one window or tab open.
Headings
Headings are relevant and provided in a logical order so that you can use them to get an overview of the page. For screen reader users, this means that you may be able to use screen reader functions to jump from heading to heading, or have a list of all headings displayed, so that you can decide which one is of most interest to you, and then go straight to it.
Data tables
Data tables have row and column headings, where necessary, that are not only visually different from the data cells, but coded so that screen readers will be able to identify them. This will make it possible for screen reader users to find out what the relevant headings are, from anywhere within the table grid.
Links
Links are written so that they are clear, concise, and unique on each page. This makes the links easier to scan visually as well as if you are using a screen reader.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.x | |
Description | Shortcut Key |
|---|---|
| Move virtual cursor to the top of the web page | CTRL + Home |
| Move virtual PC cursor to the end of the web doc | CTRL + End |
| Go to a new web page/visit a new site | CTRL + O or CTRL + l |
| Open another web browser window | CTRL + N |
| To toggle the History pane/window on and off | CTRL + H |
| To toggle the Favorites pane/window on and off | CTRL + I |
| To bookmark the currently loaded page as a Favorite | CTRL + D |
| Opens the 'organize your Favorites' treeview window (Turn off virtual cursor first with insert z) | CTRL + B |
| Move cursor to the Address bar | Alt + D |
| Stop downloading current page | ESC |
| Refresh the currently loaded web page | F5 |
Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 | |
General Shortcuts | |
| Turn Full Screen Mode on or off | F11 |
| Cycle through the Address Bar, Refresh button, Search Box, and items on a web page | TAB |
| Find a word or phrase on a page | CTRL+ F |
| Open the current webpage in a new window | CTRL+ N |
| Print the page | CTRL+ P |
| Select all items on the page | CTRL+ A |
| Zoom in | CTRL+ + |
| Zoom out | CTRL+ - |
| Zoom to 100 | CTRL+ 0 |
| NAVIGATION SHORTCUTS | |
| Go to home page | ALT + Home |
| Go backwards | ALT + Left |
| Go forward | ALT + Right |
| Refresh page | F5 |
| Refresh page and the cache | CTRL + F5 |
| Stop downloading page | ESC |
| FAVORITES CENTER SHORTCUTS | |
| Open Favorites | CTRL + I |
| Open Favorites in pinned mode | CTRL + SHIFT+I |
| Organize Favorites | CTRL + B |
| Add current page to Favorites | CTRL+ D |
| Open Feeds | CTRL+ J |
| Open Feeds in pinned mode | CTRL+ SHIFT J |
| Open History | CTRL+ H |
| Open History in pinned mode | CTRL+ SHIFT+ H |
| TAB SHORTCUTS | |
| Open link in new background tab | CTRL+left mouse button or middle mouse button |
| Open link in new foreground tab | CTRL+SHIFT+left mouse button or CTRL+SHIFT+middle mouse button |
| Close tab (closes window if only one tab is open) | CTRL+W or CTRL+F4 |
| Open Quick Tab view | CTRL+Q |
| Open new tab | CTRL+T |
| View list of open tabs | CTRL+SHIFT+Q |
| Switch to next tab | CTRL+TAB |
| Switch to previous tab | CTRL+SHIFT+TAB |
| ADDRESS BAR SHORTCUTS | |
| Select the Address Bar | ALT+D |
| Add "http://www." to the beginning and ".com" to the end of text in Address Bar | CTRL+ ENTER |
| Add “http://www.” to the beginning and the website address suffix you have specified to the end of text in the Address Bar* | CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER |
| Open the website address that is typed in the Address Bar in new tab | ALT + Enter |
| View list of previously typed addresses | F4 |
| SEARCH BAR SHORTCUTS | |
| Select the Search Bar | CTRL+E |
| View list of search providers | CTRL+DOWN |
| Open search results in new tab | ALT+ENTER |
| TO DO THIS | DO THIS |
| Delete cookies, passwords, form data, history, and temporary Internet files | Tools > Delete Browsing History |
| Find and install add-ons | Tools > Manage Add-ons > Find More Add-ons |
| Print part of page | Select part of the page you want to print, press CTRL+P, click Selection, and then click Print |
| Change website address suffix* | Tools > Internet Options > Languages |
Opera 9.0 | |
TABS | |
| Open a new tab | Ctrl + T |
| Close a tab | Ctrl + W |
| Cycle between tabs | Alt + Page Down or Ctrl + Tab |
| Scrolling one line up | ↑ |
| One line down | ↓ |
| One character to the left | ← |
| One character to the right | → |
| One screen up | Shift + Space or Page Up |
| One screen down | Space or Page Down |
| One screen to the left | Ctrl + Page Up |
| One screen to the right | Ctrl + Page Down |
| Go to top | Home |
| Go to bottom | End |
| NAVIGATION | |
| Next link up | Shift + ↑ |
| Next link down | Shift + ↓ |
| Next link to the left | Shift + ← |
| Next link to the right | Shift + → |
| Activate link | Enter |
| Activate link in new tab | Shift + Enter |
| HISTORY | |
| Previous page in history | Z or Ctrl + ← or Alt + ← |
| Next page in history | X or Ctrl + → or Alt + → |
| Reload the current page | F5 or Ctrl + R |
| Rewind | Shift + Z |
| Fast forward | Shift + X |
| Show entire backward history | Alt + Z |
| Show entire forward history | Alt + X |
| FIND | |
| Find text in page | Ctrl + F or .(period), or / |
| Find next instance of text | Ctrl + G |
| Find previous instance of text | Ctrl + Shift + G |
| Find text in links in page | , (comma), or Shift + / |
| DISPLAY | |
| Use entire screen for viewing page | F11 |
| Pretend to be small-screen device | Shift + F11 |
| ZOOMING | |
| Zoom in 10% | + or 0 |
| Zoom out 10% | - or 9 |
| Zoom in 100% | Ctrl + or 8 |
| Zoom out 100% | Ctrl - or 7 |
| Restore zoom to 100% | 6 |
| SYSTEM KEYS | |
| Open file | Ctrl + O |
| Save copy of page | Ctrl + S |
| Print preview (toggle) | Shift + P |
| Print page | Ctrl + P |
| Close Opera | Ctrl + Q |
For more information and additional keyboard shortcuts for other browsers please visit the Royal National Institute for the Blind - opens in new window (RNIB) - opens in new window website.