First Steps

3.2. Keyboard Input

As an alternative to the mouse you can use the following keys:

  • To switch between the menu bar, the folder tree, the side bar, and the display area, use [Ctrl]+[F6] on Windows and Linux systems, [F6] on MacOS systems.

  • To move the cursor within input fields, use the following keys: cursor keys, [Home], [End].

  • To browse the folder tree or the side bar, use the following keys: [Page up], [Page down].

  • To open or close a folder in the folder tree, use the left or right arrow key.

  • To select elements in the folder tree, the tool bar, the side bar or the display area, use the cursor keys.

  • To select a function, an input field or a checkbox, use the [Tab] key. The selected element will be highlighted.

    With [Shift]+[Tab] you can select elements in reverse order.

  • To execute the function selected, press [Enter].

  • To enable or disable a selected checkbox, press the [Space bar].

  • To toggle the checkboxes, use the cursor keys.

  • To close a popup or cancel a dialogue window, press [Esc].

  • To delete the selected E-Mail messages, folders or files press [Del] or [Backspace].

Instructions that show how to use the keyboard control:

  • How to use the keyboard to send a new email

  • How to use the keyboard to reply to an email

How to use the keyboard to send a new email:

  1. If the Email app is not launched, do the following:

    • Repeatedly press [Ctrl]+[F6] or [F6] on Mac OS systems to highlight the menu bar.

    • Press [Tab] to highlight email in the menu bar.

    • Press [Enter]. The Email app will be launched.

  2. Repeatedly press [Tab] until the Compose button is highlighted. Press [Enter]. The Compose page opens. The input field To: is enabled.

  3. Enter the recipient's E-Mail address. Press [Enter].

  4. Repeatedly press [Tab] until the Subject input field is highlighted. Enter the subject.

  5. The input field for the E-Mail text is enabled. Enter the E-Mail text.

  6. In order to send the E-Mail, press [Tab]. The Send button is highlighted. Press [Enter]. The E-Mail is sent.

  7. To add attachments, repeatedly press [Tab] or [Shift]+[Tab] until the Attachment button is highlighted. Press [Enter]. Select Add local file.

    A dialogue field for selecting files opens. Depending on the system, use the [Tab] key, the [Enter] key and the cursor keys to select a file and to close the system dialogue.

    Repeatedly press [Tab] until the Send button is highlighted. Press [Enter]. The E-Mail is sent.

How to use the keyboard to reply to an email:

  1. If the Email app is not launched, do the following:

    • Repeatedly press [Ctrl]+[F6] or [F6] on Mac OS systems to highlight the menu bar.

    • Press [Tab] to highlight email in the menu bar.

    • Press [Enter]. The Email app will be launched.

  2. Repeatedly press [Ctrl]+[F6] or [F6] on Mac OS systems to highlight a folder in the folder tree. Use the cursor keys to select the desired folder. To view or hide a subfolder, use the left or right arrow key.

  3. If the desired folder is highlighted, repeatedly press [Tab], until an email is highlighted in the side bar.

  4. Use the cursor keys to select the desired email.

  5. To reply to the E-Mail, repeatedly press [Tab] or [Shift]+[Tab] , until the Quick reply function or the Reply all function is highlighted. Press [Enter] to activate the function.

    You can also repeatedly press [Shift]+[Tab] until the tool bar is highlighted. Use the cursor keys to browse to the Reply to sender icon or to the reply to all recipients icon . Press [Enter].