The ENTER key

ENTER and RETURN keys have the same meaning. Many keyboards have both keys, one being interchangeable with the other.

The ENTER/RETURN key informs the computer that you have finished your input or command. Your entry is then analysed and acted upon according to program instructions.

The same interchange, use of either key, is available for the number keys. They may be available on a keypad as well as the top row of the keyboard.

To highlight a key or command to be entered on the keyboard in text bold printing or italics may be used, e.g. F2 or F2 indicates the key marked F2 is being referenced. When a key or command is in italics it means 'entered from the keyboard'.

e.g.: ESC or ENTER, meaning the ESCape or ENTER/RETURN key is to be pressed.

The ENTER/RETURN may be abbreviated as EN

Other examples: ESC,C - the comma indicates one key is to be pressed AFTER the other. Ctrl/D the / (slash) indicates to HOLD the key marked CTRL while pressing the letter D.

About the Enter/Return key

A reminder that when you see a SINGLE DOT prompt it will not be necessary to press the ENTER or RETURN key.

If it is pressed when not needed the ENTER keystroke is saved for the next prompt and used-sometimes not desirable.

SINGLE DOT - press the required key only.

What's a CURSOR?

The CURSOR may be a steady or blinking block or line that indicates where on the screen the next key entered will appear.

You will notice the CURSOR moving across the screen as a line is printed. This is the program instructing the computer to print a line on your terminal. If the program is waiting for input from you, that input will print at the cursor position, wherever that may be.

Most single key requests, indicated by a single dot (.), do not require the ENTER key to be pressed.