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SUNDAY
26th April 2009
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Accesskeys

Access keys let you navigate around BBC online without using your mouse.

They can be used to jump directly to different sections of BBC online or certain areas within a page, without having to move your mouse at all.

Table of accesskeys used on BBC online

Access key Function
0 go to Access Keys documentation page
1 go to bbc.co.uk Home page
2 skip to main content of current page (for non-visual browsers)
3 go to BBC onlineBBC online Site Map page
4 go to bbc.co.uk Search box
5, 6, 7, 8, 9 [reserved for use on individual bbc.co.uk sites - forthcoming]

How to use Access Keys in your Browser

Browser What to do
Internet Explorer 5+ (PC) Hold down the ALT key, press the number of the access key, release both keys then press ENTER
Internet Explorer 4 (PC) Hold down the ALT key and press the number of the access key
Internet Explorer 5+ (Mac) Hold down the CTRL key and press the number of the access key
Internet Explorer 4.5 (Mac) Access keys are not supported
Netscape 6 and earlier (PC and Mac) Access keys are not supported
Netscape 7 (PC) Hold down the ALT key and press the number of the access key
Firefox, Mozilla (PC) Hold down the ALT key and press the number of the access key
Firefox, Mozilla (Mac) Hold down the CTRL key and press the number of the access key
Safari and Omniweb (Mac) Hold down the CTRL key and press the number of the access key
Opera Hold down the Shift key and press Escape, release both keys, then press the number of the accesskey

Notes & feedback

Please note that some assistive technology tools such as the IBM HomePage Reader and WindowEyes already make use of the alt+[access key] combinations. As such, users of these tools will not be able to use these access keys.

These access key assignments are based on research into best practice across the web (in an attempt to be consistent with other sites' access keys), and an understanding of the key global navigation requirements of bbc.co.uk users.

If you have any comments on how BBC onlineBBC onlineBBC onlineBBC online could make better use of access keys, please email us your feedback.



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