Control-X
Encyclopedia
In computing
, control-X is a control character
in ASCII code, also known as the cancel (CAN
) character. It is generated by pressing the key while holding down the key on a computer keyboard
. The equivalent Mac OS
key combination on Apple computers is Command
-X (or Apple-X).
environments, including Windows Explorer
, GNOME
, KDE
, XFCE
and most other desktop environment
s based on the X Window System
, and in applications such as word processing
software running in those environments, Control-X can be used to cut highlighted text to the clipboard
. Control-X was one of a handful of keyboard
sequences chosen by the program designers at Xerox PARC
to control text editing
. Presumably these particular keystrokes were chosen because of their location on a standard QWERTY keyboard, since the Z
(undo), X (cut), C
(copy), and V
(paste) keys are located together at the left end of the bottom row of the standard QWERTY
keyboard.
Computing
Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific part of information technology...
, control-X is a control character
Control character
In computing and telecommunication, a control character or non-printing character is a code point in a character set, that does not in itself represent a written symbol.It is in-band signaling in the context of character encoding....
in ASCII code, also known as the cancel (CAN
Cancel character
In telecommunication, the term cancel character has the following meanings:#A control character used to indicate that the data with which it is associated are in error or are to be disregarded....
) character. It is generated by pressing the key while holding down the key on a computer keyboard
Computer keyboard
In computing, a keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches...
. The equivalent Mac OS
Mac OS
Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems. The Macintosh user experience is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface...
key combination on Apple computers is Command
Command key
The Command key, also historically known as the Apple key, open-Apple key or meta key is a modifier key present on Apple Keyboards. The Command key's purpose is to allow the user to enter keyboard shortcut commands to GUI applications...
-X (or Apple-X).
Relation to Cut
In many GUIGraphical user interface
In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...
environments, including Windows Explorer
Windows Explorer
This article is about the Windows file system browser. For the similarly named web browser, see Internet ExplorerWindows Explorer is a file manager application that is included with releases of the Microsoft Windows operating system from Windows 95 onwards. It provides a graphical user interface...
, GNOME
GNOME
GNOME is a desktop environment and graphical user interface that runs on top of a computer operating system. It is composed entirely of free and open source software...
, KDE
KDE
KDE is an international free software community producing an integrated set of cross-platform applications designed to run on Linux, FreeBSD, Microsoft Windows, Solaris and Mac OS X systems...
, XFCE
Xfce
Xfce is a free software desktop environment for Unix and other Unix-like platforms, such as Linux, Solaris, and BSD – though recent compatibility issues have arisen with regard to BSD Unix platforms...
and most other desktop environment
Desktop environment
In graphical computing, a desktop environment commonly refers to a style of graphical user interface derived from the desktop metaphor that is seen on most modern personal computers. These GUIs help the user in easily accessing, configuring, and modifying many important and frequently accessed...
s based on the X Window System
X Window System
The X window system is a computer software system and network protocol that provides a basis for graphical user interfaces and rich input device capability for networked computers...
, and in applications such as word processing
Word processor
A word processor is a computer application used for the production of any sort of printable material....
software running in those environments, Control-X can be used to cut highlighted text to the clipboard
Clipboard (software)
The clipboard is a software facility that can be used for short-term data storage and/or data transfer between documents or applications, via copy and paste operations...
. Control-X was one of a handful of keyboard
Computer keyboard
In computing, a keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches...
sequences chosen by the program designers at Xerox PARC
Xerox PARC
PARC , formerly Xerox PARC, is a research and co-development company in Palo Alto, California, with a distinguished reputation for its contributions to information technology and hardware systems....
to control text editing
Text editor
A text editor is a type of program used for editing plain text files.Text editors are often provided with operating systems or software development packages, and can be used to change configuration files and programming language source code....
. Presumably these particular keystrokes were chosen because of their location on a standard QWERTY keyboard, since the Z
Control-Z
In computing, is a control character in ASCII code, also known as the substitute character or a keyboard shortcut. Strictly speaking, is not a printable character at all but a code for control purposes, though it is sometimes rendered by two characters as ^Z. It is generated by pressing the key...
(undo), X (cut), C
Control-C
Control-C is a common computer command. It is generated by pressing the key while holding down the key on a computer keyboard.In graphical user interface environments that use the control key to control the active program, control-C is often used to copy highlighted text to the clipboard...
(copy), and V
Control-V
In computing, Control-V is a control character in ASCII code, also known as the synchronous idle character. It is generated by pressing the key while holding down the key on a computer keyboard...
(paste) keys are located together at the left end of the bottom row of the standard QWERTY
QWERTY
QWERTY is the most common modern-day keyboard layout. The name comes from the first six letters appearing in the topleft letter row of the keyboard, read left to right: Q-W-E-R-T-Y. The QWERTY design is based on a layout created for the Sholes and Glidden typewriter and sold to Remington in the...
keyboard.
Software that uses this binding
- Microsoft OfficeMicrosoft OfficeMicrosoft Office is a non-free commercial office suite of inter-related desktop applications, servers and services for the Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, introduced by Microsoft in August 1, 1989. Initially a marketing term for a bundled set of applications, the first version of...
- OpenOffice.orgOpenOffice.orgOpenOffice.org, commonly known as OOo or OpenOffice, is an open-source application suite whose main components are for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, and databases. OpenOffice is available for a number of different computer operating systems, is distributed as free software...
- CorelCorelCorel Corporation from the abbreviation is a computer software company headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, that specializes in graphics processing, similar to Adobe Systems...
- KOfficeKOfficeCalligra Suite is a graphic art and office suite by KDE created from KOffice in 2010. It is available for desktop PCs, tablet computers, and smartphones...
- ...and many other open sourceOpen sourceThe term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
or closed source programs.
Representation
- ASCIIASCIIThe American Standard Code for Information Interchange is a character-encoding scheme based on the ordering of the English alphabet. ASCII codes represent text in computers, communications equipment, and other devices that use text...
and UnicodeUnicodeUnicode is a computing industry standard for the consistent encoding, representation and handling of text expressed in most of the world's writing systems...
representation of "Cancel":- Octal code: 30
- Decimal code: 24
- Hexadecimal code: 18, U+0018
- Mnemonic symbol: CANCancel characterIn telecommunication, the term cancel character has the following meanings:#A control character used to indicate that the data with which it is associated are in error or are to be disregarded....