Can anyone tell me what the "Print Screen" key is for and how it works? Or maybe direct me to a site where I can get the information. Thanks. DAVE.

It does come in handy. Here's a link:
http://www.steve.maurer.net/tutorial...rintscreen.htm

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Originally Posted by DAVE231

Can anyone tell me what the "Print Screen" key is for and how it works? Or maybe direct me to a site where I can get the information. Thanks. DAVE.

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First, you need to remember that the current 101 key standard keyboard was based on dumb terminals connected to main frame computers in the 60s and 70s. These terminals had monochrome, text only displays. So the Print Screen key was used to send whatever was currently displayed on the screen to a printer.

When PCs first came out, this key was carried over to DOS and its predecessors. Since these were also text based, you could still print the current screen using the key.

However, once Windows took hold, it became impractical to send a screen directly to the printer because of the graphical nature of the screen. So Microsoft changed the Print Screen key to a print capture key. Pressing it now captures the current screen to the Windows clipboard. Pressing Alt+Print Screen will capture only the active Window.

Once in the clipboard you can then paste the clipboard contents into any program and print the screen from there. A few utilities have been written that restore the function of PrintScreen and will send the screen to a printer.

Need Karma (Ralphie) thanks for the link. Not only clear and lucid but a neat looking website too!

Scott Gem, thanks for the history and the explanation.

This is a great forum for beginners.
I truly appreciate your responses

Thanks! DAVE.

Since asking this question I have found a free for personal use program at www.gadwin.com that allows you to print the screen by hitting the "Print Screen" key or you are able to save the screen to a Print Screen file. Looks helpful so I'll check it out. Always eager to learn although I don't really know what I'm doing. Scary combination isn't it? LOL!

Hi,
Others have given advice on using the Print Screen.
If you are interested, here is a link to a great, free, program that will allow you to take a "picture" of any screen, small, large, whole screen, small images, anything, anywhere, and then you can print it out.

Called ScreenHunter, it's a "must have" for anyone.

http://www.wisdom-soft.com/downloads/downloadfiles.htm

Best wishes,
fredg

Thanks fredg, I'll check it out.

I use ScreenPrint32 (also a freebie) Works great for me and uses the Printscreen key as is activator. Allows you to cpature a specific area of the screen then save it as a graphic, to the clipboard or print.

See www.screenprint32.com