# Mouse and print icon or Ctrl-P-Enter? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 16, 2008, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-and-print-icon-or-ctrl-p-enter/477397 "2008-12-16T14:38:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-and-print-icon-or-ctrl-p-enter/477397/1 "2008-12-16T14:38:49Z")
After watching a (20ish) assistant moving the mouse to change the address on a form letter going to a bunch of different people, then moving the mouse again the hit the Print icon and then moving the mouse to hit Okay on the print pop up a bunch of times, I showed her the Ctrl-P-Enter sequence. She was not even aware that such a move was possible. I told her that I use it because I am a typist and use the mouse as little as possible. Do you usually use the icon or the keyboard to print? ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-and-print-icon-or-ctrl-p-enter/477397/2 "2008-12-16T16:01:57Z")
That would be ⌘-P & Enter  🙂 I don’t think I use any programs that have a print icon, or at least none in which I didn’t immediately disable or hide whatever silly buttonbar has that on it. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-and-print-icon-or-ctrl-p-enter/477397/3 "2008-12-16T16:10:34Z")
It depends on a few factors. What program I’m using, what I was doing right before printing, which computer…I’m sure there are more that I’m not thinking of. In a text doc, if I’m editing or typing, I’ll use ctrl-p-ent, but if I’m reading, using the scroll wheel, I’ll use the ion. Drafting-almost exclusively the icon. Image edit-about 50/50. (50-50? 50%-50%? nope, the %'s look dumb.) ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-and-print-icon-or-ctrl-p-enter/477397/4 "2008-12-16T16:41:44Z")
I prefer to use the keyboard as much as possible, but if I happen to have been mousing right before I print, I use the icon. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-and-print-icon-or-ctrl-p-enter/477397/5 "2008-12-16T20:28:29Z")
I very rarely have to print things that I’m composing, the vast majority of printing is of things I receive or view online. Since most reading, browsing and opening occurs via the mouse the icon is most logical. Though, on rare times I use a laptop keyboard shortcuts are much preferred. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-and-print-icon-or-ctrl-p-enter/477397/6 "2008-12-16T20:52:32Z")
alt+f+p+enter ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-and-print-icon-or-ctrl-p-enter/477397/7 "2008-12-16T21:43:15Z")
Ctrl-P Ctrl-O Ctrl-S What can I say? I’m a Ctrl freak! ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-and-print-icon-or-ctrl-p-enter/477397/8 "2008-12-16T22:05:01Z")
I have a pretty good handle on ⌘-functions but I think I mouse (trackball, actually) a lot more than comparably-geeky people. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-and-print-icon-or-ctrl-p-enter/477397/9 "2008-12-16T22:31:51Z")
I usually click Ctrl-P, but then I often need to change some printer settings, such as printing 2 pages per sheet, only printing certain pages, etc. After I’m done using the mouse to do all this, it’s then easier just to click “enter” with the mouse. ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-and-print-icon-or-ctrl-p-enter/477397/10 "2008-12-16T22:37:12Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > I usually click Ctrl-P, but then I often need to change some printer settings, such as printing 2 pages per sheet, only printing certain pages, etc. After I’m done using the mouse to do all this, it’s then easier just to click “enter” with the mouse. In Word, I always reset the command and the icon (both of which I use, though probably the command more often) to open the “Print…” rather than the “Print” function – that is, to show me printer options before printing. I mess with printer options a lot, usually trying to save paper (duplex, 2-up, all that good stuff). I totally trick out all my Word toolbars and menus, though, which I realize is anathema to some folks. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-and-print-icon-or-ctrl-p-enter/477397/11 "2008-12-16T23:52:15Z")
I usually use the menu (often File\>Print…) - you never can tell whether the toolbar buttons are going to throw up the print dialog and let you make choices, or just send the document straight to the default printer with the default options. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-and-print-icon-or-ctrl-p-enter/477397/12 "2008-12-17T00:21:47Z")
Right-Click, print. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-and-print-icon-or-ctrl-p-enter/477397/13 "2008-12-17T00:33:06Z")
I don’t really print things often enough for it to come up. But I use a good variety of keyboard shortcuts, especially the ones that are universal. I hate it when some app uses the same shortcut I’m familiar with for some completely unrelated task (and for all you know, it has changed some important setting that will destroy your work), it messes me around something fierce. Unfortunately it’s an inevitable and almost unavoidable hazard. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-and-print-icon-or-ctrl-p-enter/477397/14 "2008-12-17T00:50:08Z")
Keyboard, all the way. Hell, when I don’t remember a particular shortcut and have to open a menu, I’ll hit Alt and explore the menus with the cursor keys.