The North Orange County Computer Club helps The Gadgetress tackle the multitude of readers cries for help. NOCCC group has experts in Windows, Word and all sorts of computer topics. The club, which meets monthly on various topics, has been in existence since 1976. Visit the club’s site at noccc.org. To get this answer delivered to your computer automatically, sign up for the e-mail update HERE.

Question: I am having a problem using my CTRL key when on the Internet and trying to select multiple categories. On certain Web sites, I need to hold down the CTRL key to choose more than one item. My control key works off line just fine. Have changed keyboards, and it is not the keyboard. No one seems to know how to help me.

NOCCC: The problem is not the keyboard or your computer. The problem is the Web site that is instructing you to hold down the CTRL key while choosing more than one item.

Web sites that do let you use CTRL to make multiple selections are coded to (1) accept the CTRL selection or (2) select additional items without deselecting previously selected items. Sites that don’t follow these simple rules don’t work.

If you have this problem again, e-mail the Web site administrator to change his code or the multiple selection instruction. Make sure to point out which multiple selections are not allowed. This is an excellent question since it examines the functions of your computer vs. the functions of the web site server, both rapidly becoming more complex every day. - Leonard Prince, member NOCCC

Have your own quandary? E-mail thegadgetress@ocregister.com and put “Help ME!” in the subject line. Please include your computer’s operating system and amount of memory. Visit the Q&A archive at ocregister.com/gadgetress/stump

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