Keyboard access to split button

17. January 2014 · Write a comment · Categories: livemail · Tags: , , ,
This question asked in windoews live mail but is general accross all windows applications using the ribbon style of menuset.
I am using a keyboard and wish to access the button portion of a split button on a menu ribbon (not the menu part)  i can TAB throughbitems on the ribbon but cannot actually activate the default choice for the split button. Example: I want to forward en email, i TAB through HOME ribbon to Forward splitbutton and activate it but this only opens the split part showing submenu -forward as attachment. How do i activate the actual forward part as both SPACE and ENTER open the splitbutton neither activate the default command.
I do not wish to use  shortcut keys (alt+h rf) for this as there are numerous other split buttons and cannot remeber every shortcut