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# General Shortcut Keys in LibreOffice

Some of the shortcut keys may be assigned to your desktop system. Keys that are assigned to the desktop system are not available to LibreOffice. Try to assign different keys either for LibreOffice, in Tools - Customise - Keyboard, or in your desktop system.

## Using Shortcut Keys

A great deal of your application's functionality can be called up by using shortcut keys. For example, the Command+O Ctrl+O shortcut keys are shown next to the Open entry in the File menu. If you want to access this function by using the shortcut keys, press and hold down Command Ctrl and then press the O key. Release both keys after the dialogue box appears.

When operating your application, you can choose between using the mouse or the keyboard for almost all of the operations available.

## Calling Menus with Mnemonics

Some of the characters shown on the menu bar are underlined. You can access these menus directly by pressing the underlined character key together with the Alt key. Once the menu is opened, you will again find underlined characters. You can access these menu items directly by simply pressing the underlined character key.

## Entering Unicode Characters

You can enter arbitrary Unicode characters in the document typing the Unicode hexadecimal code point and then pressing Command+Option+X Alt+X (default). Type the Unicode hexadecimal notation and press Command+Option+X Alt+X to toggle between the Unicode character and its hexadecimal notation. Selection is not necessary but the conversion will apply to the selected characters. Toggling occurs on the characters prior to the cursor position when these characters form a valid Unicode hexadecimal point. Hexadecimal code points with value in the range U+0000 to U+0020 are not converted.

The default Unicode conversion shortcut is Command+Option+X Alt+X and Command+Option+C Alt+C in some locales where the default Unicode shortcut interferes with the main menu shortcut. To reassign the shortcut, choose Tools - Customise - Keyboard and select Category:Options with Function:Toggle Unicode Notation.

## Using Shortcut Keys to Control Dialogue Boxes

There is always one element highlighted in any given dialogue box - usually shown by a broken frame. This element, which can be either a button, an option field, an entry in a list box or a check box, is said to have the focus on it. If the focal point is a button, pressing Enter runs it as if you had clicked it. A check box is toggled by pressing the Spacebar. If an option field has the focus, use the arrow keys to change the activated option field in that area. Use the Tab key to go from one element or area to the next one, use Shift+Tab to go in the reverse direction.

Pressing Esc closes the dialogue box without saving changes. If you place the focus on a button, not only will you see the dotted line framing the name of the button, but also a thicker shadow under the button selected. This indicates that if you exit the dialogue box by pressing the Enter key, it is the equivalent of pressing that button itself.

## Shortcut Keys for Mouse Actions

If you are using drag-and-drop, selecting with the mouse or clicking objects and names, you can use the keys Shift, Command Ctrl and occasionally Option Alt to access additional functionality. The modified functions available when holding down keys during drag-and-drop are indicated by the mouse pointer changing form. When selecting files or other objects, the modifier keys can extend the selection - the functions are explained where applicable. The availability of this function depends on your X Window Manager.

## Practical Text Input Fields

1. You can open a context menu, which contains some of the most often-used commands.

2. Use Command Ctrl+A to select the entire text. Use the right or left arrow key to remove the selection.

3. Double-click a word to select it.

4. A triple-click in a text input field selects the entire field. A triple-click in a text document selects the current sentence.

5. Use Command Ctrl+Del to delete everything from the cursor position to the end of the word.

6. By using Command Ctrl and right or left arrow key, the cursor will jump from word to word; if you also hold down the Shift key, one word after the other is selected.

7. INSRT is used to switch between the insert mode and the overwrite mode and back again.

8. Drag-and-drop can be used within and outside of a text box.

9. The Command Ctrl+Z shortcut keys are used to undo modifications one step at a time; the text will then have the status it had before the first change.

1. LibreOffice has an AutoComplete function which activates itself in some text and list boxes. For example, enter c:\a~/a into the URL field and the AutoComplete function displays the first file or first directory found on the C: drive in your home folder that starts with the letter "a".

2. Use the Down Arrow key to scroll through the other files and directories. Use the Right Arrow key to also display an existing subdirectory in the URL field. Quick AutoComplete is available if you press the End key after entering part of the URL. Once you find the document or directory you want, press Enter.

## Interrupting Macros

If you want to terminate a macro that is currently running, press Command Ctrl+Shift+Q.

## List of General Shortcut Keys in LibreOffice

The shortcut keys are shown on the right hand side of the menu lists next to the corresponding menu command. (Not all of the mentioned keys for controlling dialogue boxes are available on macOS.)

### Shortcut keys for controlling dialogue boxes

Shortcut Keys | Effect
--- | ---
Enter key | Activates the focused button in a dialogue box.
Esc | Terminates the action or dialogue box. If in LibreOffice Help: goes up one level.
Spacebar | Toggles the focused check box in a dialogue box.
Arrow keys | Changes the active control field in an option section of a dialogue box.
Tab | Advances focus to the next section or element in a dialogue box.
Shift+Tab | Moves the focus to the previous section or element in a dialogue box.
Option Alt+Down Arrow | Opens the list of the control field currently selected in a dialogue box. These shortcut keys apply not only to combo boxes but also to icon buttons with pop-up menus. Close an opened list by pressing the Esc key.

### Shortcut keys for controlling documents and windows

Shortcut Keys | Effect
--- | ---
Command Ctrl+O | Opens a document.
Command Ctrl+S | Saves the current document.
Command Ctrl+N | Creates a new document.
Command Ctrl+Shift+N | Opens the Templates dialogue box.
Command Ctrl+P | Prints document.
Command Ctrl+F | Activates the Find toolbar.
Command+Option+F Ctrl+H | Calls the Find & Replace dialogue box.
Command Ctrl+Shift+F | Searches for the last entered search term.
Ctrl+Shift+J | Toggles the view between full-screen mode and normal mode in Writer or Calc.
Command Ctrl+Shift+R | Redraws the document view.
Command Ctrl+Shift+I | Enable or disable the selection cursor in read-only text.
F1 | Starts the LibreOffice Help. In the LibreOffice Help: jumps to main help page.
Shift+F1 | Context Help
Shift+F2 | Turns on Extended Tips for the currently selected command, icon or control.
F6 | Sets focus in next visible sub-window, including menu bar, toolbars, windows such as Sidebar and Navigator, and document canvas/data source.
Shift+F6 | Sets focus in previous subwindow.
Command Ctrl+F6 | Sets focus in the document canvas/data source.
F10 | Activates the first menu (File menu).
Shift+F10 | Opens the context menu.
Command Ctrl+Shift+F10 | Docks and undocks floating sub-windows such as unlocked toolbars, Sidebar and Navigator.
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Home | Shows/hides main menu.
Command Ctrl+F4 or Option Alt+F4 | Closes the current document. Closes LibreOffice when the last open document is closed.
Command Ctrl+Q | Exits application.

### Shortcut keys for editing or formatting documents

Shortcut Keys | Effect
--- | ---
Command Ctrl+Tab | When positioned at the beginning of a header, a tab is inserted.
Enter (if an OLE object is selected) | Activates the selected OLE object.
Enter (if a drawing object or text object is selected) | Activates text input mode.
Command Ctrl+X | Cuts out the selected elements.
Command Ctrl+C | Copies the selected items.
Command Ctrl+V | Pastes from the clipboard.
Command+Option Ctrl+Alt+Shift+V | Pastes unformatted text from the clipboard. The text is pasted using the format that exists at the insertion point.
Command Ctrl+Shift+V | Opens the Paste Special dialogue box.
Command Ctrl+A | Selects all.
Command Ctrl+Z | Undoes last action.
Command+Shift+Z Ctrl+Y | Redoes last action.
Command Ctrl+Shift+Y | Repeats last command.
Command Ctrl+I | The "Italic" attribute is applied to the selected area. If the cursor is positioned in a word, this word is also marked in italic.
Command Ctrl+B | The "Bold" attribute is applied to the selected area. If the cursor is positioned in a word, this word is also put in bold.
Command Ctrl+U | The "Underlined" attribute is applied to the selected area. If the cursor is positioned in a word, this word is also underlined.
Command Ctrl+M | Removes direct formatting from selected text or objects (as in Format - Clear Direct Formatting).

## Shortcut keys in the Gallery

Shortcut keys | Effect
--- | ---
Tab | Moves between areas.
Shift+Tab | Moves backward between areas.

## Shortcut keys in the New Theme area of the Gallery:

Shortcut keys | Effect
--- | ---
Up Arrow | Moves the selection up one.
Down Arrow | Moves the selection down.
Command Ctrl+Enter | Opens the Properties dialogue box.
Shift+F10 | Opens a context menu.
Command Ctrl+U | Refreshes the selected theme.
Command Ctrl+R | Opens the Enter Title dialogue box.
Command Ctrl+D | Deletes the selected theme.
Insert | Inserts a new theme.

## Shortcut keys in the Gallery Preview area:

Shortcut keys | Effect
--- | ---
Home | Jumps to the first entry.
End | Jumps to the last entry.
Left Arrow | Selects the next Gallery element on the left.
Right Arrow | Selects the next Gallery element on the right.
Up Arrow | Selects the next Gallery element above.
Down Arrow | Selects the next Gallery element below.
Page Up | Scrolls up one screen.
Page Down | Scrolls down one screen.
Command Ctrl+Shift+Insert | Inserts the selected object as a linked object into the current document.
Command Ctrl+I | Inserts a copy of the selected object into the current document.
Command Ctrl+T | Opens the Enter Title dialogue box.
Command Ctrl+P | Switches between themes view and object view.
Spacebar | Switches between themes view and object view.
Enter | Switches between themes view and object view.
Step backward (only in object view). | Switches back to main overview.

## Selecting Rows and Columns in a Database Table (opened by Command Ctrl+Shift+F4 keys)

Shortcut keys | Effect
--- | ---
Spacebar | Toggles row selection, except when the row is in edit mode.
Command Ctrl+Spacebar | Toggles row selection.
Shift+Spacebar | Selects the current column.
Command Ctrl+Page Up | Moves pointer to the first row.
Command Ctrl+Page Down | Moves pointer to the last row.

## Shortcut Keys for Drawing Objects

Shortcut keys | Effect
--- | ---
Select the toolbar with F6. Use the Down Arrow and Right Arrow keys to select the desired toolbar icon and press Command Ctrl+Enter. | Inserts a Drawing Object.
Select the document with Command Ctrl+F6 and press Tab. | Selects a Drawing Object.
Tab | Selects the next Drawing Object.
Shift+Tab | Selects the previous Drawing Object.
Command Ctrl+Home | Selects the first Drawing Object.
Command Ctrl+End | Selects the last Drawing Object.
Esc | Ends Drawing Object selection.
Esc (in Handle Selection Mode) | Exits Handle Selection Mode and return to Object Selection Mode.
Up/Down/Left/Right Arrow | Moves the selected point (the snap-to-grid functions are temporarily disabled, but end points still snap to each other).
Option Alt+Up/Down/Left/Right Arrow | Moves the selected drawing object one pixel (in Selection Mode). Resizes a drawing object (in Handle Selection Mode). Rotates a drawing object (in Rotation Mode). Opens the properties dialogue box for a drawing object. Activates the Point Selection mode for the selected drawing object.
Spacebar | Selects a point of a drawing object (in Point Selection mode) / Cancel selection. The selected point blinks once per second.
Shift+Spacebar | Selects an additional point in Point Selection mode.
Command Ctrl+Tab | Selects the next point of the drawing object (Point Selection mode). In Rotation mode, the centre of rotation can also be selected.
Command Ctrl+Shift+Tab | Selects the previous point of the drawing object (Point Selection mode)
Command Ctrl+Enter | A new drawing object with default size is placed in the centre of the current view.
Command Ctrl+Enter at the Selection icon | Activates the first drawing object in the document.
Esc | Leaves the Point Selection mode. The drawing object is selected afterwards. Edits a point of a drawing object (Point Edit mode).
Any text or numeric key | If a drawing object is selected, switches to edit mode and places the cursor at the end of the text in the drawing object. A printable character is inserted.
Option Alt key while creating or scaling a graphic object | The position of the object's centre is fixed.
Shift key while creating or scaling a graphic object | The ratio of the object's width to height is fixed.

Related Topics

Database Shortcut Keys

Shortcuts (LibreOffice Accessibility)

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