Keyboard Shortcuts¶

Most features in novelWriter are available as keyboard shortcuts.

Main Shortcuts¶

The main shorcuts are as follows:

Keyboard Shortcuts¶
Shortcut	Description
`Alt1`	Switch focus to the project tree. On Windows, use `CtrlAlt1`.
`Alt2`	Switch focus to document editor. On Windows, use `CtrlAlt2`.
`Alt3`	Switch focus to document viewer. On Windows, use `CtrlAlt3`.
`Alt4`	Switch focus to outline view. On Windows, use `CtrlAlt4`.
`AltLeft`	Move backward in the view history of the document viewer.
`AltRight`	Move forward in the view history of the document viewer.
`Ctrl.`	Open menu to correct word under cursor.
`Ctrl,`	Open the Preferences dialog.
`Ctrl/`	Toggle block format as comment.
`Ctrl0`	Remove block formatting for block under cursor.
`Ctrl1`	Change block format to header level 1.
`Ctrl2`	Change block format to header level 2.
`Ctrl3`	Change block format to header level 3.
`Ctrl4`	Change block format to header level 4.
`Ctrl5`	Change block alignment to left-aligned.
`Ctrl6`	Change block alignment to centred.
`Ctrl7`	Change block alignment to right-aligned.
`Ctrl8`	Add a left margin to the block.
`Ctrl9`	Add a right margin to the block.
`CtrlA`	Select all text in the document.
`CtrlB`	Format selected text, or word under cursor, with strong emphasis (bold).
`CtrlC`	Copy selected text to clipboard.
`CtrlD`	Strikethrough selected text, or word under cursor.
`CtrlE`	If in the project tree, edit a document or folder settings. (Same as `F2`.)
`CtrlF`	Open the search bar and search for the selected word, if any is selected.
`CtrlG`	Find next occurrence of search word in current document. (Same as `F3`.)
`CtrlH`	Open the search and replace bar and search for the selected word, if any is selected. (On Mac, this is `Cmd=`.)
`CtrlI`	Format selected text, or word under cursor, with emphasis (italic).
`CtrlK`	Activate the insert commands. The commands are listed in Insert Shortcuts.
`CtrlN`	Create new document.
`CtrlO`	Open selected document.
`CtrlQ`	Exit novelWriter.
`CtrlR`	If in the project tree, open a document for viewing. If the editor has focus, open current document for viewing.
`CtrlS`	Save the current document in the document editor.
`CtrlV`	Paste text from clipboard to cursor position.
`CtrlW`	Close the current document in the document editor.
`CtrlX`	Cut selected text to clipboard.
`CtrlY`	Redo latest undo.
`CtrlZ`	Undo latest changes.
`CtrlF7`	Toggle spell checking.
`CtrlF10`	Toggle automatic updating of project outline.
`CtrlUp`	Move item one step up in the project tree.
`CtrlDown`	Move item one step down in the project tree.
`CtrlDel`	Delete next word in editor.
`CtrlBackspace`	Delete previous word in editor.
`Ctrl'`	Wrap selected text, or word under cursor, in single quotes.
`Ctrl"`	Wrap selected text, or word under cursor, in double quotes.
`CtrlRetrun`	Open the tag or reference under the cursor in the Viewer.
`CtrlShift,`	Open the Project Settings dialog.
`CtrlShift/`	Remove block formatting for block under cursor.
`CtrlShift1`	Replace occurrence of search word in current document, and search for next occurrence.
`CtrlShiftA`	Select all text in current paragraph.
`CtrlShiftG`	Find previous occurrence of search word in current document. (Same as `ShiftF3`.)
`CtrlShiftI`	Import text to the current document from a text file.
`CtrlShiftN`	Create new folder.
`CtrlShiftO`	Open a project.
`CtrlShiftR`	Close the document viewer.
`CtrlShiftS`	Save the current project.
`CtrlShiftW`	Close the current project.
`CtrlShiftZ`	Undo move of project tree item.
`CtrlShiftDel`	If in the project tree, move a document to trash, or delete a folder.
`F1`	Open the online user manual.
`F2`	If in the project tree, edit a document or folder settings. (Same as `CtrlE`)
`F3`	Find next occurrence of search word in current document. (Same as `CtrlG`)
`F5`	Open the Build Novel Project dialog.
`F6`	Open the Writing Statistics dialog.
`F7`	Re-run spell checker.
`F8`	Activate Focus Mode, hiding the project tree and document viewer.
`F9`	Re-build the project index.
`F10`	Re-build the project outline.
`F11`	Activate full screen mode.
`ShiftF1`	Open the local user manual (PDF) if it is available.
`ShiftF3`	Find previous occurrence of search word in current document. (Same as `CtrlShiftG`.)
`ShiftF6`	Open the Project Details dialog.
`Return`	If in the project tree, open a document for editing.

Note

On macOS, replace Ctrl with Cmd.

Insert Shortcuts¶

A set of insert features are also available through shortcuts, but they require a double combination of key sequences. The insert feature is activated with CtrlK, followed by a key or key combination for the inserted content.

Keyboard Shortcuts¶
Shortcut	Description
`CtrlK`, `−`	Insert a short dash (en dash).
`CtrlK`, `_`	Insert a long dash (em dash).
`CtrlK`, `Ctrl_`	Insert a horizontal bar (quotation dash).
`CtrlK`, `~`	Insert a figure dash (same width as a number).
`CtrlK`, `1`	Insert a left single quote.
`CtrlK`, `2`	Insert a right single quote.
`CtrlK`, `3`	Insert a left double quote.
`CtrlK`, `4`	Insert a right double quote.
`CtrlK`, `'`	Insert a modifier apostrophe.
`CtrlK`, `.`	Insert an ellipsis.
`CtrlK`, `Ctrl'`	Insert a prime.
`CtrlK`, `Ctrl"`	Insert a double prime.
`CtrlK`, `Space`	Insert a non-breaking space.
`CtrlK`, `ShiftSpace`	Insert a thin space.
`CtrlK`, `CtrlSpace`	Insert a thin non-breaking space.
`CtrlK`, `*`	Insert a list bullet.
`CtrlK`, `Ctrl−`	Insert a hyphen bullet (alternative bullet).
`CtrlK`, `Ctrl*`	Insert a flower mark (alternative bullet).
`CtrlK`, `%`	Insert a per mille symbol.
`CtrlK`, `CtrlO`	Insert a degree symbol.
`CtrlK`, `CtrlX`	Insert a times sign.
`CtrlK`, `CtrlD`	Insert a division sign.
`CtrlK`, `G`	Insert a `@tag` keyword.
`CtrlK`, `V`	Insert a `@pov` keyword.
`CtrlK`, `F`	Insert a `@focus` keyword.
`CtrlK`, `C`	Insert a `@char` keyword.
`CtrlK`, `P`	Insert a `@plot` keyword.
`CtrlK`, `T`	Insert a `@time` keyword.
`CtrlK`, `L`	Insert a `@location` keyword.
`CtrlK`, `O`	Insert an `@object` keyword.
`CtrlK`, `E`	Insert an `@entity` keyword.
`CtrlK`, `X`	Insert a `@custom` keyword.