Copyright

This document is Copyright © 2011 by its contributors as listed below. You may distribute it and/or modify it under the terms of either the GNU General Public License (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html), version 3 or later, or the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/), version 3.0 or later.

All trademarks within this guide belong to their legitimate owners.

Contributors

Ron Faile Jr.
Barbara Duprey

Feedback

Please direct any comments or suggestions about this document to: documentation@libreoffice.org

Acknowledgments

This chapter is based on Appendix A of the Writer Guide for OpenOffice.org. The contributors to that appendix are:

Magnus Adielsson
Peter Hillier-Brook
Peter Kupfer
Jean Hollis Weber
Michele Zarri
Alexander Noël Dunne

Publication date and software version

Published 20 February 2011. Based on LibreOffice 3.3.

Contents

Introduction 4

Tip for Macintosh users 4

Opening menus and menu items 4

Controlling dialogs 5

Stopping macros 5

Function keys for Writer 6

Shortcut keys for Writer 7

Shortcut keys for tables in Writer 9

Shortcut keys for paragraphs and heading levels 10

Shortcut keys for moving and resizing frames, graphics and objects 11

You can use LibreOffice without requiring a pointing device, such as a mouse or touchpad, by using its built-in keyboard shortcuts.

LibreOffice has a general set of keyboard shortcuts, available in all components, and a component-specific set directly related to the work of that component. This appendix lists the the default set for Writer. For general shortcuts, see Appendix A of the Getting Started guide.

For help with LibreOffice’s keyboard shortcuts, or using LibreOffice with a keyboard only, search the LibreOffice Help using the “shortcut” or “accessibility” keywords.

In addition to using the built-in keyboard shortcuts listed in this Appendix, you can define your own. See Chapter 16, Customizing Writer, for instructions.

Some keystrokes are different on a Mac from those used in Windows and Linux. The following table gives some common substitutions for the instructions in this book. For a more detailed list, see the application Help.

Windows/Linux	Mac equivalent	Effect
Right-click	Control+click	Open context menu
Ctrl (Control)	z (Command)	Used with other keys
F5	Shift+z+F5	Open the Navigator
F11	z+T	Open Styles & Formatting window

Windows/Linux

Mac equivalent

Effect

Right-click

Control+click

Open context menu

Ctrl (Control)

z (Command)

Used with other keys

Shift+z+F5

Open the Navigator

F11

z+T

Open Styles & Formatting window

Shortcut Keys	Result
Alt+<?>	Opens a menu where <?> is the underlined character of the menu you want to open. For example, Alt+T opens the menu Tools.
Alt+<?>+<>*	Opens a menu item where <?> is the underlined character of the menu you want to open and <> is the item within that menu. For example, Alt+T+G* opens the Gallery menu item in the menu Tools.
Esc	Closes an open menu.

Shortcut Keys

Result

Alt+<?>

Opens a menu where <?> is the underlined character of the menu you want to open. For example, Alt+T opens the menu Tools.

Alt+<?>+<*>

Opens a menu item where <?> is the underlined character of the menu you want to open and <*> is the item within that menu. For example, Alt+T+G opens the Gallery menu item in the menu Tools.

Esc

Closes an open menu.

When you open any dialog, one element (such as a button, an option field, an entry in a list box, or a checkbox) is highlighted or indicated by a dotted box around the field or button name. This element is said to have the focus on it.

Shortcut Keys	Result
Enter	Activates selected button. In most cases where no button is selected, Enter is equivalent to clicking OK.
Esc	Closes dialog without saving any changes made while it was open. In most cases, Esc is equivalent to clicking Cancel. When an open drop-down list is selected, Esc closes the list.
Spacebar	Checks an empty checkbox. Clears a checked checkbox.
Up, down arrow keys	Moves focus up and down a list. Increases or decreases value of a variable. Moves focus vertically within a section of dialog.
Right, left arrow keys	Moves focus horizontally within a section of a dialog.
Tab	Advances focus to the next section or element of a dialog.
Shift+Tab	Returns focus to the previous section or element in a dialog.
Alt+Down Arrow	Shows items in a drop-down list.

Shortcut Keys

Result

Enter

Activates selected button. In most cases where no button is selected, Enter is equivalent to clicking OK.

Esc

Closes dialog without saving any changes made while it was open. In most cases, Esc is equivalent to clicking Cancel. When an open drop-down list is selected, Esc closes the list.

Spacebar

Checks an empty checkbox. Clears a checked checkbox.

Up, down arrow keys

Moves focus up and down a list. Increases or decreases value of a variable. Moves focus vertically within a section of dialog.

Right, left arrow keys

Moves focus horizontally within a section of a dialog.

Tab

Advances focus to the next section or element of a dialog.

Shift+Tab

Returns focus to the previous section or element in a dialog.

Alt+Down Arrow

Shows items in a drop-down list.

Shortcut Keys	Result
Shift+Ctrl+Q	Stops a running macro.

Shortcut Keys

Result

Shift+Ctrl+Q

Stops a running macro.

Shortcut keys	Effect
F2	Opens or closes the Formula Bar.
Ctrl+F2	Opens the Fields dialog box.
F3	Inserts the AutoText entry corresponding to the typed shortcut.
Ctrl+F3	Opens the AutoText dialog box, where you can edit an AutoText entry or create a new entry from the selected text.
F4	Opens or closes the View Data Sources window.
Shift+F4	Selects the next frame.
F5	Opens or closes the Navigator.
Ctrl+Shift+F5	Opens the Navigator with cursor in page number field.
F7	Starts the spelling and grammar checker.
Ctrl+F7	Opens the Thesaurus.
F8	Turns Extension Selection mode on or off.
Ctrl+F8	Turns field shadings on or off.
Shift+F8	Turns Multiple Selection mode on or off.
Ctrl+Shift+F8	Turns Block Selection mode on or off.
F9	Updates fields.
Ctrl+F9	Shows or hides field names.
Shift+F9	Calculates Table.
Ctrl+Shift+F9	Opens a dialog box for editing input fields and lists.
Ctrl+F10	Displays or hides nonprinting characters.
F11	Opens or closes theStyles and Formatting window.
Shift+F11	Creates a new style from a selection.
Ctrl+Shift+F11	Updates a style.
F12	Turns paragraph numbering on or off.
Ctrl+F12	Inserts or edits a table.
Shift+F12	Turns bullets on or off.
Ctrl+Shift+F12	Turns numbering/bullets off.

Shortcut keys

Effect

Opens or closes the Formula Bar.

Ctrl+F2

Opens the Fields dialog box.

Inserts the AutoText entry corresponding to the typed shortcut.

Ctrl+F3

Opens the AutoText dialog box, where you can edit an AutoText entry or create a new entry from the selected text.

Opens or closes the View Data Sources window.

Shift+F4

Selects the next frame.

Opens or closes the Navigator.

Ctrl+Shift+F5

Opens the Navigator with cursor in page number field.

Starts the spelling and grammar checker.

Ctrl+F7

Opens the Thesaurus.

Turns Extension Selection mode on or off.

Ctrl+F8

Turns field shadings on or off.

Shift+F8

Turns Multiple Selection mode on or off.

Ctrl+Shift+F8

Turns Block Selection mode on or off.

Updates fields.

Ctrl+F9

Shows or hides field names.

Shift+F9

Calculates Table.

Ctrl+Shift+F9

Opens a dialog box for editing input fields and lists.

Ctrl+F10

Displays or hides nonprinting characters.

F11

Opens or closes theStyles and Formatting window.

Shift+F11

Creates a new style from a selection.

Ctrl+Shift+F11

Updates a style.

F12

Turns paragraph numbering on or off.

Ctrl+F12

Inserts or edits a table.

Shift+F12

Turns bullets on or off.

Ctrl+Shift+F12

Turns numbering/bullets off.

Shortcut Keys	Effect
Ctrl+A	Selects all content in a document, unless the cursor is in a table (see “Shortcut keys for tables in Writer” on page 9).
Ctrl+D	Double underlines selected text or text typed afterwards. Press again to turn off.
Ctrl+E	Centers the paragraph.
Ctrl+F	Opens the Find and Replace dialog box.
Ctrl+J	Justifies the paragraph.
Ctrl+L	Aligns the paragraph to the left.
Ctrl+R	Align the paragraph to the right.
Ctrl+M	Applies default formatting to the selection.
Ctrl+Shift+B	Subscripts selected text or text typed afterwards. Press again to turn off.
Ctrl+Shift+P	Superscripts selected text or text typed afterwards. Press again to turn off.
Ctrl+Y	Redoes last action.
Ctrl+5	Applies 1.5 line spacing to paragraph.
Ctrl+Plus Key(+)	Calculates the selected text and copies the result to the clipboard.
Ctrl+Hyphen(-)	Inserts a conditional hyphen.
Ctrl+Shift+minus sign (-)	Inserts a non-breaking hyphen (not used for hyphenation).
Ctrl+Shift+X	Removes direct character formats from selected text.
Ctrl+/ (slash)	Inserts a no-width optional line break.
Ctrl+multiplication sign * (only on number pad)	Runs macro field.
Ctrl+Shift+Space	Inserts a non-breaking space (not used for hyphenation and not expanded if text is justified).
Shift+Enter	Inserts a line break without paragraph change.
Ctrl+Enter	Inserts a page break.
Ctrl+Shift+Enter	Inserts a column break in multi-column texts.
Alt+Enter	Inserts a new paragraph without numbering.
Alt+Enter	Inserts a new paragraph directly before or after a section or a table.
Arrow Left	Moves cursor to left.
Shift+Arrow Left	Moves cursor with selection to the left.
Ctrl+Arrow Left	Goes to beginning of word.
Ctrl+Shift+Arrow Left	Selects to the left word by word.
Arrow Right	Moves cursor to right.
Shift+Arrow Right	Moves cursor with selection to the right.
Ctrl+Arrow Right	Goes to end of word.
Ctrl+Shift+Arrow Right	Selects to the right word by word.
Arrow Up	Moves up one line.
Shift+Arrow Up	Selects lines in an upwards direction.
Arrow Down	Moves cursor down one line.
Shift+Arrow Down	Selects lines in a downward direction.
Home	Goes to beginning of line.
Shift+Home	Goes and selects to the beginning of a line.
End	Goes to end of line.
Shift+End	Goes and selects to end of line.
Ctrl+Home	Goes to start of document.
Ctrl+Shift+Home	Goes and selects text to start of document.
Ctrl+End	Goes to end of document.
Ctrl+Shift+End	Goes and selects text to end of document.
Ctrl+PageUp	Switches cursor between text and header.
Ctrl+PageDown	Switches cursor between text and footer.
Insert	Turns Insert mode on or off.
PageUp	Moves up one screen page.
Shift+PageUp	Moves up one screen page with selection.
PageDown	Moves down one screen page.
Shift+PageDown	Moves down one screen page with selection.
Ctrl+Del	Deletes text to end of word.
Ctrl+Backspace	Deletes text to beginning of word.
Ctrl+Shift+Del	Deletes text to end of sentence.
Ctrl+Shift+Backspace	Deletes text to beginning of sentence.
Ctrl+Tab	Uses next suggestion with automatic word completion.
Ctrl+Shift+Tab	Use previous suggestion with automatic word completion.
Alt+W	In the spelling checker dialog box: Calls back the original unknown word into the text box.
Ctrl+double-click or Ctrl+Shift+F10	Docks or un-docks the Navigator, Styles and Formatting window, or other windows.

Shortcut Keys

Effect

Ctrl+A

Selects all content in a document, unless the cursor is in a table (see “Shortcut keys for tables in Writer” on page 9).

Ctrl+D

Double underlines selected text or text typed afterwards. Press again to turn off.

Ctrl+E

Centers the paragraph.

Ctrl+F

Opens the Find and Replace dialog box.

Ctrl+J

Justifies the paragraph.

Ctrl+L

Aligns the paragraph to the left.

Ctrl+R

Align the paragraph to the right.

Ctrl+M

Applies default formatting to the selection.

Ctrl+Shift+B

Subscripts selected text or text typed afterwards. Press again to turn off.

Ctrl+Shift+P

Superscripts selected text or text typed afterwards. Press again to turn off.

Ctrl+Y

Redoes last action.

Ctrl+5

Applies 1.5 line spacing to paragraph.

Ctrl+Plus Key(+)

Calculates the selected text and copies the result to the clipboard.

Ctrl+Hyphen(-)

Inserts a conditional hyphen.

Ctrl+Shift+minus sign (-)

Inserts a non-breaking hyphen (not used for hyphenation).

Ctrl+Shift+X

Removes direct character formats from selected text.

Ctrl+/ (slash)

Inserts a no-width optional line break.

Ctrl+multiplication sign * (only on number pad)

Runs macro field.

Ctrl+Shift+Space

Inserts a non-breaking space (not used for hyphenation and not expanded if text is justified).

Shift+Enter

Inserts a line break without paragraph change.

Ctrl+Enter

Inserts a page break.

Ctrl+Shift+Enter

Inserts a column break in multi-column texts.

Alt+Enter

Inserts a new paragraph without numbering.

Alt+Enter

Inserts a new paragraph directly before or after a section or a table.

Arrow Left

Moves cursor to left.

Shift+Arrow Left

Moves cursor with selection to the left.

Ctrl+Arrow Left

Goes to beginning of word.

Ctrl+Shift+Arrow Left

Selects to the left word by word.

Arrow Right

Moves cursor to right.

Shift+Arrow Right

Moves cursor with selection to the right.

Ctrl+Arrow Right

Goes to end of word.

Ctrl+Shift+Arrow Right

Selects to the right word by word.

Arrow Up

Moves up one line.

Shift+Arrow Up

Selects lines in an upwards direction.

Arrow Down

Moves cursor down one line.

Shift+Arrow Down

Selects lines in a downward direction.

Home

Goes to beginning of line.

Shift+Home

Goes and selects to the beginning of a line.

End

Goes to end of line.

Shift+End

Goes and selects to end of line.

Ctrl+Home

Goes to start of document.

Ctrl+Shift+Home

Goes and selects text to start of document.

Ctrl+End

Goes to end of document.

Ctrl+Shift+End

Goes and selects text to end of document.

Ctrl+PageUp

Switches cursor between text and header.

Ctrl+PageDown

Switches cursor between text and footer.

Insert

Turns Insert mode on or off.

PageUp

Moves up one screen page.

Shift+PageUp

Moves up one screen page with selection.

PageDown

Moves down one screen page.

Shift+PageDown

Moves down one screen page with selection.

Ctrl+Del

Deletes text to end of word.

Ctrl+Backspace

Deletes text to beginning of word.

Ctrl+Shift+Del

Deletes text to end of sentence.

Ctrl+Shift+Backspace

Deletes text to beginning of sentence.

Ctrl+Tab

Uses next suggestion with automatic word completion.

Ctrl+Shift+Tab

Use previous suggestion with automatic word completion.

Alt+W

In the spelling checker dialog box: Calls back the original unknown word into the text box.

Ctrl+double-click or
Ctrl+Shift+F10

Docks or un-docks the Navigator, Styles and Formatting window, or other windows.

Shortcut Keys	Effect
Ctrl+A	If the active cell is empty, Ctrl+A selects the whole table; otherwise, it selects the contents of the active cell. Press Ctrl+A a second time to select the entire table.
Ctrl+Home	If the active cell is empty, Ctrl+Home moves the cursor to the beginning of the table. Press Ctrl+Home again to move the cursor to the beginning of document. If the active cell is not empty, Ctrl+Home moves the cursor to the beginning of the active cell. A second press of Ctrl+Home moves the cursor to the beginning of the current table. A third press moves the cursor to the beginning of the document.
Ctrl+End	If the active cell is empty, Ctrl+End moves the cursor to the end of the table. Press Ctrl+End again to move the cursor to the end of document. If the active cell is not empty, Ctrl+End moves the cursor to the end of the active cell. A second press of Ctrl+End moves the cursor to the end of the current table. A third press moves the cursor to the end of the document.
Ctrl+Tab	Inserts a tab stop (only in tables). Depending on the Window Manager in use, Alt+Tab may be used instead.
Ctrl+Shift+Arrow Up	Jumps to start of table.
Ctrl+Shift+Arrow Down	Jumps to end of table.
Alt+Arrow Keys	Increases or decreases the size of the column or row on the right or bottom cell edge.
Alt+Shift+Arrow Keys	Increases or decreases the size of the column or row on the left or top cell edge.
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Arrow Keys	Like Alt, but modifies only the active cell.
Alt+Insert	Provides 3 seconds in Insert mode, during which time pressing an arrow key inserts a row or column, or Ctrl+Arrow Key inserts a cell.
Alt+Del	Provides 3 seconds in Delete mode, during which time pressing an arrow key deletes a row or column, or Ctrl+Arrow Key merges the active cell with the neighboring cell.
Ctrl+Shift+T	Removes cell protection from all selected tables. If no table is selected, then cell protection is removed from all of the tables in the document.
Ctrl+Shift+Del	If nothing is selected, the contents of the next cell are deleted. If cells are selected, the whole row(s) of the selection are deleted. If all rows are selected completely or partially, the entire table is deleted.

Shortcut Keys

Effect

Ctrl+A

If the active cell is empty, Ctrl+A selects the whole table; otherwise, it selects the contents of the active cell. Press Ctrl+A a second time to select the entire table.

Ctrl+Home

If the active cell is empty, Ctrl+Home moves the cursor to the beginning of the table. Press Ctrl+Home again to move the cursor to the beginning of document.

If the active cell is not empty, Ctrl+Home moves the cursor to the beginning of the active cell. A second press of Ctrl+Home moves the cursor to the beginning of the current table. A third press moves the cursor to the beginning of the document.

Ctrl+End

If the active cell is empty, Ctrl+End moves the cursor to the end of the table. Press Ctrl+End again to move the cursor to the end of document.

If the active cell is not empty, Ctrl+End moves the cursor to the end of the active cell. A second press of Ctrl+End moves the cursor to the end of the current table. A third press moves the cursor to the end of the document.

Ctrl+Tab

Inserts a tab stop (only in tables). Depending on the Window Manager in use, Alt+Tab may be used instead.

Ctrl+Shift+Arrow Up

Jumps to start of table.

Ctrl+Shift+Arrow Down

Jumps to end of table.

Alt+Arrow Keys

Increases or decreases the size of the column or row on the right or bottom cell edge.

Alt+Shift+Arrow Keys

Increases or decreases the size of the column or row on the left or top cell edge.

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Arrow Keys

Like Alt, but modifies only the active cell.

Alt+Insert

Provides 3 seconds in Insert mode, during which time pressing an arrow key inserts a row or column, or Ctrl+Arrow Key inserts a cell.

Alt+Del

Provides 3 seconds in Delete mode, during which time pressing an arrow key deletes a row or column, or Ctrl+Arrow Key merges the active cell with the neighboring cell.

Ctrl+Shift+T

Removes cell protection from all selected tables. If no table is selected, then cell protection is removed from all of the tables in the document.

Ctrl+Shift+Del

If nothing is selected, the contents of the next cell are deleted. If cells are selected, the whole row(s) of the selection are deleted. If all rows are selected completely or partially, the entire table is deleted.

Shortcut Keys	Effect
Ctrl+0 (zero)	Applies Text Body paragraph style.
Ctrl+1	Applies Heading 1 paragraph style.
Ctrl+2	Applies Heading 2 paragraph style.
Ctrl+3	Applies Heading 3 paragraph style.
Ctrl+4	Applies Heading 4 paragraph style.
Ctrl+5	Applies Heading 5 paragraph style.
Ctrl+Alt+Up Arrow or Ctrl+Up Arrow	Moves the active paragraph or selected paragraphs up one paragraph.
Ctrl+Alt+Down Arrow or Ctrl+Down Arrow	Moves the active paragraph or selected paragraphs down one paragraph.
Tab	When the cursor is at the beginning of the heading text, moves a heading in format Heading X (X = 1–9) down one level in the outline. Does not affect the applied paragraph style.
Shift+Tab	When the cursor is at the beginning of the heading text, moves a heading in format Heading X (X = 2–10) up one level in the outline. Does not affect the applied paragraph style.
Ctrl+Tab	At the start of a heading: Inserts a tab stop. Depending on the Window Manager in use, Alt+Tab may be used instead.

Shortcut Keys

Effect

Ctrl+0 (zero)

Applies Text Body paragraph style.

Ctrl+1

Applies Heading 1 paragraph style.

Ctrl+2

Applies Heading 2 paragraph style.

Ctrl+3

Applies Heading 3 paragraph style.

Ctrl+4

Applies Heading 4 paragraph style.

Ctrl+5

Applies Heading 5 paragraph style.

Ctrl+Alt+Up Arrow
or Ctrl+Up Arrow

Moves the active paragraph or selected paragraphs up one paragraph.

Ctrl+Alt+Down Arrow or Ctrl+Down Arrow

Moves the active paragraph or selected paragraphs down one paragraph.

Tab

When the cursor is at the beginning of the heading text, moves a heading in format Heading X (X = 1–9) down one level in the outline. Does not affect the applied paragraph style.

Shift+Tab

When the cursor is at the beginning of the heading text, moves a heading in format Heading X (X = 2–10) up one level in the outline. Does not affect the applied paragraph style.

Ctrl+Tab

At the start of a heading: Inserts a tab stop. Depending on the Window Manager in use, Alt+Tab may be used instead.

Shortcut Keys	Effect
Esc	Cursor is inside a text frame and no text is selected: Esc selects the text frame. Text frame is selected: Esc clears the cursor from the text frame.
F2 or Enter or any key that produces a character on screen	If a text frame is selected: positions the cursor to the end of the text in the text frame. If you press any key that produces a character on screen, and the document is in edit mode, the character is appended to the text.
Alt+Arrow Keys	Moves the selected object.
Alt+Ctrl+Arrow Keys	Resizes an object by moving the lower right corner.
Alt+Ctrl+Shift+ Arrow Keys	Resizes an object by moving the top left corner.
Ctrl+Tab	Selects the anchor of an object (in Edit Points mode).

Shortcut Keys

Effect

Esc

Cursor is inside a text frame and no text is selected: Esc selects the text frame.

Text frame is selected: Esc clears the cursor from the text frame.

F2 or Enter
or any key that produces a character on screen

If a text frame is selected: positions the cursor to the end of the text in the text frame. If you press any key that produces a character on screen, and the document is in edit mode, the character is appended to the text.

Alt+Arrow Keys

Moves the selected object.

Alt+Ctrl+Arrow Keys

Resizes an object by moving the lower right corner.

Alt+Ctrl+Shift+
Arrow Keys

Resizes an object by moving the top left corner.

Ctrl+Tab

Selects the anchor of an object (in Edit Points mode).