Shortcut Keys

Summary This guide provides a list of shortcut keys available for use
within Altium Designer, ranging from those used at the
Guide
environment level, through to those associated with
GU0104 (v1.4) July 12, 2005
particular document editors.

Environment Shortcuts
F1 Access Documentation Library (in context with object
under cursor)
Ctrl + O Access Choose Document to Open dialog
Ctrl + F4 Close active document
Ctrl + S Save current document
Ctrl + P Print current document
Alt + F4 Close Altium Designer
Ctrl + Tab Cycle through open documents (to the right)
Shift + Ctrl + Tab Cycle through open documents (to the left)
Drag & Drop from Windows Explorer Open document as a free document
into Altium Designer
F4 Hide/display all floating panels
Shift + F4 Tile open documents
Shift + F5 Toggle between active panel and workspace
Shift + F1 Access Natural Language Search facility (Smart
Search)
Hold Ctrl while moving a panel Prevent automatic docking, grouping or snapping

Project Shortcuts
C, C Compile the current design project
C, R Recompile the current design project
C, D Compile Document
C, O Open the Options for Project dialog for the current
project

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Shortcut Keys

Ctrl + Alt + O Access the Open Project Documents dialog for the
current project
C, L Close all documents belonging to active project
C, T, M Access Storage Manager panel
C, T, L Access Local History for the current project
C, V Access the Archiver wizard

Panel Shortcuts
Common Panel Shortcuts 1
Home Jump to first entry in panel
End Jump to last entry in panel
Up Arrow Move to previous entry in the panel
Down Arrow Move to next entry in the panel
Left Arrow Collapse expanded top-level entry or sub-folder
Right Arrow Expand collapsed top-level entry or sub-folder
Left-Click Select entry under cursor
Right-Click Display context sensitive pop-up menu
Left-Click on a column header Sort data by that column
Left-Click & Drag column header Move data column
Left-Click and type Direct filtering based on typed character(s)
Esc Clear current filtering when using the direct filter
feature
Backspace Clear previously entered filter characters when using
the direct filter feature
Projects Panel Shortcuts
Double Left-Click Edit document under cursor
Drag & Drop from one project to another Move selected document
Ctrl + Drag & Drop from one Link selected document into second project
project to another

CAMtastic Panel Shortcuts

Select layer, Left Arrow Turn all layers OFF except selected one
Select layer, Right Arrow Turn all layers ON
Double Left-Click on a layer Make that layer the current layer
Select two layers, C Access Compare Layers dialog
Select layer, Delete Delete layer

1
Not all panels will support all of these shortcuts. For detailed information with respect to each individual panel,
press F1 with the cursor over the (focused) panel.

2 GU0104 (v1.4) July 12, 2005

 Shortcut Keys

List Panel Shortcuts

↑↓←→ Shift focus to next cell in direction of arrow key
Left-Click & Drag Multi-select in direction of mouse movement
Ctrl + Click Multi-select (non-sequential)
Shift + Click Multi-select (sequential)
Spacebar (Schematic) Edit selected cell
Spacebar (PCB) Flush current entry for cell currently being edited
F2 Edit selected cell
Enter (Schematic) Finish editing current cell
Enter (PCB) Finish editing current cell and enter edit mode for cell
beneath
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) Copy
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) Paste
PgUp Jump selection to top of visible list area
PgDn Jump selection to bottom of visible list area
Mouse Wheel Pan Up or Down

Editor Shortcuts
Common Schematic and PCB Editor Shortcuts
Shift While autopanning to pan at higher speed
Y While placing an object to flip it along the Y-axis
X While placing an object to flip it along the X-axis
Shift+ ↑ ↓ ← → Move cursor ten grid increments in direction of arrow
key
↑↓←→ Move cursor one grid increment in direction of arrow
key
Esc Escape from current process
End Redraw the screen
Home Redraw screen with center at the cursor point
Ctrl + Home Jump to absolute origin (lower left corner of
workspace)
Ctrl + mouse wheel down (or PgDn) Zoom out
Ctrl + mouse wheel up (or PgUp) Zoom in around cursor (zooms around cursor, position
the cursor first)
Mouse wheel Pan Up/Down
Shift + mouse wheel Pan Left/Right
A Display Align sub-menu
B Display Toolbars sub-menu

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Shortcut Keys

J Display Jump sub-menu

K Display Workspace Panels sub-menu
M Display Move sub-menu
O Pop-up right-click Options menu
S Display Select sub-menu
X Display DeSelect sub-menu
Z Pop-up menu with zoom commands
Ctrl + Z Undo
Ctrl + Y Redo
Ctrl + A Select All
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) Copy
Ctrl + X (or Shift + Delete) Cut
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) Paste
Ctrl + R Copy and repeat paste selected objects (Rubber
Stamp)
Ctrl + Q Access the Selection Memory dialog
Alt Constrain object movement horizontally or vertically
Delete Delete Selection
V, D View Document
V, F View Fit placed objects
X, A De-select all
Right-Click & Hold Display slider hand & slide view
Left-Click Select/deselect object under cursor
Right-Click Pop-up floating menu, or escape from current
operation
Right-Click on object, select Find Similar Load object under cursor into Find Similar Objects dialog
Left-Click, Hold & Drag Select inside area
Left-Click & Hold Move object/selection under cursor
Left Double-Click Edit object
Shift + Left-Click Add/remove object from selection set
Tab Edit attributes while placing
Shift + C Clear current Filter
Shift + F Click on object to display Find Similar Objects dialog
Y Pop-up Quick Queries menu
F11 Toggle Inspector panel on/off
F12 Toggle Filter panel on/off
Shift + F12 Toggle List panel on/off
Alt + F5 Toggle Full Screen mode

4 GU0104 (v1.4) July 12, 2005

 Shortcut Keys

, Left-Click Cross probe to matching object on target document,

stay remaining in source document
, Ctrl + Left-Click Cross probe and jump to matching object on target,
jumping to target document
Shift + Ctrl + T Align selected objects by top edges
Shift + Ctrl + L Align selected objects by left edges
Shift + Ctrl + R Align selected objects by right edges
Shift + Ctrl + B Align selected objects by bottom edges
Shift + Ctrl + H Distribute selected objects equally in horizontal plane
Shift + Ctrl + V Distribute selected objects equally in vertical plane
Shift + Ctrl + D Align selected objects to grid
Ctrl + n (n=1 to 8) Store current selection in memory location n
Alt + n (n=1 to 8) Recall selection from memory location n
Shift + n (n=1 to 8) Add current selection to selection already stored in
memory location n
Shift + Alt + n (n=1 to 8) Recall selection from memory location n and add it to
current selection in workspace
Shift + Ctrl + n (n=1 to 8) Apply filtering based on selection set in memory
location n.

Schematic-Only Shortcuts
G Cycle through snap grid settings
F2 Edit in-place
Ctrl + PgDn Fit all objects into view
Spacebar Rotate counterclockwise by 90 degrees while moving
an object
Spacebar Toggle start/end mode while placing a wire/bus/line
, Spacebar Toggle pen color while using highlighting pens
Shift + Spacebar Rotate clockwise by 90 degrees while moving an
object
Shift + Spacebar Cycle Step through placement modes while placing a
wire/bus/line
Ctrl + Spacebar Rotate counterclockwise by 90 degrees while dragging
an object
Shift + Ctrl + Spacebar Rotate clockwise by 90 degrees while dragging an
object
, Ctrl + Left-Click on port or sheet entry Highlight connection/net on target sheet
while using highlighting pens
Shift + Ctrl + C Clear all highlighting applied by highlighting pens
Backspace Remove the last vertex when placing a
wire/bus/line/polygon

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Shortcut Keys

Left-Click, Hold + Delete When a wire is selected to delete a vertex

Left-Click, Hold + Insert When a wire is selected to add a vertex
Ctrl + Left-Click & Drag Drag object
Left-Click in Navigator panel Cross probe to object on schematic document
Alt + Left-Click in Navigator panel Cross probe to object on both schematic document
and PCB
Alt + Left-Click on net object Highlight all elements in net on sheet
Ctrl + Double Left-Click On sheet symbol to descend hierarchy
Ctrl + Double Left-Click On Port to ascend hierarchy
+ (numeric keypad) Enlarge IEEE symbol size during placement or
movement
- (numeric keypad) Reduce IEEE symbol size during placement or
movement
Ctrl + F Find text
Ctrl + H Find and replace text
F3 Find next occurrence of searched text
Insert Copy attributes of object under the cursor while
placing an object of the same type
S Swap sheet entry side while moving one or more
selected sheet entries
V Reverse sheet entry order while moving two or more
selected sheet entries
T Toggle sheet entry IO type while moving one or more
selected sheet entries
T Toggle all sheet entry IO types while resizing selected
sheet symbol
T, P Access Schematic – General page of Preferences
dialog

PCB-Only Shortcuts
Shift + R Cycle through three routing modes (ignore, avoid or
push obstacle)
Shift + E Toggle electrical grid on/off
Shift + B Build Query
Shift + PgUp Zoom-in in small increments
Shift + PgDn Zoom-out in small increments
Ctrl + PgUp Zoom-in to 400%
Ctrl + PgDn Fit document into view
Ctrl + End Jump to defined relative origin for the workspace
Alt + End Redraw current layer only
Alt + Insert Paste on current layer

6 GU0104 (v1.4) July 12, 2005

 Shortcut Keys

Ctrl + G Pop up Snap Grid dialog

G Pop up Snap Grid menu
N Hide the ratsnest while moving a component
L Flip component being moved to other side of board
Ctrl + Left-Click Highlight routed net under cursor (repeat in free space
to clear)
Ctrl + Spacebar Cycle through connection lines modes during
interactive routing
Backspace Remove last track corner during interactive routing
Shift + S Toggle single layer mode on/off
O, D, D, Enter Set all primitives to display in draft mode
O, D, F, Enter Set all primitives to display in final mode
O, D (or Ctrl + D) Access PCB – Show/Hide page of Preferences dialog
L View Board Layers and Colors dialog
Ctrl + H Select connected copper
Ctrl + Shift + Left-Click & Hold Break track
Shift + Ctrl + Left-Click Highlight additional routed net under cursor
+ (numeric keypad) Next layer
- (numeric keypad) Previous layer
* (numeric keypad) Next routing layer
M Display Move sub-menu
Alt Hold to temporarily switch from avoid-obstacle to
ignore-obstacle mode
Ctrl Hold to temporarily disable electrical grid while routing
Ctrl + M Measure distance
Spacebar (in interactive process) Rotate object anti-clockwise (define rotation step on
PCB – General page of Preferences dialog)
Spacebar (during interactive routing) Toggle start/end mode
Shift + Spacebar (in interactive process) Rotate object being moved clockwise
Shift + Spacebar (during interactive routing) Step through corner modes during interactive routing
[ Decrease mask level for permanent filter
] Increase mask level for permanent filter
Ctrl + Left Arrow View previous component in active library document
Ctrl + Right Arrow View next component in active library document
Q Toggle units (metric/imperial).
T, B Access Component Body Manager dialog
T, P Access PCB – General page of Preferences dialog

GU0104 (v1.4) July 12, 2005 7

Shortcut Keys

Devices View Shortcuts

F5 Refresh All
Esc Halt Process Flow
Ctrl + F9 Compile Bit File
Ctrl + F10 Rebuild Bit File
F12 Reset Hard Device
F9 Compile Bit File and Download
F10 Rebuild Bit File and Download
F11 Download Bit File
Shift + Ctrl + F9 Compile All Bit Files
Shift + Ctrl + F10 Rebuild All Bit Files
Shift + F12 Reset All Devices
Shift + F9 Compile All Bit Files and Download
Shift + F10 Rebuild All Bit Files and Download
Shift + F11 Download All Bit Files
Alt + T, P Access FPGA – Devices View page of Preferences
dialog

PCB3D Editor Shortcuts

PgUp Zoom In
PgDn Zoom Out
Alt + B Fit Board
↑↓←→ Pan in direction of the arrow key
Insert Pan In
Delete Pan Out
T, E Access IGES Export Options dialog
T, P Access PCB – PCB 3D page of Preferences dialog

PCB3D Library Editor Shortcuts

PgUp Zoom In
PgDn Zoom Out
Alt + M Fit Model
↑↓←→ Pan in direction of the arrow key
Insert Pan In
Delete Pan Out
F2 Rename model
Shift + Delete Delete model
Ctrl + T Set rotation and translation
T, I Import 3D model

8 GU0104 (v1.4) July 12, 2005

 Shortcut Keys

T, E Export model in IGES format

T, P Access PCB – PCB 3D page of Preferences dialog

Output Job Editor Shortcuts

Ctrl + X (or Shift + Delete) Cut
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) Copy
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) Paste
Ctrl + D Duplicate
Delete Clear
Alt + Enter Configure
Ctrl + F9 Run Focused Output Generator
Shift + Ctrl + F9 Run Selected Output Generators
F9 Run all Batch-enabled Output Generators
Shift + Ctrl + O Access Output Job Options dialog

CAMtastic Editor Shortcuts

Ctrl + Z (or Alt + Backspace) Undo
Ctrl + Y (or Ctrl + Backspace) Redo
Ctrl + X Cut
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) Copy
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) Paste
Ctrl + E Clear
Ctrl + M Mirror
Ctrl + R Rotate
Ctrl + L Align Selective
L Merge Layers
Alt + C Select using crossing window
Alt + P Select previous selection
Ctrl + F Toggle Flash selection mode On/Off
Ctrl + T Toggle Trace selection mode On/Off
Ctrl + A Array objects
Ctrl + D Modify/change objects
Ctrl + I Set origin
Ctrl + U Scale objects
Home View all
Shift + P View around specified point
Ctrl + Mouse Wheel Up (or PgUp) Zoom-in
Ctrl + Mouse Wheel Down (or PgDn) Zoom-out
Mouse Wheel Up Pan Up

GU0104 (v1.4) July 12, 2005 9

Shortcut Keys

Mouse Wheel Down Pan Down

Shift + Mouse Wheel Up Pan Left
Shift + Mouse Wheel Down Pan Right
Shift + V Zoom last
End Refresh
D Dynamic panning mode
Shift + B View Film Box
Ctrl + Home Zoom Film Box
Alt + Home Zoom current DCode
Shift + E Toggle view of Extents Box On/Off
Shift + F Toggle Fill Mode On/Off
Shift + H Toggle highlight of current objects using current
DCode
N Toggle negative view
Shift + T Toggle translucent view
Shift + G Access CAMtastic – Drawing Modes page of
Preferences dialog
Q Query object
Shift + N Query net
Shift + M Measure point-to-point
Shift + A Access apertures table
K Access Set Layers Off dialog
Alt + K Access Set Layers On dialog
Shift + S Toggle Object Snap mode
Esc Cancel action
Shift + Ctrl + R Repeat last action
+ (numeric keypad) display next layer only
- (numeric keypad) display previous layer only
* (numeric keypad) display next signal/plane layer only

Digital Waveform Editor Shortcuts

PgUp Zoom-in around active time cursor
PgDn Zoom-out around active time cursor
Ctrl + PgDn Fit document
Ctrl + A Select all waveforms
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) Copy waveform
Ctrl + X (or Shift + Delete) Cut waveform
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) Paste waveform
Left-Click & Drag Relocate focused waveform

10 GU0104 (v1.4) July 12, 2005

 Shortcut Keys

J Display Jump sub-menu

Shift + Ctrl + F Jump to first transition for focused waveform
Shift + Ctrl + N Jump to next transition for focused waveform
Shift + Ctrl + P Jump to previous transition for focused waveform
Shift + Ctrl + L Jump to last transition for focused waveform
T, P Access Wave – General page of Preferences dialog

SimData Editor Shortcuts

Ctrl + X (or Shift + Delete) Cut
Ctrl + C Copy
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) Paste
Delete Clear
+ (numeric keypad) Next chart
- (numeric keypad) Previous chart
PgUp Zoom-in
PgDn Zoom-out
Ctrl + PgDn Fit Document
End Refresh
Esc (or Shift + C) Clear filter
Up Arrow Scroll upwards through chart, one wave plot at a time
Shift + Up Arrow Scroll upwards through chart, one page at a time
Ctrl + Up Arrow (or Ctrl + Home) Jump to top of chart
Down Arrow Scroll downwards through chart, one wave plot at a
time
Shift + Down Arrow Scroll downwards through chart, one page at a time
Ctrl + Down Arrow (or Ctrl + End) Jump to bottom of chart
Left Arrow Scroll left through chart, one major division on X-axis
at a time
Shift + Left Arrow Scroll left through chart, one page at a time
Ctrl + Left Arrow Jump to start of X-axis
Right Arrow Scroll right through chart, one major division on X-axis
at a time
Shift + Right Arrow Scroll right through chart, one page at a time
Ctrl + Right Arrow Jump to end of X-axis

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Shortcut Keys

Text-based Document Editors

Common Shortcuts 2
Ctrl + Z Undo
Ctrl + X (or Shift + Delete) Cut
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) Copy
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) Paste
Enter Insert carriage return
Ctrl + N Insert new line
Tab Insert tab
Shift + Tab Tab backwards
Insert Toggle text insertion mode between Insert and
Overwrite
Shift + Ctrl + C Clear Filter Marks
Ctrl + F Find text
Ctrl + H (or Ctrl + R) Find and replace text
F3 (or Ctrl + L) Find next instance of searched text
Shift + Ctrl + F Find next selected instance of searched text
Ctrl + A Select All
PgUp Scroll one page up
PgDn Scroll one page down
Ctrl + Up Arrow Scroll one line up
Ctrl + Down Arrow Scroll one line down
Ctrl + PgUp Move cursor to top of window
Ctrl + PgUp Move cursor to bottom of window
Home Move cursor to beginning of current line
End Move cursor to end of current line
Ctrl + Home Move cursor to Beginning of File
Ctrl + End Move cursor to End of File
Up Arrow Move cursor one line up
Down Arrow Move cursor one line down
Left Arrow Move cursor one character left
Right Arrow Move cursor one character right
Ctrl + Left Arrow Move cursor one word left
Ctrl + Right Arrow Move cursor one word right

2
These shortcuts are based on the Default key mapping. The key mapping used can be changed on the Text
Editors – General page of the Preferences dialog (Tools » Editor Preferences).

12 GU0104 (v1.4) July 12, 2005

 Shortcut Keys

Shift + Ctrl + Home Extend Selection to Beginning of File

Shift + Ctrl + End Extend selection to End of File
Shift + PgUp Extend selection one page up
Shift + PgDn Extend selection one page down
Shift + Ctrl + PgUp Extend selection to top of window
Shift + Ctrl + PgDn Extend selection to bottom of window
Shift + Home Extend selection to beginning of current line
Shift + End Extend selection to end of current line
Shift + Left Arrow Extend selection left one character
Shift + Right Arrow Extend selection right one character
Shift + Up Arrow Extend selection to same column in previous line
Shift + Down Arrow Extend selection to same column in next line
Shift + Ctrl + Left Arrow Extend selection one word left
Shift + Ctrl + Right Arrow Extend selection one word right
Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Home Extend selection column to Beginning of File
Alt + Shift + Ctrl + End Extend selection column to End of File
Alt + Shift + PgUp Extend selection column one page up
Alt + Shift + PgDn Extend selection column one page down
Alt + Shift + Ctrl + PgUp Extend selection column to top of window
Alt + Shift + Ctrl + PgDn Extend selection column to bottom of window
Alt + Shift + Home Extend selection column to beginning of current line
Alt + Shift + End Extend selection to end of current line
Alt + Shift + Left Arrow Extend selection column to the left by one column
Alt + Shift + Right Arrow Extend selection column to the right by one column
Alt + Shift + Up Arrow Extend selection column up by one line
Alt + Shift + Down Arrow Extend selection column down by one line
Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Left Arrow Extend selection column one word left
Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Right Arrow Extend selection column one word right
Alt + Left-Click & Drag Define selection column using mouse
Delete Delete character to the right of cursor position
Backspace Delete character to the left of the cursor position
Ctrl + Backspace Delete to beginning of previous word
Ctrl + T Delete to beginning of next word
Ctrl + Y Delete current line
Ctrl + Q + Y Delete to end of current line
Alt + T, P Access Text Editors – General page of Preferences
dialog

GU0104 (v1.4) July 12, 2005 13

Shortcut Keys

Embedded Software Editor (.c, .asm) Shortcuts

F9 Run the program being debugged
Ctrl + F9 Run to cursor
F5 Toggle breakpoint for current line
Left-Click in Gutter Toggle breakpoint for line
Ctrl + F5 Add Watch
F7 Step into the current source line
Ctrl + F7 Evaluate
F8 Step to the next source line
Shift + F7 Step into the current instruction
Shift + F8 Step to the next instruction
Ctrl + F2 Reset the current debug session
Ctrl + F3 Finish the current debug session
Left-Click on code outline +/- expand/contract segment of code
Ctrl + Double Left-Click on code outline +/- expand/contract all code segments
Ctrl + Left-Click on Jump text cursor to respective declaration point
variable/function/procedure name

VHDL Editor Shortcuts

Ctrl + F9 Compile source HDL documents
F9 Run Forever
Ctrl + F5 Run simulation for the last time step
Ctrl + F8 Run simulation to a specified time
Ctrl + F11 Run simulation to next debug point
Ctrl + F7 Run simulation for a time step
F6 Run simulation for a Delta step
F7 Run simulation, stepping into procedures/functions
F8 Run simulation, stepping over procedures/functions
Ctrl + F2 Reset current simulation session
Ctrl + F3 End current simulation session
Left-Click in Gutter Toggle breakpoint for line
Left-Click on code outline +/- expand/contract segment of code
Ctrl + Left-Click on code outline +/- expand/contract all code segments

14 GU0104 (v1.4) July 12, 2005

 Shortcut Keys

Scripting Editor (.pas, .vbs, .js, .tcl, .bas) Shortcuts 3

F9 Run the script
Ctrl + F9 Run to cursor
F5 Toggle breakpoint for current line
Left-Click in Gutter Toggle breakpoint for line
Ctrl + F7 Evaluate
F7 Step into the current source line
F8 Step to the next source line
Ctrl + F3 Stop script execution
Ctrl + Left-Click on Jump text cursor to respective declaration point
variable/function/procedure name

3
Only the F9 shortcut applies to the TCL Script Editor

GU0104 (v1.4) July 12, 2005 15

Shortcut Keys

Revision History

Date Version No. Revision

07-Jan-2004 1.0 New product release

05-Feb-2004 1.01 New Shortcut Key entries

18-Oct-2004 1.1 Added shortcut key entry for accessing the Selection Memory dialog, in
Common Schematic and PCB Shortcuts.

30-Mar-2005 1.2 Updated for Altium Designer (SP3).

07-Jun-2005 1.3 F5 updated to Shift+F5

12-Jul-2005 1.4 Restructured and additional shortcut key descriptions added.

Software, hardware, documentation and related materials:

Copyright © 2005 Altium Limited.
All rights reserved. You are permitted to print this document provided that (1) the use of such is for personal use
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of the document is made. Unauthorized duplication, in whole or part, of this document by any means, mechanical or
electronic, including translation into another language, except for brief excerpts in published reviews, is prohibited
without the express written permission of Altium Limited. Unauthorized duplication of this work may also be
prohibited by local statute. Violators may be subject to both criminal and civil penalties, including fines and/or
imprisonment. Altium, Altium Designer, CAMtastic, Design Explorer, DXP, LiveDesign, NanoBoard, NanoTalk,
Nexar, nVisage, CircuitStudio, P-CAD, Protel, Situs, TASKING, and Topological Autorouting and their respective
logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Altium Limited or its subsidiaries. All other registered or
unregistered trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners and no trademark rights to
the same are claimed.

16 GU0104 (v1.4) July 12, 2005