Every keyboard shortcut in the editor
Published . By the DiagramDesk team.
The full shortcut list for the DiagramDesk editor, and the handful worth learning first.
The editor is usable entirely with a mouse. Learning five shortcuts roughly halves the time a diagram takes.
The five worth learning first
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
| Scroll | Zoom in and out, around the pointer |
| Right-click drag | Move around the canvas |
| Ctrl / ⌘ + 1 | Fit the whole diagram to the screen |
| Enter | Edit the text of whatever is selected |
| Ctrl / ⌘ + D | Duplicate, keeping all the styling |
Duplicate is the one that changes how you work. Style one shape the way you want it, then duplicate it for every other shape of that kind, rather than restyling each one.
Tools
| Key | Tool |
|---|---|
| V | Select |
| H | Pan |
| C | Connector |
Moving around
The wheel zooms. To move around, hold the right mouse button and drag.
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Scroll | Zoom in and out, around the pointer |
| Right-click drag | Move around the canvas |
| Middle-click drag | Move around the canvas |
| Hold Space and drag | Move around the canvas |
| Shift + scroll | Scroll sideways |
| Ctrl / ⌘ + scroll, or pinch | Zoom |
| Ctrl / ⌘ + = / − | Zoom in, zoom out |
| Ctrl / ⌘ + 0 | Zoom to 100% |
| Ctrl / ⌘ + 1 | Fit to screen |
| Ctrl / ⌘ + \ | Hide both side panels for the whole canvas, or bring them back |
Right-dragging never opens a context menu on the canvas, so the whole button is free for panning. On a trackpad, pinch to zoom and hold Space to move around.
Each side panel also has a small tab on its inner edge. Click it to slide that panel away; the tab stays at the edge of the window to bring the panel back.
Selecting
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Click | Select one |
| Shift + click | Add to, or remove from, the selection |
| Drag on empty canvas | Marquee select everything fully inside |
| Ctrl / ⌘ + A | Select everything |
| Escape | Deselect |
A marquee only picks up shapes that are entirely inside it, which lets you drag across a crowded canvas without catching the things at the edges.
Editing
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Double-click a shape | Edit its text |
| Double-click a connector | Edit its label |
| Double-click empty canvas | Add a shape there |
| Enter or F2 | Edit the selected item’s text |
| Shift + Enter | New line inside a label |
| Ctrl / ⌘ + Enter | Finish editing |
| Escape | Cancel the edit |
| Delete | Delete the selection |
Copying and history
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl / ⌘ + Z | Undo |
| Ctrl / ⌘ + Shift + Z | Redo |
| Ctrl / ⌘ + C / X / V | Copy, cut, paste |
| Ctrl / ⌘ + D | Duplicate |
| Alt + Shift + C | Copy the style of what is selected |
| Alt + Shift + V | Paste that style onto what is selected |
| Ctrl / ⌘ + S | Save a copy of the file to your computer |
Everything is saved to your browser automatically, so Ctrl+S is for exporting a file rather than saving.
Arranging
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Arrow keys | Nudge 1px |
| Shift + arrows | Nudge 10px |
| Ctrl / ⌘ + G | Group |
| Ctrl / ⌘ + Shift + G | Ungroup |
| Ctrl / ⌘ + ] | Bring forward |
| Ctrl / ⌘ + [ | Send backward |
| Ctrl / ⌘ + Shift + ] | Bring to front |
| Ctrl / ⌘ + Shift + [ | Send to back |
Modifiers while dragging
| Key | Effect |
|---|---|
| Shift while moving | Turn snapping off, for exact placement |
| Shift while resizing | Keep the proportions |
| Alt while resizing | Resize around the centre |
| Alt while rotating | Rotate freely instead of in 15° steps |
The one that is not a keyboard shortcut
Hover a shape and drag one of its four dots out onto empty canvas. A new shape appears there, already connected, already selected, with the cursor in it ready to type.
Most diagrams can be built almost entirely this way: type, drag, type, drag. It is considerably faster than going back to the palette for every shape.
Press ? in the editor to see this list at any time.
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