Keyboard shortcuts

Shortcuts are written with Linux key names. Ctrl here means ⌘ Cmd on macOS (macOS accepts either), and Alt means ⌥ Option. Press ? inside the app for the built-in quick reference. One rule worth knowing: whatever is mid-flight, Escape backs out one level at a time — a gesture, a sub-mode, a pane, an overlay.

Everywhere in a project#

Switch workspaces with the icons in the title bar (or Ctrl+1–Ctrl+5); Alt+click (or Cmd+click) a workspace icon opens that workspace in a split pane. That includes Paper: two manuscript panes show two different documents of the project (asking for one that’s open in the other pane focuses that pane instead). Figure and Slide stay single-pane — they share the editing engine.

While Inbox is open#

Pin open keeps Inbox in a separate window; Dock returns it to the main window. The Annotate chord also works from the pinned window.

While Annotate is open#

Attach view is remembered. Marks always attach the picture. The Annotate… command also appears in the global and Paper palettes and Library’s Commands… menu.

While Ask is open#

Stop cancels the answer; Keep saves it as a resolved annotation. See Ask about what you see.

Paper#

Mouse: drag a row in the left rail’s Documents list = reorder the documents (order only — the open document doesn’t change).

Typing triggers: @ cite · @@ figure-reference picker · / block palette at the start of a line. Vim mode (plain or flux-ViM) is enabled from the palette; see Vim, and how the caret feels.

Figure#

Tools (single keys): V select · K scale · H hand · T text · R rectangle · O ellipse · L line · A arrow · P pen.

In the property menu (F). Each row shows its own key on the left; press it to arm the row. Then the mouse wheel (anywhere on screen) or ↑/↓ adjusts a number, an expanded choice takes w/a/s/d, 1–9 or the wheel, and a colour row opens the palette (hover previews, click applies). Space or Enter applies, Escape reverts and s searches. In a plot’s menu, v / b open the x / y axis view (follow the displayed key if crop controls occupy v); in an axis view the wheel adjusts the focused limit and Space accepts min → max → done.

In the X-ray (Alt+R). Shift+click / Ctrl+click pick several rows, a press-and-drag sweeps a run (Ctrl at the press adds), Ctrl+A picks all, Alt+A every search result and a the siblings (counterpart parts first, then everything under the parent). x hides the pick, Enter or F opens its properties, double-click re-roots the tree, and v on an axis row focuses that axis in the Inspector (Axis view…).

Mouse:

• Drag a figure’s sidebar row to reorder figures (Shift+click picks a run, Ctrl/⌘+click adds or drops one).
• Click selects the whole plot or group; Ctrl+click pierces to the part under the cursor (hold Ctrl to preview); Shift+click adds to the selection.
• Double-click descends: group → inside, text → edit, plot → part, path → node edit.
• Alt+drag duplicates; Shift+drag constrains to an axis; Ctrl+drag a resize handle crops; hold Alt while dragging to disable snapping and Shift while resizing to keep the aspect ratio.
• Space+drag or the middle button pans; Ctrl+wheel zooms; Shift+wheel pans horizontally.
• Drag a rail edge to resize the sidebar or Inspector (double-click resets).

In path node-edit (Enter or double-click a path): v edit · p pen (extend/merge at endpoints) · d delete nodes · Ctrl+drag a segment bends it · Enter finishes · Escape ladders out.

In the Dissect viewer (D on a plot): arrows move through the grid · Enter expands a file (again: fit ↔︎ 1:1) · [ / ] column count · 1–9 switch group tabs · Ctrl+wheel zoom at the cursor · Space+drag pan · 0 reset zoom · ← / → previous/next file · Escape ladders out (detail → grid → closed).

While orbiting a 3D model (double-click the mesh, or Orbit in the Inspector): drag orbit · Shift+drag pan · Alt+drag roll · wheel zoom · arrows turn 5° (Shift: 15°) · 1–6 axis views · 0 home · P orthographic / perspective · Enter finish · Escape cancel.

Slide#

Everything in the Figure table works on the stage. Additionally:

In the animator dock: ←/→ beats · ↑/↓ tracks · Ctrl+D duplicate tracks · Ctrl+G/Ctrl+Shift+G group/ungroup tracks · Alt+←/→ nudge start · Alt+Shift+←/→ trim duration · Alt+A / Alt+D align starts / ends (press again for the next lane above; +Shift resizes instead of moving) · Ctrl+Alt-drag a bar onto another lane to inherit that effect’s animation (+Shift at release also copies its start) · [ / ] move track to previous/next beat · X disable · Delete/Backspace remove · Enter jump to the properties fields · Space play/pause · Ctrl+A select this step’s effects · Escape stop preview or clear the selection/endpoint edit. P focuses Effect/Action, D Duration, T Start/Offset, G Stagger, and E opens Easing.

In the Easing editor: 1–9 choose a tile in the focused group · arrows move a focused bezier handle by 0.01 (Shift+arrows by 0.1) · Ctrl+V pastes a curve · Enter commits · Escape restores the opening curve and duration. See Easing and springs.

While presenting: → / Space / PageDown next beat (+Shift: next slide) · ← / Backspace / PageUp previous (+Shift: previous slide) · ↑/↓ whole slides · Home/End first/last · type a number + Enter to jump · B/W blank black/white · S presenter notes · F fullscreen · R reset timer · M reduce motion · Escape exit. Click left quarter = back, elsewhere = forward.

While picking for Become or Appear from…#

Reader#

Mouse: select text → highlight colours appear · Alt+drag = pop out a figure region · Ctrl+Alt+drag = save a paper snip · Ctrl+wheel / pinch = zoom at the cursor · drag a tab to reorder it · drag a sidebar edge to resize it (double-click resets).

Library#

Mouse on a row: click = copy citekey · Ctrl+click = details · Ctrl+Shift+click = open the PDF (fetching it if needed) · Alt+click = open the DOI.