Productivity Reference

Keyboard Shortcuts

A keyboard shortcut is a combination of keys that performs a specific action. The shortcuts typically involve one or more modifier keys such as Ctrl, Alt, or Command combined with another key usually a letter, number, or punctuation symbol. By using keyboard shortcuts, you can bypass navigating through menus and dialog boxes in software applications. Tasks that would normally require multiple clicks with a mouse can be accomplished swiftly using shortcuts, and you will be less relying on mouse movements. Professionals who use keyboard shortcuts efficiently perform repetitive actions more quickly. Most software allows customization of keyboard shortcuts. Users can assign their preferred shortcuts for specific functions. Additionally, each application often has its own unique set of shortcuts. We have crafted shortcuts for most commonly used applications across multiple platforms.

Practical Notes

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Keyboard shortcuts are easiest to adopt when you focus on repeated actions instead of trying to memorize an entire application at once.

Start with frequent tasks

Learn the commands you use every hour: search, save, switch tabs, copy, paste, undo, and open command menus.

Mind the platform

The same action may use Ctrl on Windows or Linux and Command on macOS.

Practice in context

Shortcuts stick faster when you use them during real work instead of reading a list once.

Shortcut	Application	Action
`Arrow Keys`	LibreOffice	Moves the element in the direction of the arrow.
Arrow keys in pie charts	LibreOffice	Moves the selected pie segment in the direction of the arrow.
`+`or- in pie charts	LibreOffice	Moves the selected pie segment off or into the pie chart (use the + / - keys in the numeric keypad).
`Ctrl`+Pg down	LibreOffice	Moves to the next sheet.
`Ctrl`+Pg up	LibreOffice	Moves to the previous sheet.
Pg up	LibreOffice	Moves up one screen page.
`Alt`+`↓`	LibreOffice	Opens a drop-down selection list of text items that have been previously typed into other cells in the same column.
F3 in legendsanddata series	LibreOffice	Opens groups so that you can edit the individual components.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`→`	LibreOffice	Optimizes the column width based on the current cell.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`←`	LibreOffice	Optimizes the column width based on the current cell.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`↑`	LibreOffice	Optimizes the row height based on the current cell.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`↓`	LibreOffice	Optimizes the row height based on the current cell.
`Shift`+`Insert`	LibreOffice	Pastes the contents of the clipboard into the selected cells.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`R`	LibreOffice	Redraws the document view.
`Ctrl`+`Backspace`	LibreOffice	Refocuses the view back on the cursor if it is not currently in view.
`Shift`+`Del`	LibreOffice	Removes and copies the selection to the clipboard.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Z`	LibreOffice	Reverses the action of the last undo command.
`Alt`+`Backspace`	LibreOffice	Reverses the last command or the last entry you typed.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`End`	LibreOffice	Selects all cells from the cursor to the cell in the last column and row that contain data in the current sheet.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Home`	LibreOffice	Selects all cells from the cursor to the first cell (A1) in the current sheet.
`Ctrl`+`A`	LibreOffice	Selects all cells in the current sheet.
`Shift`+`End`	LibreOffice	Selects cells along the current row from the cursor to the cell in the last column containing data in the sheet.
`Alt`+`Shift`+Pg up	LibreOffice	Selects cells from the cursor to the column one page to the left.
`Alt`+`Shift`+Pg down	LibreOffice	Selects cells from the cursor to the column one page to the right.
`Shift`+`Home`	LibreOffice	Selects cells from the cursor to the first cell of the current row.
`Shift`+Pg down	LibreOffice	Selects cells from the cursor to the row one page down.
`Shift`+Pg up	LibreOffice	Selects cells from the cursor to the row one page up.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`↓`	LibreOffice	Selects in the down direction to the edge of the current data range (if the cell adjacent to the cursor is empty, the cursor moves to the next cell that contains data).
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`←`	LibreOffice	Selects in the left direction to the edge of the current data range (if the cell adjacent to the cursor is empty, the cursor moves to the next cell that contains data).
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`→`	LibreOffice	Selects in the right direction to the edge of the current data range (if the cell adjacent to the cursor is empty, the cursor moves to the next cell that contains data).
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`↑`	LibreOffice	Selects in the up direction to the edge of the current data range (if the cell adjacent to the cursor is empty, the cursor moves to the next cell that contains data).
`Shift`+`↓`	LibreOffice	Selects the adjacent cell or cells located in the down direction.
`Shift`+`←`	LibreOffice	Selects the adjacent cell or cells located in the left direction.
`Shift`+`→`	LibreOffice	Selects the adjacent cell or cells located in the right direction.
`Shift`+`↑`	LibreOffice	Selects the adjacent cell or cells located in the up direction.
`Ctrl`+`/`	LibreOffice	Selects the cells in the matrix formula range that contains the cursor.
`Ctrl`+`[`	LibreOffice	Selects the cells on which the current cell is dependent.
`Ctrl`+`]`	LibreOffice	Selects the cells that are dependent on the current cell.
`Home`	LibreOffice	Selects the first chart element.
`End`	LibreOffice	Selects the last chart element.
`Tab`	LibreOffice	Selects the next chart element.
`Shift`+`Tab`	LibreOffice	Selects the previous chart element.
`Backspace`	LibreOffice	Sheet > Clear Cells.
`F4`	LibreOffice	Sheet > Cycle Cell Reference Types.
`Ctrl`+`-`	LibreOffice	Sheet > Delete Cells.
`Ctrl`+`D`	LibreOffice	Sheet > Fill Cells > Fill Down. Via drop-down menus on Row or Column icons on the Standard toolbar.
`Ctrl`+`+`	LibreOffice	Sheet > Insert Cells (use the + key on the numeric keypad).
`Ctrl`+`F3`	LibreOffice	Sheet > Named Ranges and Expressions > Manage.
`Ctrl`+`Tab`	LibreOffice	Sheet > Navigate > To Next Sheet.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Tab`	LibreOffice	Sheet > Navigate > To Previous Sheet.

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Start with frequent tasks

Mind the platform

Practice in context

Related References