Keyboard shortcuts
This page provides a listing of the agreed upon shortcuts for the system at large and for various controls within the activities, which should be referenced for consistency across them. For a high-level philosophical on the usage of various modifier keys, please refer to the HIG.
Please see cheat codes for a list of boot options.
Special keys
- the Ctrl key has a solid diamond on it (♦);
- the Alt key has an open diamond on it (◊);
- the Esc key has a white × inside a black disc (
); - the Tab key has double arrows on it (↹);
- the Tilde key has a tilde on it (~);
- the Frame key has an open rectangle on it (□);
- the F1 key is the same as the Neighborhood view key (
); - the F2 key is the same as the Group view key (
); - the F3 key is the same as the Home view key (
); - the F4 key is the same as the Activity view key (
); - the F5 key is the same as the search key,
- the F6 key is the same as the Frame key,
- the Delete key is the same as Fn-Erase.
- the Page Up key is the same as Fn-up-arrow (↑).
- the Page Down key is the same as Fn-down-arrow (↓).
- the Home key is the same as Fn-left-arrow (←).
- the End key is the same as Fn-right-arrow (→).
Keyboard shortcuts
| Keystroke | Description |
|---|---|
| Sugar | |
| Alt-Tab |
Cycle forward through running activities |
| Shift-Alt-Tab |
Cycle backward through running activities |
| Ctrl-c | Copy to clipboard |
| Ctrl-v | Paste from clipboard |
| Ctrl-x | Cut (and copy to clipboard) |
| Ctrl-a | Select all (current input/dialog/text box ) |
| Ctrl-q | Quit activity |
| Ctrl-Esc | Quit activity |
| Alt-Enter | Toggle full-screen mode |
| Alt-Space | Toggle tray visibility (works in Browse but not in Record) |
| Ctrl-u | View source in Browse (opens copy of source in Write) |
| Fn-Space | View source (system wide, although not enabled in all applications yet) |
| Alt-1 | Screen capture; saved to Journal as a PNG file named "Screenshotof N" where N is the activity or window name |
| Alt-Shift-s | Say text |
| System | |
| Ctrl-Alt-F1 (F1 is the Neighborhood key) | Console 1 |
| Ctrl-Alt-F2 (F2 is the Friends key) | Console 2 |
| Ctrl-Alt-F3 (F3 is the Home key) | Console 3 |
| Esc-Frame-RightArrow-Fn (the four corners keys on the keyboard) | Recalibrate touchpad (AKA Four finger salute); Fn should be pressed last. 
|
| Fn-UpArrow | Page Up |
| Fn-DownArrow | Page Down |
| Fn-LeftArrow | Home |
| Fn-RightArrow | End |
| Alt-BrightnessDown | Backlight off black & white mode |
| Alt-BrightnessUp | Full brightness color mode |
| Ctrl-VolumeDown | Mute |
| Ctrl-VolumeUp | Full volume |
| Equivalents for special keys (e.g. when emulating the XO) | |
| Alt-Shift-f F6 |
Toggle frame |
| Alt-Shift-o | Open search |
| Alt-Shift-r | Rotate (the rotate screen button) |
| Alt-Shift-v | View source (system wide, although not enabled in all applications yet) |
| PrtScn | Screen capture; saved to Journal as a PNG file named "Screenshot" |
| Special keys for emulating the XO) | |
| Alt-Shift-Q | Quit Sugar and shutdown. (See also <trac>10816</trac>). |
Terminal and Ctrl shortcuts
The Terminal activity intentionally overrides Ctrl+ shortcuts, because they are needed for normal terminal usage.
In release 8.1.0 and subsequent releases, to copy or paste in the Terminal Activity, press Shift-Ctrl-c or Shift-Ctrl-v.
Using modifier keys in combination
Note about the use of modifier keys: there are several (slightly) different ways in which key combinations are indicated in the wiki. Whenever you see combinations separated by either a - or + this means to press these keys together, starting with the modifier keys. The last key in the sequence should be pressed while holding down the modifier key(s). For example:
Shift-A (or Shift+A) means hold the Shift key down and then press the A key while holding down the Shift key. This will create a capital letter A. (The order is important: if you press the A key first, the result will be a lower case a.)
Ctrl-Alt-Erase (or Ctrl+Alt+Erase) means hold down both the Ctrl and Alt keys and then press the Erase key. This will restart Sugar/X Windows. (Again, the order is important: if you press the Erase key first, the result will be a backspace.)