Selecting Tools

This section lists the keyboard shortcuts for selecting tools in the Tools palette and the shortcuts for manipulating all palettes.

Keyboard Shortcuts for Selecting Tools

Windows [W], Mac [W]

Toggle between Normal view and Preview

Windows [V], Mac [V]

Select the Selection tool

Windows [A], Mac [A]

Select the Direct Selection tool

Windows [Ctrl]-[Tab], Mac [ z ]-[Ctrl]-[Tab]

Toggle between the Selection tool and the Direct Selection tool

Windows [Ctrl], Mac [ z ]

Temporarily select the Selection tool or the Direct Selection tool

Pressing this shortcut selects whichever was last used of the Selection tool or the Direct Selection tool. This shortcut works when any tool other than a selection tool is selected.

Windows [Alt] and Direct Selection tool, Mac [Option] and Direct Selection tool

Temporarily select the Group Selection tool

Windows [Ctrl]-[Alt], Mac [ z ]-[Option]

Temporarily select the Group Selection tool

This shortcut works when the Pen tool, the Add Anchor Point tool, or the Delete Anchor Point tool is selected.

Windows [P], Mac [P]

Select the Pen tool

Windows [Shift] and Pen tool, Mac [Shift] and Pen tool

Keep the Pen tool selected

Press [Shift] to keep the Pen tool selected when the mouse pointer is over an anchor point or a path .

Windows [=], Mac [=]

Select the Add Anchor Point tool

Windows [Alt] and Scissors tool, Mac [Option] and Scissors tool

Temporarily select the Add Anchor Point tool

Windows [-], Mac [-]

Select the Delete Anchor Point tool

Windows [Alt], Mac [Option]

Temporarily switch between the Add Anchor Point tool and the Delete Anchor Point tool

Windows [Shift]-[C], Mac [Shift]-[C]

Select the Convert Direction Point tool

Windows [Ctrl]-[Alt], Mac [ z ]-[Option]

Temporarily select the Convert Direction Point tool

This shortcut works when the Direct Selection tool is selected.

Windows [Alt], Mac [Option]

Temporarily select the Convert Direction Point tool

This shortcut works when the Pen tool is selected.

Windows [T], Mac [T]

Select the Type tool

Windows [Shift]-[T], Mac [Shift]-[T]

Select the Type On A Path tool

Windows [N], Mac [N]

Select the Pencil tool

Windows [\], Mac [\]

Select the Line tool

Windows [F], Mac [F]

Select the Rectangle Frame tool

Windows [M], Mac [M]

Select the Rectangle tool

Windows [L], Mac [L]

Select the Ellipse tool

Windows [R], Mac [R]

Select the Rotate tool

Windows [S], Mac [S]

Select the Scale tool

Windows [O], Mac [O]

Select the Shear tool

Windows [E], Mac [E]

Select the Free Transform tool

Windows [I], Mac [I]

Select the Eyedropper tool

Windows [K], Mac [K]

Select the Measure tool

Windows [G], Mac [G]

Select the Gradient tool

Windows [B], Mac [B]

Select the Button tool

Windows [C], Mac [C]

Select the Scissors tool

Windows [H], Mac [H]

Select the Hand tool

Windows [Alt]-[Spacebar], Mac [Option]-[Spacebar]

Temporarily select the Hand tool

This shortcut works in both Layout mode and Text mode. In Layout mode, you can also press [Spacebar] (on both Windows and Mac) to temporarily select the Hand tool. In Text mode, you can also press [Alt] (on Windows) or [Option] (on the Mac) to temporarily select the Hand tool.

Windows [Z], Mac [Z]

Select the Zoom tool

Windows [Ctrl]-[Spacebar], Mac [ z ]-[Spacebar]

Temporarily select the Zoom In tool

Windows [X], Mac [X]

Toggle between Fill and Stroke

Windows [Shift]-[X], Mac [Shift]-[X]

Swap Fill and Stroke

Windows [J], Mac [J]

Toggle between Formatting Affects Text and Formatting Affects Container

Windows [,], Mac [,]

Apply color

Windows [.], Mac [.]

Apply gradient

Windows [/], Mac [/]

Apply no color

Keyboard Shortcuts for Working with Palettes

Windows [Alt]-click the Trash button, Mac [Option]-click the Trash button

Delete the object without confirmation

Windows [Alt]-click the New button, Mac [Option]-click the New button

Create a new item and display the dialog box for setting options for the item

Windows [Shift]-[Enter], Mac [Shift]-[Return]

Apply the value in a field but keep the focus on the field

Windows [Tab], Mac [Tab]

Apply the value to a field and select the next field

Pressing [Tab] has this effect only when the focus is in a palette.

Windows [Ctrl]-[Alt]-[~], Mac [ z ]-[Option]-[~]

Select the last option you used in the last palette you used

Windows [Tab], Mac [Tab]

Toggle the display of all palettes, the Toolbox, and the Control palette

This shortcut works when there s no insertion point.

Windows [Shift]-[Tab], Mac [Shift]-[Tab]

Toggle the display of all palettes except the Toolbox and the Control palette

This shortcut works when there s no insertion point.

Windows [Ctrl]-[Alt]-[Tab], Mac [ z ]-[Option]-[Tab]

Open or close all stashed palettes