Keyboard basics

You can perform many HMC actions using key sequences, even though the helps always refer to mouse actions.

To use a key sequence described in the form key1+key2, press and hold key1, then press key2.

These key sequences are equivalent to mouse actions in HMC:
 
Point Tab (forward) or Shift+Tab (backward) to move between controls in a HMC dialog or Properties Notebook. Use the arrow keys to move from object to object in a HMC application window. The focus area is emphasized.
Click or Select Press the Spacebar key. The selected object appears with a white background outlined in black.
Double-Click Press the Spacebar key, then press the Enter key.
Multiselect Select an object, then use the arrow keys to point to another object and press Shift+Spacebar. Continue until you have selected all the desired objects in the area. (You can select all by selecting Ctrl+A, and deselect all by entering Ctrl+Shift+A.)
Key mappings for HMC interface
Key Function
Spacebar Selects object
Enter Activates object
Shift+Spacebar Adds object to collection of selected objects
Tab Moves the focus from current control to next control in a dialog or Properties Notebook
Shift+Tab Moves the focus from current control to previous control in a dialog or Properties Notebook
Arrow keys Moves the focus from object to object in a window
F10 Moves pointer to or from menu bar (to move from one menu to the next in the menu bar, use the arrow keys)
Key mappings for HMC menu selections
Key Function
Ctrl+S Save the current console preferences
Ctrl+W Close the current window
Ctrl+Q Exit HMC
Ctrl+F Find an item in the current application
Ctrl+O Open object
Ctrl+M Move object
Ctrl+A Select all objects
Ctrl+Shift+A Undo selection of all objects
Alt+Left Go back to the last application visited
Alt+Right Move forward from the current application
Alt+Up Move up one level
Ctrl+Up Go up to this application's parent
Escape Stop loading
F5 Reload
Ctrl+N Open new window
F1 Help contents
F9 Keys help
Enter Activates object
Key mappings for managing the windows
Key Function
Ctrl+Q Close
Alt+Tab Raises the next window in the stack and moves the input focus to that window.
Alt+Shift+Tab Raises the previous window in the stack and moves the input focus to that window.
Alt+Esc Raises the next window in the stack without changing the input focus.
Alt+Shift+Esc Raises the previous window in the stack without changing the input focus.

Note: The Alt+key sequences work for most platforms; there may be some that do not support these sequences.