This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Learning Unity Keyboard Shortcuts
Using a mouse is intuitive because of the direct interaction between your hand, your eyes, and the cursor, but for repeated actions, keyboard shortcuts enable you to work (and play) faster. No need to take the time to pick up your hand, move it to a different spot on the desk, use the mouse, click something, move your hand back to the keyboard to type a few letters, go back to the mouse to click something else, and so on. The more you can do from one place, the more efficient your actions will be. Here is a list of things you can do with Unity without moving your hands away from the keyboard. Of course, you don’t have to do things this way, but power users love to save time and energy, even if it means spending a little more time up front learning how; in the long term, the savings add up.
The Super key is used for several of the shortcuts. It is sometimes known as the Windows key. In the following tables, it is simply called Super.
Table 4-2 lists keyboard shortcuts related to using the Launcher.
Table 4-2 Launcher Shortcuts
|
Key Combination |
Action |
|
Super (long press) |
Open Launcher, display shortcuts |
|
Super-Tab |
Switch applications via the Launcher |
|
Super-# (1–9) |
Same as clicking on a Launcher icon |
|
Super-Shift-# (1–9) |
Open a new window for the same application |
|
Super-T |
Open Trash |
Dash
Table 4-3 lists keyboard shortcuts related to using the Dash.
Table 4-3 Dash Shortcuts
|
Key Combination |
Action |
|
Super (quick tap) |
Open the Dash home |
|
Super-A |
Open the Dash App Lens |
|
Super-F |
Open the Dash Files Lens |
|
Super-M |
Open the Dash Music Lens |
|
Ctrl-Tab |
Switch between Lenses |
|
Cursor keys |
Move the focus |
|
Enter & Return |
Open the item that currently has focus |
Switching
Table 4-4 lists keyboard shortcuts related to switching between applications.
Table 4-4 Switching Shortcuts
|
Key Combination |
Action |
|
Alt-Tab |
Switch between applications |
|
Alt-` |
Hold Alt and press ` to switch between windows of current application |
|
Cursor left or right |
Move the focus within lists or images of applications when switching or in a menu |
Windows
Table 4-5 lists keyboard shortcuts related to windows and managing them.
Table 4-5 Windows Management Shortcuts
|
Key Combination |
Action |
|
Super-W |
Spread all windows in the current workspace |
|
Super-D |
Minimize all windows |
|
Super-Cursor up |
Maximize the current window |
|
Super-Cursor down |
Restore or minimize current window |
|
Super-Cursor left or right |
Semi-maximize current window |
|
Alt-F4 |
Close current window |
|
Alt-Space |
Open window accessibility menu |
|
Ctrl-Alt-Num |
Place window in corresponding positions on the screen |
|
Alt-Left mouse drag |
Move window |
|
Alt-Middle mouse drag |
Resize window |
|
Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 7 |
Place window in top left corner of screen; pressing a second time does nothing |
|
Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 8 |
Place window in top half of screen; pressing a second time does nothing |
|
Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 9 |
Place window in top right corner of screen; pressing a second time does nothing |
|
Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 4 |
Place window on the left side of the screen in semi-maximized state (it is important that the window is actually semi-maximized, not just the same size and position as a semi-maximized window); pressing a second time does nothing |
|
Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 5 |
Maximize window; if window is already maximized, pressing this key combo restores the window to the same size, shape, and position as before it was maximized |
|
Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 6 |
Place window on the right side of the screen (it is important that the window is actually semi-maximized, not just the same size and position as a semi-maximized window); pressing a second time does nothing |
|
Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 1 |
Place window in the bottom left corner of the screen; pressing a second time does nothing |
|
Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 2 |
Place window in the bottom half of the screen; pressing a second time does nothing |
|
Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 3 |
Place window in the bottom right corner of the screen; pressing a second time does nothing |
|
Ctrl-Alt-Numpad 0 |
Minimize window; if window is already minimized, pressing this key combo restores the window to the same size, shape, and position as before it was minimized |
Workspaces
Table 4-6 lists keyboard shortcuts related to using workspaces.
Table 4-6 Workspace Shortcuts
|
Key Combination |
Action |
|
Super-S |
Spread workspaces |
|
Super-Ctrl-Cursor Keys |
Switch workspaces |
|
Super-Alt-Cursor Keys |
Move focused window to different workspace |
Other
Table 4-7 lists keyboard shortcuts that don’t fit in any of the previous categories.
Table 4-7 Other Shortcuts
|
Key Combination |
Action |
|
Super-L |
Lock screen |
|
Ctrl-Super |
Display an overlay image of the main keyboard shortcuts for Unity |