Toolbox Tip: Favorite Keyboard Shortcuts for E-Learning Authoring Tools

Fri Sep 06 2013

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I admit it: I’m a keyboard shortcut nut! If I’m using the mouse, then the mouse is probably the best choice to get something done. But if my hands are already on the keyboard, a keyboard shortcut is probably the quickest way to get something done.

Most of you are probably familiar with some of the common shortcuts, such as save, cut, copy, paste, undo, bold, and so forth. But here are some of my favorite, lesser known shortcuts for some of the e-learning tools I use.

PowerPoint/Word

Ctrl + Shift + C and Ctrl + Shift + V = Copy and paste formatting

Ctrl + \[ and Ctrl + \] = Shrink and grow font size

Ctrl + Y or F4 = Repeat last action

Ctrl + Shift + à = Select the word to the right

Articulate Storyline

Ctrl + K = Add a trigger to an object or add a hyperlink to selected text

Ctrl + Enter = Open Format Shape dialog box for selected object

Ctrl + Shift + Enter = Open Size and Position dialog box for selected object

Ctrl + < and Ctrl + > = Shrink and grow font size

Ctrl + M = Insert new slide

Ctrl + J = Insert new picture

C = Insert cue point in Timeline

Spacebar = Toggle play/pause in Timeline

Adobe Captivate

Shift + Ctrl + V = Insert new slide

Shift + Ctrl + C = Insert text caption

Ctrl + L = Sync object to playhead

Ctrl + E = Show object for rest of slide

Ctrl + = and Ctrl + - = Zoom in and zoom out

Ctrl + Shift + Z = Undo marker (During screen capture, mark a slide as one you want to delete later)

Ctrl + Shift + H = Hide/show slide

Spacebar = Toggle play/pause in Timeline

Lectora

Ctrl + 3 = Add a new page

Ctrl + 4 = Add an action

Ctrl + 8 = Add a question

Ctrl + Shift + 5 = Add an image

Ctrl + Space and Alt + Space = Zoom in and zoom out

With Lectora, you also have the option of creating your own keyboard shortcuts. Click the arrow to the right of the Quick Access toolbar, and then click the Customize button in the dialog box that appears.

Adobe Photoshop Elements

Ctrl + 0 = Fit to slide

Ctrl + 1 = Show at 100%

M = Switch cursor to selection marquee

C = Switch cursor to crop tool

V = Switch cursor to pointer/move tool

Ctrl + H = Show/hide edges (keep an item selected but show/hide the “marching ants” border)

Ctrl + D = Deselect

About the Author

Diane Elkins

Diane Elkins is the co-founder of Artisan Learning, a custom learning design company. She has built a reputation as a national e-learning expert by being a frequent speaker at major industry events for organizations such as ATD, The Learning Guild, Training Magazine, and ASAE. She is also the co-author of the popular E-Learning Uncovered book series as well as E-Learning Fundamentals: A Practical Guide from ATD Press. She is a past chair of the Professional Development Advisory Council for the American Society of Association Executives and a past board member of the Northeast Florida and Metro DC chapters of ATD. She is also a founding board member of Inspire Accessibility, a consortium of learning providers looking to champion accessibility in the e-learning industry.