Commands that are frequently used in a program can also be chosen via shortcut keys. For example, the command for saving the current document can be chosen very quickly by pressing the key combination Ctrl+S.
The predefined shortcut keys can be customized at any time in the dialog box of the ribbon command File | Customize | Customize ribbon. You can assign a shortcut key to any command and change or remove existing shortcut keys.
To do so, proceed as follows:
Adding shortcut keys
To assign a shortcut key to a command, perform the following steps:
| 1. | Choose the following command in the ribbon or in the classic menu interface: |
Ribbon: File | group Settings | Customize  | Customize ribbon |
| Classic menus: Tools > Customize |
| 2. | In the dialog box that appears, click on the Shortcut keys button. |
| The dialog box now expands to include an additional section called Shortcut keys, which can be used to edit the shortcut keys for commands. |
| 3. | In the left or right list, select the command to which you want to assign a shortcut key. |
| The left list shows all commands available in the program. (You can use the option Categories to filter this list by a specific category and perform a search using the Quick search field.) |
| The right list displays only the icons that are in the currently selected ribbon tab or toolbar. |
| 4. | Once you have selected the desired command, click into the Press new shortcut key field and press the intended key combination (starting with Ctrl or Alt). |
| Tip: If you make a typing mistake, you can always press the BackspaceÕ key to delete the shortcut key you entered. |
| 5. | Do not forget: Click on Add to assign this shortcut to the command now. |
| 6. | Exit the dialog box with Close. |
From now on, you can execute the selected command with the specified shortcut key.
Editing shortcut keys (removing, changing, etc.)
You can also edit existing shortcut keys for commands (for example, delete or change them) at any time. Proceed as follows:
| 1. | Choose the following command in the ribbon or in the classic menu interface: |
| Ribbon: File | group Settings | Customize | Customize ribbon |
| Classic menus: Tools > Customize |
| 2. | In the dialog box that appears, click on the Shortcut keys button. |
| The dialog box now expands to include an additional section called Shortcut keys, which can be used to edit the shortcut keys for commands. |
| 3. | In the left or right list, select the command whose shortcut keys you want to edit. |
| 4. | In the Shortcut keys section, perform one of the following actions: |
| Remove shortcut keys: The list Current shortcut keys displays all shortcut keys currently assigned to the selected command. To remove a shortcut key, select it from the list and click on Remove. |
| Change shortcut keys: To change the shortcut key for a command, first remove it (as described above) and then assign it a new shortcut key (as described at the beginning of this section). |
| Reset shortcut keys: To reset all shortcut keys for the entire program to their default values, click on the Reset all shortcut keys button and confirm the confirmation prompt. Any changes you have made to shortcut keys will then be discarded. |
| Display a list of all shortcut keys: When you click on the Export button, a table listing all currently assigned shortcut keys is displayed. The buttons next to the table allow you to copy it to the clipboard, for example. |
| 5. | Exit the dialog box with Close. |
Available shortcut keys
Note that some of the key combinations that are possible on your keyboard are not allowed for shortcut keys.
As a rule, you should use alphabetic keys, numeric keys or function keys for shortcut keys. You can combine them with Ctrl, Alt and/or the Shift keyñ.
You can easily check whether the desired key combination is allowed. Click in the Press new shortcut key field in the dialog box described above, and then enter the key combination. If it does not appear in the field, it is not allowed.
Some examples of valid shortcut keys include:
▪Ctrl+A
▪Alt+A (However, key combinations with the Alt key are not recommended – Alt+A, for example, is responsible for opening the View menu!)
▪Ctrl+Alt+A
▪Ctrl+Shift+A
▪Ctrl+Alt+Shift+A
▪Ctrl+F2
▪etc.
Note: Letters on their own are not allowed, of course. Thus, you can't use A or Shift+A as shortcut keys.
Shortcut key already assigned: If you press a shortcut key that is already assigned, the current assignment will be shown just below the input field. You should then press the Backspace keyÕ to delete your shortcut key and try a different shortcut key. Otherwise, you will overwrite the existing assignment of this shortcut key.
Two-part shortcut keys: You can also use two-part shortcut keys (according to the WordStar standard) – for example, Ctrl+K+X. However, only shortcut keys according to the scheme "Ctrl + letter + letter" are allowed here.