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This is Appendix A of Getting Started with OpenOffice.org 2.x (Third edition), produced by the OOoAuthors group. A PDF of this chapter is available from the OOoAuthors Guides page at OpenOffice.org.

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Introduction

You can use OpenOffice.org (OOo) without requiring a pointing device, such as a mouse or trackball, by using its built-in keyboard shortcuts. Tasks as varied and complex as docking and un-docking toolbars and windows, or changing the size or position of objects, can all be accomplished with only a keyboard.

OOo has a general set of keyboard shortcuts, available in all components, and a component-specific set directly related to the work of that component (Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw and Base). This document describes the general set: the component specific shortcuts are fully described in the appropriate appendix of the relevant component guide.

For help with OOo's keyboard shortcuts, or using OOo with a keyboard only, search the OOo Help using the “shortcut" or “accessibility" keywords.

Assigning shortcut keys

In addition to using the built-in keyboard shortcuts (listed later in this Appendix), you can define your own. You can assign shortcuts to standard OOo functions or your own macros and save them for use with the entire OpenOffice.org suite.

Caution: Be careful when reassigning your operating system's or OOo's predefined shortcut keys. Many key assignments are universally understood shortcuts, such as F1 for Help, and are always expected to provide certain results. Although you can easily reset the shortcut key assignments to the OOo defaults, changing some common shortcut keys can cause confusion, frustration and possible data loss or corruption, especially if other users share your computer.

To adapt shortcut keys to your needs, use the Customize dialog, as described below.

1. Select Tools > Customize > Keyboard. The Customize dialog (Figure 1) opens.
2. To have the shortcut key assignment available in all components of OpenOffice.org select the OpenOffice.org button.
3. Next select the required function from the Category and Function lists.
4. Now select the desired shortcut keys in the Shortcut keys list and click the Modify button at the upper right.
5. Click OK to accept the change. Now the chosen shortcut keys will execute the function chosen in step 3 above whenever they are pressed.

Notes: All existing shortcut keys for the currently selected Function are listed in the Keys selection box. If the Keys list is empty, it indicates that the chosen key combination is free for use. If it were not, and you wished to reassign a shortcut key combination that is already in use, you must first Delete the existing Key.

Shortcut keys that are greyed-out in the listing on the Customize dialog, such as F1 and F10, are not available for reassignment.

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Saving changes to a file

Changes to the shortcut key assignments (and other configurations) can be saved in a keyboard configuration file for use at a later time, thus permitting you to create and apply different configurations as the need arises. To save keyboard shortcuts to a file:

1. After making your keyboard shortcut assignments, click the Save button near the bottom right of the Customize dialog (Figure 1).
2. In the Save Keyboard Configuration dialog, select All files from the Save as Type list.
3. Next enter a name for the keyboard configuration file in the File name box, or select an existing file from the list. If you need to, browse to find a file from another location.
4. Click Save. A confirmation dialog will appear if you are about to overwrite an existing file, otherwise there will be no feedback and the file will be saved.

Loading a saved keyboard configuration

To load a saved keyboard configuration file and replace your existing configuration, click the Load button near the bottom right of the Customize dialog (Figure 1), and then select the configuration file from the Load Keyboard Configuration dialog.

Resetting the shortcut keys

To reset all of the keyboard shortcuts to their default values, click the Reset button near the bottom right of the Customize dialog (Figure 1). Use this feature with care as no confirmation dialog will be displayed; the defaults will be set without any further notice or user input.

Running macros

You can also define shortcut key combinations that will run macros. These shortcut keys are strictly user-defined; none are built in. For information on macros, see Chapter 17 (Getting Started with Macros).

General shortcut keys for OpenOffice.org

Keyboard shortcuts using the function keys

Shortcut keys in the Gallery

Shortcut keys in the New Theme area of the Gallery

Shortcut keys in the Gallery preview area

Selecting rows and columns in a table

Shortcut keys for drawing objects