NVivo 12: Keyboard shortcutsThe keyboard shortcuts that are described here refer to the U.S. keyboard layout.Aug 26, 2026Knowledge
InformationTitleNVivo 12: Keyboard shortcutsAnswerUsing NVivo > About NVivo > Accessibility > Keyboard shortcutsKeyboard shortcutsThe keyboard shortcuts that are described here refer to the U.S. keyboard layout. Common tasksNavigate the projectWork with textSelect textWork with audio and videoWork with hierarchy chartsWork with mapsAnalysis tasksCommon tasksTo do thisPressUndo previous action.⌘+ZSelect all—for example, all items in a list, all text in a file, or an entire image. ⌘+ACopy selected text or project item.⌘+CPaste text or project item.⌘+VCut selected text or project item.⌘+XDelete selected text or project item.DELETE or BACKSPACEOpen a project.⌘+OPrint project item.⌘+PExport project item.⌘+SHIFT+ESave the project.⌘+SCreate a new project.⌘+NSwitch between edit mode and read-only mode FUNCTION+F2Get Help.⌘+ QUESTION MARK (?)Refresh the NVivo work area (Navigation View, List View and Detail View).⌘+RImport a new Internal file (document, PDF, audio, video or picture).⌘+SHIFT+IShow the activity pane so that you can cancel a process such as a query⌘+ Period (.)Include child levels in action—for example, when expanding the hierarchy using the disclosure triangle or when selecting a node to select it and all its descendants.Press the OPTION key when performing the action.Navigate the projectTo do thisPressOpen Project Properties⌘+SHIFT+COMMA(,)Open the Files folder.⌘+1Open the Nodes folder.⌘+2Open the Cases folder.⌘+3Open the Memos folder.⌘+4Open the Queries folder.⌘+5Expand Detail View to full screen.CONTROL+SHIFT+⌘+FOpen the selected project item.⌘+SHIFT+ODisplay the properties of the selected project item.⌘+OPTION+IOpen the memo that is linked to the selected project item.⌘+SHIFT+MMove to Navigation View ⌘+CONTROL+7Move to List View ⌘+CONTROL+8Move to Detail View ⌘+CONTROL+9Scroll to the currently selected content⌘+JWork with textMany of these shortcuts are only available when a file is open in edit mode.To do thisPressApply bold to selected text.⌘+BApply italics to selected text.⌘+IApply an underline to selected text.⌘+UInsert date and time (uses the format set in the operating system).⌘+SHIFT+TIndent text to the left⌘+ LEFT BRACKET([)Indent text to the right⌘+ RIGHT BRACKET(])Align text flush left⌘+OPTION+ LEFT BRACKET([)Align text flush right⌘+OPTION+ RIGHT BRACKET(])Select textTo do thisPressExtend or decrease a text selection by one or more characters.Hold down SHIFT and then press the RIGHT or LEFT arrow to extend or decrease your selection by one or more characters (not available in PDF files).Select a single word.Double-click anywhere in the word.Select a whole paragraph.Triple-click anywhere in the paragraph (not available in PDF files).Select a single line of text.In PDF files, triple-click anywhere in the line. In other file types, click in the line, then press ⌘+LEFT ARROW to move to the start of the line, and then hold down ⌘+SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW.Select multiple lines of text.Select the first line, and then hold down SHIFT and use the DOWN and UP arrows to extend the selection to one or more lines immediately below or above (not available in PDF files).Extend a text selection to the beginning of: A paragraph in documents, memos or externals OPTION+SHIFT+UP ARROWExtend a text selection to the end of: A paragraph in documents, memos or externals OPTION+SHIFT+DOWN ARROWExtend a text selection to the beginning of: A document, memo or external ⌘+SHIFT+UP ARROWExtend a text selection to the end of: A document, memo or external ⌘+SHIFT+DOWN ARROWWork with audio and videoTo do thisPressPlay / pause.F8* If your keyboard has media keys, you can use the Play/Pause key.Skip back.F7* If your keyboard has media keys, you can use the Play/Pause key.Skip forward.F9* If your keyboard has media keys, you can use the Play/Pause key.Start selection.⌘+OPTION+SHIFT+ LEFT BRACKET([)Finish selection.⌘+OPTION+ SHIFT+RIGHT BRACKET(])Use the playhead position as the start time⌘+\Use the playhead position as the end time⌘+SHIFT+\Use the selected media time range as the start and end times⌘+SHIFT+=Insert transcript row⌘+SHIFT+IRemove selected transcript row⌘+BACKSPACE*You may need to press Fn in addition to the indicated key—for example press Fn+F7 to skip back.Work with hierarchy chartsTo do thisPressMove forward in a hierarchy chartTABMove backward in a hierarchy chartSHIFT+ TABDrill down in a hierarchy chart (if there are child rectangles or circle paths)ENTERReverse drill down in a hierarchy chart (if there is a parent for the rectangle or circle path)BACKSPACE or DELETEWork with mapsTo do thisPress In mind maps, add a sibling idea to the selected idea.OPTION+S (Version 12.1 and later)⌘+SHIFT+I (Version 12.0) In mind maps, add a child idea to the selected idea.OPTION+C (Version 12.1 and later)OPTION+⌘+SHIFT+I (Version 12.0)In mind maps, add a floating ideaOPTION+FIn concept maps, add the selected shape from the shapes pane to the canvas.OPTION+S to display the shape popover, then TAB to move between the shapes. SPACEBAR to add the shape to the canvas.In concept maps, add project item(s) to the canvas.OPTION+PEdit the label of a shape or idea.ENTER Save a text edit.ENTERDelete the selected shape, item or connector.DELETE In concept maps, move between the canvas and the panel.CONTROL+TABMove selection to next shape or item on the canvas. TABMove selection to previous shape or item on the canvas.SHIFT+TABMove the selected shape or item on the canvas.ARROW KEYS (LEFT, RIGHT, UP, DOWN)Resize the selected shape - increase the width.OPTION+RIGHT ARROWResize the selected shape - reduce the width.OPTION+LEFT ARROWResize the selected shape - increase the height.OPTION+UP ARROWResize the selected shape - reduce the height.OPTION+DOWN ARROWAnalysis tasksTo do thisPressLink selected item to a new memo.⌘+SHIFT+KOpen the memo that is linked to the selected project item.⌘+SHIFT+MCreate a new annotation for selected content.⌘+SHIFT+AShow next annotation⌘+OPTION+KShow previous annotation⌘+OPTION+SHIFT+KShow/hide region coordinates⌘+OPTION+CCode using the coding panel⌘+/Code selection at existing node.OPTION+⌘+2Code selection at new node.OPTION+⌘+3Code files at existing node.OPTION+⌘+5Code files at new node.OPTION+⌘+6Make a node from selected text (In Vivo coding).OPTION+⌘+9Uncode selection at existing nodes.⌘+SHIFT+2Uncode selection at this node.⌘+SHIFT+3Uncode files at existing nodes.⌘+SHIFT+5 URL NameNV12Mac-Keyboard-shortcuts