Quattro Pro offers many ways to save you time. For example, instead of using menus and menu commands, you can access many of the dialog boxes and commands by using keyboard shortcuts.
Quattro Pro can display keyboard shortcuts beside each menu command in the menu bar. You can disable this feature if you do not want shortcuts displayed.
You can customize many of the keyboard shortcuts. For more information about customizing keyboard shortcuts, see "Customizing keyboards."
Depending one what mode you are in keyboard shortcuts may be repeated but their functions change.
Shortcuts for common tasks
The following keys provide useful shortcuts for many tasks:
Key(s) Description
Alt + (underscored letter) Opens relevant menu. For example, pressing Alt + F opens the File menu.
underscored letter Once a menu is open, press the underscored letter alone to select a command. For example, if the File menu is open, pressing P selects the Print command.
Alt, then Ctrl + Tab Selects the first item on the first toolbar. Press Tab to move the focus to the right, press Shift + Tab to move it to the left, and press Spacebar to select an command. Press Ctrl + Tab again to move to the next toolbar.
Ctrl + N File New
Ctrl + O File Open
Ctrl + F4 File Close
Ctrl + S File Save
F3 File Save as
Alt + F + G File Page setup
Ctrl + P File Print
Alt + F4 File Exit
Ctrl + Z Edit Undo
Ctrl + Shift + Z Edit Redo
Ctrl + X, or Shift + Del Edit Cut
Ctrl + C, or Ctrl + Ins Edit Copy
Ctrl + V, or Shift + Ins Edit Paste
Ctrl + B Makes selected text bold
Ctrl + I Makes selected text italic
Ctrl + E Centers selected text
Ctrl + U Underlines selected text
Ctrl + L Left aligns selected text
Ctrl + R Right aligns selected text
Backspace Erases the character to the left of the cursor when the cursor is in a cell.
Erases everything in a cell when the cell is selected.
Spacebar Enables or disables the area within the cursor's focus (such as check boxes or links in a list)
Caps lock Enters Caps mode, in which all letters you type are displayed in uppercase letters. Press again to exit Caps mode
Ctrl + D Inserts the date
Ctrl + Enter Inserts a hard page break
Ctrl + Break If pressed while a macro is executing, terminates the macro
Del Erases the contents (but not properties) of the current cell or selected cells
Ctrl + Del In Group mode, acts like Del, but "drills" the deletion through the group (deletes the selected cell, cells, or graphics on all grouped spreadsheets)
\ (Backslash) Lets you type one or more characters to repeat across an entire cell width
Enter In a notebook, writes the entry on the input line into the current cell, and returns to Ready mode. In a menu, choice list, or dialog box, chooses the selected item.
Esc Cancels whatever task you are doing. For example, it can back you out of a menu, exit a dialog box, or erase any changes you made in the input line.
Num lock Toggles performance of the numeric keypad keys between numeric keys and Arrow keys
Pause Enters Macro Debug mode
Scroll lock Toggles performance of the Arrow keys. When you first press Scroll lock, the SCRL indicator is enabled on the status bar and the Arrow keys scroll the contents of the active window without changing which cell is selected. When you press Scroll lock again, you can change which cell is selected with the Arrow keys.
Ctrl + Page down or Page up In a notebook, moves from one spreadsheet to the next or previous spreadsheet. In a dialog box with multiple settings, changes panes (groups of property options).
Ctrl + Shift + Page down or Page up Lets you selects multiple spreadsheets
Up or Down Arrow In a dialog box text box, enters Point mode.
Tab In a notebook, moves right one column. In a dialog box, moves between controls. In a Help window, use to move between jumps, and press Enter to select jumps.
Ctrl + Tab In a graphics window, press Ctrl + Tab to select an object in the chart.
Shift + Tab In a notebook, moves left one cell. In a dialog box, moves to the previous control. In a graphics window, moves to the beginning of the current word in a text box. Use Ctrl + Shift + Tab to select the previous item in a chart.
Ctrl + Left Arrow In a notebook, moves left one screen
Ctrl + Right Arrow In a notebook, moves right one screen
Ctrl + Shift + F Displays the SpeedFormat dialog box
Ctrl + W Displays the Symbols dialog box
Ctrl + Shift + L Displays a list of series names from which you can choose to fill cells. Equivalent to clicking the QuickFill button on the notebook bar.
Ctrl + Shift + S Activates the Styles list box on the property bar
Ctrl + Shift + N Equivalent to clicking File New from template. Displays the PerfectExpert.
Alt + Down Arrow In box, in a dialog box, with a Browse button, activates the Open File dialog box.
Ctrl + F Opens the Find and replace dialog box
Edit mode keys
The following keys are available in Edit mode.
Key(s) Function
Esc Exits Edit mode. If you click Tools Settings, and in the list of categories, double-click Workspace, Application and click General, and then enable the Compatible keys check box, pressing Esc erases the contents of the input line, and pressing Esc a second time exits Edit mode.
Enter Enters the data and exits Edit mode
Ctrl + Enter In Group mode, acts like Enter, but "drills" data through all grouped spreadsheets at once
Up Arrow If data is wrapped on more than one line, moves the cursor up a line. If you click Tools Settings, and in the list of categories, double-click Workspace, Application and click General, and then enable the Compatible keys check box, pressing Up Arrow enters the data, exits Edit mode, and moves up one cell. When the cursor follows an operator in a formula, enters Point mode.
Down Arrow If data is wrapped on more than one line, moves the cursor down a line. If you click Tools Settings, and in the list of categories, double-click Workspace, Application and click General, and then enable the Compatible keys check box, Down Arrow enters the data, exits Edit mode, and moves down one cell. When the cursor follows an operator in a formula, enters Point mode.
Page down Enters the data, exits Edit mode, and moves down one screen. When the cursor follows an operator in a formula, enters Point mode.
Page up Enters the data, exits Edit mode, and moves up one screen. When the cursor follows an operator in a formula, enters Point mode.
Ins Toggles between Insert and Overwrite modes (Insert is the default)
Backspace Deletes characters to the left of the cursor
Del Deletes characters to the right of the cursor, selected cells, or a graphic
Ctrl + Backspace Erases the contents of the input line
Ctrl + Right Arrow Moves to the next page
Tab Moves to the next cell. The cursor moves to the next page if you click Tools Settings, and in the list of categories, double-click Workspace, Application and click General, and then enable the Compatibility keys check box.
Shift + Tab Moves to the previous cell
Ctrl + Left Arrow Moves to the next page
Ctrl + Shift + Right Arrow Selects content from the cursor to the next page.
Ctrl + Shift + Left Arrow Selects content from the cursor to the previous page.
F2 Toggles to display an indicator on the application bar that tells you what type of data you are editing-either value or label
Shift + F3 Displays a list of macro commands
Alt + F3 Displays a list of spreadsheet functions
F9 Calculates and then displays formula results on the input line
Object keys
The following list describes the shortcut keys available when working with objects, such as shapes, charts, and maps.
Key(s) Description
Spacebar + Arrow keys Controls horizontal and vertical pointer movement when you draw an object. If an object is selected, lets you control the object's movement.
Spacebar + Home Moves the pointer up and left diagonally when you draw an object. If an object is selected, moves the object up and left diagonally.
Spacebar + Page up Moves the pointer up and right diagonally when you draw an object. If an object is selected, moves the object up and right diagonally.
Spacebar + End Moves the pointer down and left diagonally when you draw an object. If an object is selected, moves the object down and left diagonally.
Spacebar + Page down Moves the pointer down and right diagonally when you draw an object. If an object is selected, moves the object down and right diagonally.
Ctrl + ] Selects the object that was created first on the active spreadsheet, and selects the remaining objects in the order in which they were created
Ctrl + [ Selects the object that was created last on the active spreadsheet, and selects the remaining objects in the reverse order in which they were created
F12 Opens a dialog box specific to the object selected
Esc Closes the current dialog box. Also cancels the selection of a selected object.
Delete Deletes the selected object
Formula Composer keys
The following list describes the shortcut keys available when working in the formula outline pane of the Formula Composer.
Key(s) Description
Ctrl + Plus sign Expands the outline by one level
Ctrl + Shift + 8 Expands the whole outline for the formula
Ctrl + Minus sign Collapses the current branch of the outline
Ctrl + F Goes to a referenced cell in the formula
Ctrl + B Returns to the previous cell containing a formula that references the current cell
Ctrl + E Converts the current expression to a value
Ctrl + O Replaces the current expression with an @function
Ctrl + P Switches to Point mode to specify a cell reference by pointing to a cell (or cells) on a spreadsheet
Ctrl + N Replaces the current expression with a cell name
Point mode keys
The following keys are available in Point mode.
Key(s) Function
Arrow keys + Period key Press the Arrow keys to select the first cell and press the period key. Press the Arrow keys to move to the last cell you want to select.
Enter Enters the selected cells in the formula or dialog box and, exits Point mode
Esc If pressed while pointing to cells, returns you to the anchor cell
Backspace If pressed while pointing to cells, returns you to the cell that was active before you entered Point mode
F4 Makes the cell address to the left of the cursor absolute. Press repeatedly to cycle through the absolute combinations; for example, $A:$B$4, $A:B$4. (Does not disturb the selected cell.)
Alt + F5 Turns Group mode on or off
F6 If the window is split into two panes, jumps to the other pane
Ctrl + F6 If multiple windows are open, jumps to the next window
Print preview keys
The following table lists keys you can use while previewing.
Key Effect
Esc Exits the preview
F1 Displays online Help
Page up Displays the previous spreadsheet
Page down Displays the next spreadsheet
+ (plus key) Zooms in a level, increasing detail
- (minus key) Zooms out a level, decreasing detail
Up Arrow Scrolls a zoomed display up
Down Arrow Scrolls a zoomed display down
Right Arrow Scrolls a zoomed display right
Left Arrow Scrolls a zoomed display left
Home Displays the top-left corner of a zoomed spreadsheet
End Displays the bottom-right corner of a zoomed spreadsheet
Navigation keys
The following keys let you move more easily through notebooks.
Key(s) Description
Left Arrow Moves left one cell
Right Arrow Moves right one cell
Up Arrow Moves up one cell
Down Arrow Moves down one cell
Ctrl + Page down Moves forward one spreadsheet
Ctrl + Page up Moves backward one spreadsheet
Page up Moves up one screen
Page down Moves down one screen
Home Moves to the upper-left cell (A1) of the active spreadsheet
Ctrl + Home Moves to the upper- left cell (A1) of the first spreadsheet
End + Home Moves to the lower-right corner of the filled part of a notebook
End + Arrow key If the cursor is in a filled cell, the selector moves in the direction of the arrow to the next filled cell before an empty one
Tab In a notebook, moves right one cell. In a dialog box, moves between controls. In a graphics window, inserts a tab space in text boxes. Press Ctrl + Tab to select the next graphic in a chart.
Shift + Tab In a notebook, moves left one cell. In a dialog box, moves to the previous control. In a graphics window, moves to the beginning of the current word in a text box. Press Ctrl + Shift + Tab to select the previous graphic in a chart.
Ctrl + Left Arrow Moves left one screen
Ctrl + Right Arrow Moves right one screen
Ctrl + G, or F5 Moves to the cell you specify
Function keys
The following list describes the use of each function key when pressed alone, and when pressed together with Ctrl, Shift, or Alt.
Key(s) Description
F1 Opens Help
Shift + F1 Displays a question mark (?) and a pointer, so you can click a user interface element about which you want information. For example, if you click Shift + F1 and click a toolbar button, Help for that button displays.
Ctrl + F1 Opens the Writing tools dialog box and lets you check the spelling of a document.
F2 Activates Edit mode so you can change a cell entry
Shift + F2 Activates Debug mode so you can execute a macro step by step
Alt + F2 Displays the Play macro dialog box
Ctrl + F2 Opens the Formula composer dialog box
F3 When you are prompted for cells, or in Edit mode with the cursor positioned after an operator, displays a list of cell names. To expand the list to show cell coordinates, press + (plus sign). Press - (minus sign) to remove coordinates. Press F3 again to "zoom" the names list to the full screen.
Shift + F3 Displays a list of available macros, by category
Alt + F3 In Value or Edit mode, displays a list of spreadsheet functions, by category
Ctrl + F3 Lets you create a named cell or cell area
F4 In Edit, Value, or Point mode, makes the cell address to the left of the cursor absolute. Press repeatedly to cycle through the eight absolute combinations; for example, $A:$B$4, $A:B$4. You can use F4 when typing or editing a formula.
Alt + F4 Exits Quattro Pro
Ctrl + F4 Closes a window (notebook, dialog box, graphics window, light table window, or dialog window)
F5 or Ctrl + G Opens the Go to dialog box
Shift + F5 Works like the Quick tab button next to the spreadsheet tabs ; displays the Objects spreadsheet, and then returns to a spreadsheet
Alt + F5 Switches Group mode on and off
F6 If the window is split into two panes, jumps to the other pane
Shift + F6 Displays the previous open window
Ctrl + F6 Displays the next open window
F7 Refreshes output of the previous Notebook query
Shift + F7 In Edit mode, lets you use the Arrow keys to select cells containing text
F8 Refreshes output of the previous What-If tables
Shift + F8 Combines selected cells into a group
Ctrl + F8 Separates a group into individual cells
F9 In Ready mode, recalculates the formulas in a notebook. In Edit mode, calculates and displays on the input line the results of formulas. For example, if you type 8*9 on the input line, and press F9, the formula is replaced with the result, 72. To recalculate the entire notebook afterwards, press F9 again in Ready mode.
Shift + F9 Expands the details of a currently collapsed outline group
Alt + F9 Opens the Data sort dialog box
Ctrl + F9 Collapses the details of a currently expanded outline group
F10 Works like / or Alt; moves the selector to the menu bar.
Shift + F10 Provides a shortcut to the right-click menu
F11 Displays the current chart
Alt + F11 Opens the Visual Basic Editor
F12 Displays the properties for the active cell or cells
Shift + F12 Displays the properties for the active window or notebook
Alt + F12 Displays the properties for the application
Ctrl + F12 Displays the properties of the active spreadsheet
CrossTab report keys
The following shortcut keys can be used in the CrossTab report dialog box when creating a CrossTab report.
Keys Description
Tab Lets you move between different areas of the CrossTab report dialog box
Arrow keys Let you move between the different options in an area of the CrossTab report dialog box.
Ctrl+P Places the selected field in the Pages section of the layout.
Ctrl+C Places the selected field in the Columns section of the layout.
Ctrl+R Places the selected field in the Rows section of the layout.
Ctrl+D Places the selected field in the Data section of the layout.
Ctrl+F or Delete Places the selected field from a section in the layout back in the Fields list.
Alt+F Selects the Fields list.
Excel compatibility keys
The following keys are active only when the Microsoft Excel menu is displayed.
Key(s) Description
F7 Opens the Writing tools dialog box and lets you check the spelling in a spreadsheet
Ctrl + K Opens the Edit hyperlink dialog box
Ctrl + H Opens the Find/replace dialog box
Ctrl + R, or Ctrl + D Opens the QuickFill dialog box
