This document describes the default keyboard shortcuts of Inkscape, corresponding to the
share/keys/default.xml file in Inkscape distribution. Most (but not all) of these keys
are configurable by the user; see the default.xml file for details on how to do that.
Unless noted otherwise, keypad keys (such as arrows, Home, End, +, -, digits) are
supposed to work the same as corresponding regular keys. If you have a new shortcut
idea, please contact the developers (by writing to the devel mailing list
or by submitting an
RFE).
*
s Selector
Selector (temporary)
Space switches to the Selector tool temporarily; another Space switches back.
n Node tool
z Zoom tool
r Rectangle tool
e Ellipse/arc tool
p Freehand (Pencil) tool
b Bezier (Pen) tool
c Calligraphic tool
g Gradient tool
d Dropper tool
t Text tool
i Spiral tool
* Star tool
o Connector tool
Double click on the tool buttons opens the Preferences dialog showing the page of the corresponding tool.
*
F Fill and Stroke
W Swatches
T Text and Font
M Transform
L Layers
A Align and Distribute
O Object Properties
H Undo history
X XML Editor
D Document Preferences
P Inkscape Preferences
E Export to PNG
F Find
B Trace bitmap
These open a new dialog window if it wasn't open yet, otherwise the corresponding dialog gets focus.
Toggle visibility
toggle dialogs
This temporarily hides all open dialogs; another F12 shows them again.
Within a dialog
return to the canvas
W close the dialog
jump to next widget
jump to previous widget
set the new value
This accepts the new value you typed in a text field and returns focus to canvas.
in XML Editor, set the attr value
When editing an attribute value in XML Editor, this sets the new value (same as clicking the "Set attribute" button).
activate current button or list
in a multi-tab dialog, switch tabs
*
The Controls bar at the top of the document window provides different buttons and controls for each tool.
X jump to the first editable field
accept the new value
This accepts the new value you typed in a text field and returns focus to canvas.
cancel changes, return to canvas
This cancels any changes you made in a text field and returns focus to canvas.
Z cancel changes
This cancels any changes you made in a text field but you stay in the field.
jump to next field
jump to previous field
Use these to navigate between fields in the Controls bar (the value in the field you leave, if changed, is accepted).
Changing values
change value by 0.1
change value by 5.0
*
Zoom
= + zoom in
- zoom out
The keypad +/- keys do zooming even when you are editing a text object, unless NumLock is on.
zoom in
zoom out
zoom in or out
zoom into the area
Z activate zoom field
The zoom field in the lower left corner of the window allows you to specify zoom level precisely.
Preset zooms
1 zoom 1:1
2 zoom 1:2
3 zoom to selection
4 zoom to drawing
5 zoom to page
E6 zoom to page width
Zoom history
` (back quote) previous zoom
` next zoom
With these keys, you can travel back and forth through the history of zooms in this session
Scrolling (panning)
scroll canvas
Scrolling by keys is accelerated, i.e. it speeds up when you press Ctrl+arrows in quick succession, or press and hold.
pan canvas
pan canvas
scroll canvas vertically
scroll canvas horizontally
Guides and grid
drag off a ruler to create guide
Drag off the horizontal or vertical ruler to create a new guideline. Drag a guideline onto the ruler to delete it.
| \ toggle guides and snapping to guides
If you want to have different values for guides visibility and snapping, set them via the Document Options dialog.
When you create a new guide by dragging off the ruler, guide visibility and snapping are turned on.
# 3 toggle grid and snapping to grid
If you want to have different values for grid visibility and snapping, set them via the Document Options dialog.
Note that only the 3 key on the main keyboard works, not on the keypad.
*
These keys work both in the floating palette dialog and in the palette frame at the bottom of the window.
set fill color on selection
set stroke color on selection
drag fill color to objects
drag stroke color to objects
To change fill/stroke of an object by dragging color on it, that object need not be selected.
You can also drag colors to the Fill (F) and Stroke (S) indicators in the statusbar to change the selection.
*
N create new document
O open an SVG document
E export to PNG
I import bitmap or SVG
P print document
S save document
S save under a new name
Q exit Inkscape
*
R toggle rulers
B toggle scrollbars
toggle fullscreen
main menu
Menus can also be activated by Alt with the letter underscored in the menu name.
drop-down (context) menu
W close document window
This shuts down Inkscape if it was the only document window open.
next document window
previous document window
These cycle through the active document windows forward and backward.
*
move to layer above
move to layer below
These commands move the selected objects from one layer to another.
raise layer
lower layer
raise layer to top
lower layer to bottom
These commands move the current layer among its siblings (normally other layers).
*
Undo/redo
Y Z undo
Z Y redo
Clipboard
C copy selection
This places a copy of the selection to the Inkscape clipboard. Text from text objects is also placed onto the system clipboard.
X cut selection
This works the same as "copy selection" followed by deleting the selection.
V paste clipboard
This places the clipboard objects at the mouse cursor, or at the center of the window if mouse is outside the canvas.
When editing text with the text tool, this pastes the text from the system clipboard into the current text object.
V paste in place
This places the clipboard objects to the original location from which they were copied.
V paste style
This applies the style of the (first of the) coped object(s) to the current selection.
If a gradient handle (in Gradient tool) or a text span (in Text tool) are selected, they get the style instead of the entire object.
Duplicate
D duplicate selection
New object(s) are placed exactly over the original(s) and selected.
Clone
D clone object
A clone can be moved/scaled/rotated/skewed independently, but it updates the path, fill, and stroke from its original.
The clone is placed exactly over the original object and is selected.
You can only clone one object at a time; if you want to clone several objects together, group them and clone the group.
D unlink clone
Unlinking a clone cuts the link to the original, turning the clone into a plain copy.
D select original
To find out which object this is a clone of, select the clone and give this command. The original will be selected.
Bitmaps
B create a bitmap copy
This exports the selected object(s) (all other objects hidden) as PNG in the document's directory and imports it back.
The imported bitmap is placed over the original selection and is selected.
B trace bitmap
This opens the Trace Bitmap dialog allowing you to convert a bitmap object to path(s).
Patterns
I object(s) to pattern
This converts the selection to a rectangle with tiled pattern fill.
I pattern to object(s)
Each selected object with pattern fill is broken into the same object without fill and a single pattern object.
Group
U G group selected objects
Use Ctrl+click to select objects within group.
G U ungroup selected group(s)
This removes only one level of grouping; press Ctrl+U repeatedly to ungroup nested groups.
Z-order
raise selection to top
lower selection to bottom
raise selection one step
lower selection one step
*
Convert to path
C convert selected object(s) to path
C convert stroke to path
Booleans
+ union
Union combines any number of objects into a single path, removing overlaps.
- difference
Difference works on 2 objects, extracting the top from the bottom.
* intersection
Intersection creates a path representing the common (overlapping) area of all selected objects.
^ exclusive OR (XOR)
XOR is similar to Union, except that it works on 2 objects and removes areas where the objects overlap.
/ division (cut)
Division cuts the bottom object into pieces by the top object, preserving the fill and stroke of the bottom.
/ cut path
Cut Path cuts the bottom object's stroke only where it is intersected by the top path, removing any fill from the result.
The result of Union, Difference, Intersection, and XOR inherits the id= attribute and therefore the clones of the bottom object.
Division and Cut path normally produce several objects; of them, a random one inherits the id= of the bottom source object.
Offsets
( inset path (towards center)
) outset path (away from center)
The default offset distance is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels).
( inset path by 1 pixel
) outset path by 1 pixel
( inset path by 10 pixels
) outset path by 10 pixels
The actual distance for pixel offsets depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer adjustment.
All the (, ) commands convert the object to path, if necessary, and produce regular path.
J create dynamic offset
J create linked offset
These commands produce an offset object, editable by the node tool, standalone or linked to the original.
D select source
Selecting a linked offset and giving this command will select the source path of the linked offset.
Combine
K combine paths
This is different from grouping in that combined paths create one object.
This is different from Union in that overlapping areas are not affected.
Whether overlapping areas are filled is controlled by the Fill: winding/alternating switch on the Fill & Stroke dialog.
K break paths apart
This attempts to break an object into constituent paths; it will fail if the object is one solid path.
Simplify
L simplify
This command attempts to simplify selected path(s) by removing extra nodes. It converts all objects to paths first.
If you invoke this command several times in quick succession, it will act more and more aggressively.
Invoking Simplify again after a pause restores the default threshold (settable in the Inkscape Preferences dialog).
*
Keyboard select
select next object
select previous object
These keys pick objects in their z-order (Tab cycles from bottom to top, Shift+Tab cycles from top to bottom).
Unless you did manual rearrangements, the last object you created is always on top.
As a result, if nothing is selected, pressing Shift+Tab once conveniently selects the object you created last.
This works on objects within the current layer (unless you change that in preferences).
A select all (current layer)
This works on objects within the current layer (unless you change that in preferences).
A select all (all layers)
This works on objects in all visible and unlocked layers.
! invert selection (current layer)
This inverts selection (deselects what was selected and vice versa) in the current layer.
! invert selection (all layers)
This inverts selection (deselects what was selected and vice versa) in visible and unlocked layers.
deselect
delete selection
Keyboard move
move selection by the nudge distance
move selection by 10x nudge distance
The default nudge distance is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels).
move selection by 1 pixel
move selection by 10 pixels
The actual distance for pixel movements depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer movement.
Keyboard scale
. > scale selection up by the scale step
, < scale selection down by the scale step
The default scale step is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels).
. > scale selection to 200%
, < scale selection to 50%
. > scale selection up by 1 pixel
, < scale selection down by 1 pixel
The actual size increment for pixel scaling depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer scaling.
Scaling is uniform around the center, so that the size increment applies to the larger of the two dimensions.
Keyboard rotate
[ ] rotate selection by the angle step
The default angle step is 15 degrees. ] rotates clockwise, [ rotates counterclockwise.
[ ] rotate selection by 90 degrees
[ ] rotate selection by 1 pixel
The actual angle for pixel rotation depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer movement.
These commands use the rotation center, draggable in Selector (by default it's in geometric center).
Keyboard flip
h flip selection horizontally
v flip selection vertically
Mouse select
select an object
When you left-click on an object, previous selection is deselected.
toggle selection
Shift+click adds an object to the current selection if it was not selected, or deselects it otherwise.
edit the object
For paths, double clicking switches to Node tool; for shapes, to corresponding shape tool; for text, to Text tool.
For groups, double clicking performs the "Enter group" command (the group becomes temporary layer).
Double clicking in empty space swithes to the parent layer in the hierarchy, if any.
Select within group, select under
select within group
Ctrl+click selects the object at click point disregarding any levels of grouping that this object might belong to.
toggle selection within group
select under
Alt+click selects the object at click point which is beneath (in z-order) the lowest selected object at click point.
If the bottom object is reached, Alt+click again selects the top object. So, several Alt+clicks cycle through z-order stack at point.
On Linux, Alt+click and Alt+drag may be reserved by the window manager. Reconfigure it so you can use them in Inkscape.
toggle under
select under, in groups
toggle under, in groups
enter group
go to parent group/layer
Rubberband
select multiple objects
Dragging around objects does "rubberband" selection; previous selection is deselected.
add objects to selection
Normally, you need to start from an empty space to initiate a rubberband.
However, if you press Shift before dragging, Inkscape will do rubberband selection even if you start from an object.
Mouse move
select + move
Dragging an object selects it if it was not selected, then moves selection.
move selected
Alt+drag moves the current selection (without selecting what is under cursor), no matter where you start the drag.
On Linux, Alt+click and Alt+drag may be reserved by the window manager. Reconfigure it so you can use them in Inkscape.
restrict movement to horizontal or vertical
temporarily disable snapping
This temporaily disables snapping to grid or guides when you are dragging with grid or guides on.
drop a copy
When dragging or transforming with mouse, each Space leaves a copy of the selected object.
You can press and hold Space while dragging for a nice "trail."
Mouse transform
toggle scale/rotation handles
scale (scale handles)
rotate or skew (rotation handles)
Scale handles
scale
scale preserving aspect ratio
symmetric transformation
Holding Shift while transforming makes transformation symmetric around the center of the selection.
slow movement
Holding Alt while transforming makes transformation lag behind mouse movement, allowing finer changes.
Rotation/skew handles
rotate or skew
snap skew angle
Holding Ctrl when dragging a skew (non-corner) handle snaps the skew angle to angle steps (default 15 degrees).
snap rotation angle
Holding Ctrl when dragging a rotation (corner) handle snaps the rotation angle to angle steps (default 15 degrees).
Rotation center
move rotation center
Moved rotation center remembers its position for (all) selected object(s) until you reset it.
reset rotation center
Resetting rotation center moves it back to the geometric center of the object's or selection's bounding box.
Cancel
cancel rubberband, move, transformation
Press Esc while mouse button is still down to cancel rubberband selection, move, or transformation of any kind.
*
Keyboard select
select next node
select previous node
These keys select nodes within the selected path
A select all nodes in subpath(s)
If the path has multiple subpaths and some nodes selected, this selects all only in subpaths with already selected nodes.
A select all nodes in path
This selects all nodes in the entire path.
! invert selection in subpath(s)
If the path has multiple subpaths and some nodes selected, this inverts selection only in subpaths with already selected nodes.
! invert selection in path
This inverts selection (deselects what was selected and vice versa) in the entire path.
deselect all nodes
Keyboard move
move selected node(s) by the nudge distance
move selected node(s) by 10x nudge distance
The default nudge distance is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels).
move selected node(s) by 1 pixel
move selected node(s) by 10 pixels
The actual distance for pixel movements depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer movement.
Keyboard handle scale (1 node selected)
< > contract/expand both handles by scale step
The default scale step is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels). May apply to more than one node.
<
>
scale left handle by the scale step
<
>
scale right handle by the scale step
<
>
scale left handle by 1 pixel
<
>
scale right handle by 1 pixel
The actual size increment for pixel scaling depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer scaling.
Instead of the < and > keys, you can use the , (comma) and . (period) keys respectively.
Keyboard handle rotate (1 node selected)
[ ] rotate both handles by the angle step
The default angle step is 15 degrees. ] rotates clockwise, [ rotates counterclockwise. May apply to more than one node.
[ ] rotate left handle by the angle step
[ ] rotate right handle by the angle step
[ ] rotate left handle by 1 pixel
[ ] rotate right handle by 1 pixel
Keyboard scale (>1 nodes selected)
These commands scale the selected nodes as if they were an "object", around the center of that object.
. > scale nodes up by the scale step
, < scale nodes down by the scale step
The default scale step is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels).
. > scale nodes up by 1 pixel
, < scale nodes down by 1 pixel
The actual size increment for pixel scaling depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer scaling.
Scaling is uniform around the center, so that the size increment applies to the larger of the two dimensions.
Keyboard rotate (>1 nodes selected)
These commands rotate the selected nodes as if they were an "object", around the center of that object.
[ ] rotate nodes by the angle step
The default angle step is 15 degrees. ] rotates clockwise, [ rotates counterclockwise.
[ ] rotate nodes by 1 pixel
The actual angle for pixel rotation depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer movement.
Keyboard flip (>1 nodes selected)
These commands flip the selected nodes as if they were an "object", around the center of that object.
h flip nodes horizontally
v flip nodes vertically
Change segment(s)
L make line
U make curve
These commands require that more than two adjacent nodes be selected.
Change node type
C make cusp
S make smooth
Y make symmetric
When making smooth or symmetric, you can lock the position of one of the handles by hovering mouse over it.
toggle smooth/cusp/symmetric
Join/break
J join selected nodes
This requires that exactly two end nodes within the path be selected.
You can lock the position of one of the two joined nodes by hovering mouse over it.
B break selected node(s)
After break, only one of each two new nodes is selected. May apply to more than one node.
Delete, create, duplicate
delete selected node(s)
delete without preserving shape
Deleting without Ctrl adjusts handles on the remaining nodes to preserve the shape of the curve as much as possible.
Deleting with Ctrl does not touch the remaining nodes.
create/delete node
Ctrl+Alt+click on a node deletes it; Ctrl+Alt+click on the path between nodes creates a new node in the click point.
Deleting nodes this way always tries to preserve the shape of the curve (same as Del/Backspace).
create node
Double clicking on the path between nodes creates a node in the click point.
insert new node(s)
This adds new node(s) in the middle(s) of selected segment(s), so it requires that more than two adjacent nodes be selected.
D duplicate selected node(s)
New nodes are created on the same path; they are placed exactly over the old ones and are selected.
Mouse select: objects
click a non-selected object to select
select under
toggle selection
These work the same as in Selector. The nodes or handles of the single selected object become editable.
Mouse select: nodes
select a node
Clicking on a node selects it.
select two adjacent nodes
Clicking on a selected path between the nodes selects the two nodes closest to the click point.
toggle selection
This adds/removes a node (if clicked on node) or two nodes (if clicked on path) to/from the node selection.
deselect
Clicking in an empty space deselects all selected nodes. Next click will deselect the object.
Rubberband
select multiple nodes
Dragging around nodes does "rubberband" selection; previous node selection is deselected.
add nodes to selection
Normally, you need to start from a point not over a path or a node to initiate a rubberband.
However, if you press Shift before dragging, Inkscape will do rubberband selection even if you start over the path.
Node move (mouse)
move selected nodes
restrict movement to horizontal or vertical
move along handles
This restricts movement to the directions of the node's handles, their continuations and perpendiculars (total 8 snaps).
If the node has straight lines on one or both sides, this will snap it to these lines' directions and perpendiculars instead.
temporarily disable snapping
Snapping nodes is enabled in Document Preferences. By default, only bounding box of objects snaps to grid/guides.
drag out handle
If a node has a retracted handle, dragging with Shift lets you drag it out of the node.
drop a copy
When dragging nodes with mouse, each Space leaves a copy of the selected object.
You can press and hold Space while dragging for a nice "trail."
Node handles
move a node handle
snap the handle to angle steps
The default angle step is 15 degrees. This also snaps to the handle's original angle, its continuation and perpendiculars.
rotate both handles
lock the handle length
Ctrl, Shift, Alt can be combined when dragging handles.
retract the handle
Retracted handle is zero length; use Shift+drag to drag it back out.
Reversing
r reverse path direction
Editing shapes
Node tool can also drag the handles of shapes (rectangles, ellipses, stars, spirals). Click on a shape to select it.
See the corresponding shape tools for their editing shortcuts, all of which also work in node tool.
Cancel
cancel rubberband or move
Press Esc while mouse button is still down to cancel rubberband selection, node move, handle move, or handle move.
*
Drawing
draw a rectangle
make a square or integer-ratio rectangle
This restricts rectangle so its height/width ratio is a whole number.
draw around the starting point
This creates a rectangle symmetric around the starting point of the mouse drag.
Editing
click an object to select
select under
toggle selection
drag a handle to resize or round corners
Initially, the two rounding handles are in the top right corner; two resize handles are in top left and bottom right corners.
lock width, height, or ratio (resize handles)
lock the corner circular (rounding handles)
Resize handles change the width and height of the rectangle in its own coordinate system, before any transforms are applied.
When rounding corners, dragging only one rounding handle (with the other at the corner) keeps the corner circular.
You can drag both handles for an elliptic rounded corner, or drag one with Ctrl to make sure the other one is synchronized.
deselect
*
Drawing
draw an ellipse
make circle or integer-ratio ellipse
This restricts ellipse so its height/width ratio is a whole number.
draw around the starting point
This creates an ellipse symmetric around the starting point of the mouse drag.
Editing
click an object to select
select under
toggle selection
drag a handle to resize, make arc or segment
Initially, the two arc/segment handles are in the rightmost point; two resize handles are at the topmost and leftmost points.
lock circle (resize handles)
snap to angle steps (arc/segment handles)
Resize handles change the width and height of the ellipse in its own coordinate system, before any transforms are applied.
The default angle step is 15 degrees.
deselect
*
Drawing
draw a star
snap star to angle steps
The default angle step is 15 degrees.
Editing
click an object to select
select under
toggle selection
drag a handle to vary the star shape
keep star rays radial (no skew)
round the star
remove rounding
randomize the star
remove randomization
deselect
*
Drawing
draw a spiral
snap spiral to angle steps
The default angle step is 15 degrees.
Editing
click an object to select
select under
toggle selection
roll/unroll from inside (inner handle)
Dragging the inner handle adjusts the "inner radius" parameter.
converge/diverge (inner handle)
reset divergence (inner handle)
Vertical Alt+drag of the inner handle adjusts the "divergence" parameter, Alt+click resets it to 1.
zero inner radius (inner handle)
Shift+click on inner handle makes the spiral start from the center.
roll/unroll from outside (outer handle)
Dragging the outer handle adjusts the "turns" parameter. Use Shift+Alt+drag to roll/unroll without changing radius.
scale/rotate (outer handle)
Use Shift+Alt to rotate only (locks the radius of the spiral).
snap handles to angle steps
The default angle step is 15 degrees. This works for both handles.
deselect
*
zoom in
zoom out
zoom into the area
*
draw a freehand line
add to selected path
If a path is selected, Shift+dragging anywhere creates a new subpath instead of a new independent path.
temporarily disable snapping
Shift also temporaily disables snapping to grid or guides when you are drawing with grid or guides on.
*
Create nodes
create a sharp node
If no path is being created, this starts a new path.
add to selected path
If a path is selected, Shift+clicking anywhere starts a new subpath instead of a new independent path.
create a bezier node with two handles
move only one handle
This moves only one handle (instead of both) while creating a node, making it cusp.
snap the handle to angle steps
The default angle step is 15 degrees.
Move last node
These commands move the last created node (at the start of the red segment) while creating a path.
move last node by the nudge distance
move last node by 10x nudge distance
The default nudge distance is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels).
move last node by 1 pixel
move last node by 10 pixels
The actual distance for pixel movements depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer movement.
Create/modify segments
snap last segment to angle steps
This snaps the new node's angle, relative to the previous node, to angle steps (default 15 degrees).
L make last segment line
U make last segment curve
These commands change the last (red) segment of the path to straight line or curve.
Finish
finish current line
finish current line
finish current line
Enter, right click, or double left click finish the current line, discarding the last unfinished (red) segment.
Cancel
z cancel current line
erase last segment of current line
*
draw a calligraphic line
adjust pen width
adjust pen angle
Width and angle can be adjusted while drawing.
deselect
*
Creating gradients
create gradient
This creates gradient on selected objects. The Controls bar lets you select linear/radial and fill/stroke for the new gradient.
create default gradient
This creates default (horizontal edge-to-edge for linear, centered edge-to-edge-to-edge for radial) gradient on clicked object.
Handles
select next handle
select previous handle
move selected handle by the nudge distance
move selected handle by 10x nudge distance
The default nudge distance is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels).
move selected handle by 1 pixel
move selected handle by 10 pixels
The actual distance for pixel movements depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer movement.
deselect handle
open gradient editor
Double clicking a gradient handle opens the Gradient Editor with that gradient and the clicked handle chosen in the stops list.
Reversing
r reverse gradient definition
This mirrors the stop positions of the current gradient without moving the gradient handles.
Mouse select
click an object to select
select under
toggle selection
*
pick fill color
pick stroke color
average fill color
average stroke color
Click applies the color under cursor to the current selection. Dragging a radius calculates the average color of a circular area.
If a gradient handle (in Gradient tool) is selected, it gets the color instead of the entire object.
pick inverse color
If Alt is pressed, picking color (with or without Shift, by click or by drag) picks the inverse of the color.
C copy color
This copies the color under cursor to the system clipboard, as text in RRGGBBAA format (8 hex digits).
*
Selecting/creating
create/select a text object
Clicking in an empty space or on a non-text creates a text object; now you can type your text.
Clicking on a text object selects it; cursor is placed near the click point.
deselect the text object
Text navigation
move cursor by one character
move cursor by one word
move cursor by one paragraph
go to beginning/end of line
go to beginning/end of text
All these commands cancel current text selection, if any.
Flowed text (internal frame)
create flowed text
Clicking and dragging in an empty space or on a non-text creates a flowed text object with internal frame.
adjust frame size
Dragging the handle in the lower right corner of the selected flowed text changes width/height of the frame.
lock width, height, or ratio of frame
Dragging the corner handle with Ctrl resizes the frame preserving either width, or height, or ratio.
Flowed text (external frame)
W flow text into frame
With a text object and a shape/path selected, this flows text into the shape/path.
Both remain separate objects, but are linked; editing the shape/path causes the text to reflow.
W unflow text from frame
This cuts the flowed text's link to the shape/path, producing a single-line regular text object.
D select external frame
To find out which object is the frame of this flowed text, select it and press Shift+D. The frame will be selected.
Text on path
D select path from text
To find out which path this text is put on, select it and press Shift+D. The path will be selected.
Editing text
To type + and - characters, use the main keyboard; keypad + and - are reserved for zoom (unless NumLock is on).
start a new line or paragraph
Enter in regular text creates new line; in flowed text it creates a new paragraph
U toggle Unicode entry
To insert an arbitrary Unicode character, type Ctrl+U, then the hexadecimal code point, then Enter.
For example, Ctrl+U 2 0 1 4 Enter inserts an em-dash.
To stay in Unicode mode after inserting the character, press Space instead of Enter.
Press Esc or another Ctrl+U to cancel Unicode mode without inserting the character.
insert no-break space
A no-break space is visible even in a text object without xml:space="preserve".
Selecting text
select text
Left-dragging over a text object selects a text span.
select text by character
select text by word
select to beginning/end of line
select to beginning/end of text
select word
select line
A select all text
This selects the entire text of the current text object.
Styling selection
B make selection bold
I make selection italic
Also, you can use the Text&Font or Fill&Stroke dialogs to assign any style to text selection.
Letter spacing
> expand line/paragraph by 1 pixel
> expand line/paragraph by 10 pixels
< contract line/paragraph by 1 pixel
< contract line/paragraph by 10 pixels
These commands (only when editing text) adjust letter spacing in the current line (regular text) or paragraph (flowed text).
The actual adjustment for pixel movements depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer adjustment.
Line spacing
> make the text object taller by 1 pixel
> make the text object taller by 10 pixels
< make the text object shorter by 1 pixel
< make the text object shorter by 10 pixels
These commands (only when editing text) adjust line spacing in the entire text object (regular or flowed).
The actual adjustment for pixel movements depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer adjustment.
Kerning and shifting
shift characters by 1 pixel
shift characters by 10 pixels
These commands work when editing a regular text object. Kerning does not work in flowed text.
With no selection, they shift (horizontally or vertically) the characters after the cursor until the end of line.
With selection, they shift the selection relative to the rest of text (by inserting opposite kerns at both ends of selection).
The actual adjustment for pixel movements depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer adjustment.
Rotating
[ ] rotate character(s) by 90 degrees
[ ] rotate character(s) by 1 pixel
These commands rotate the next character (without selection) or all characters in the selection (with selection).
Rotation only works in regular text (not flowed text).
The actual angle for pixel rotation depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer movement.