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Computers & Technology

Flash CS3: Keyboard Shortcuts

published by Barnes & Noble

Your shortcut to mastering Flash.

Want to use Adobe Flash faster than ever before? This guide covers all of Flashs
keyboard shortcuts and tips, including:
How to create your own custom keyboard shortcuts
How to modify Flashs built-in keyboard shortcuts
All the built-in keyboard shortcuts for Flash through version CS3

Keyboard Shortcuts Basics

A keyboard shortcut is a keystroke or a combination of two
or three keystrokes that you can use to execute a command
in a computer program far more quickly than you could by
clicking with a mouse. This guide includes all of the built-in
keyboard shortcuts for Flash CS3. Almost all of these shortcuts also work in Flash 8, though not as many work in earlier
versions of Flash.

How to Make Your Own Custom Keyboard

Shortcuts
In addition to providing hundreds of built-in keyboard shortcuts, Flash lets you create new custom shortcuts or modify
existing shortcuts.
1. Click on Edit in the main toolbar to open the Edit dropdown menu.
2. Click on Keyboard Shortcuts.
3. In the dialog box that appears, click on the Duplicate
near the top right corner. A second dialog
Set icon
box will appear.
4. In the second dialog box, type in a name for your new
set of shortcuts and click OK. Your set contains a copy
of all of Flashs built-in shortcuts, which you can then
modify or add to without deleting or overwriting Flashs
default set. After you click OK, youll return to the
Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box, which will now display
the shortcuts in your set.
5. Click on the arrow to the right of the drop-down menu
next to the word Commands. This drop-down lets you
select which of the eight categories of shortcuts youd
like to add to or edit. The eight categories are:
A. Actions Panel Commands
B. Debug Movie Commands
C. Drawing Menu Commands
D. Script Edit Commands
E. Test Movie Menu Commands
F. Timeline Commands
G. Tools Commands
H. Workspace Accessibility Commands
6. Once you select a category, youll see a list of the
commands and built-in shortcuts that the category
contains. Some categories have subcategories,
which are indicated by a plus sign to the left of the
subcategory namedouble-click on these plus signs to
reveal the commands and shortcuts that they contain.
7. Not all commands have built-in shortcuts, though you
can assign your own shortcuts to these commands. To

assign a shortcut, click on a command that does not

have a shortcut listed in the right column, then click
on the plus sign next to the word Shortcuts. You can
then type in any combination of keys to serve as your
new shortcutas long as the combination isnt already
used by an existing shortcut. Flash will alert you to any
conflicts that arise.
8. To modify an existing shortcut, click on its shortcut
keys, enter a new key combination next to the words
Press key, and click the Change button. Again, Flash
will alert you to any conflicts.
9. When youve finished making all the changes youd like
to make to your set of custom shortcuts, click the OK
button to save your new set of shortcuts.

Balance Braces

Ctrl+

Indent Code

Ctrl+[

Outdent Code

Ctrl+]

Code Collapse: Between

Braces

Ctrl+Shift+

Code Collapse: Selection

Ctrl+Shift+C

Code Collapse: Outside

Selection

Ctrl+Alt+C

Code Collapse: Selection

Ctrl+Shift+X

Code Collapse: Expand All

Ctrl+Alt+X

Toggle Breakpoint

Ctrl+B

Remove All Breakpoints

Ctrl+Shift+B

Pin Script

Ctrl+=

How to Use Flash Shortcuts on a Mac

Close Script

Ctrl+-

The shortcuts listed in this guide are for PCs, but will also
work on Macs with just two slight modifications:

Close All Scripts

Ctrl+Shift+-

Import Script...

Ctrl+Shift+I

Export Script...

Ctrl+Shift+P

Preferences...

Ctrl+U

From now on, Flash will load your custom set of shortcuts
when you start Flash. To use the default set instead, click
on Keyboard Shortcuts in the Edit menu and choose Adobe
Standard in the drop-down menu next to the words Current
set. Then click OK.

Instead of the Ctrl key: Use the Command key

Instead of the Alt key: Use the Option key

Shortcuts for Actions Panel

Shortcuts for Debug Movie

Action

Shortcut

Auto Format

Ctrl+Shift+F

Check Syntax

Ctrl+T

Action

Shortcut

Show Code Hint

Ctrl+Space Bar

New...

Ctrl+N

Script Assist

Ctrl+Shift+E

Open...

Ctrl+O

Hidden Characters

Ctrl+Shift+8

Browse...

Ctrl+Alt+O

Line Numbers

Ctrl+Shift+L

Close

Ctrl+W

Word Wrap

Ctrl+Shift+W

Close All

Ctrl+Alt+W

Find Again

F3

Exit

Ctrl+Q

Find and Replace...

Ctrl+F

Go to Line...

Ctrl+G

In the File Menu

Adobe Flash CS3: Keyboard Shortcuts

www.quamut.com
In the Edit Menu

Output

F2

In the Edit Menu

Action

Shortcut

Project

Shift+F8

Action

Shortcut

Copy

Ctrl+C

Align

Ctrl+K

Undo

Ctrl+Z

Select All

Ctrl+A

Color

Shift+F9

Redo

Ctrl+Y

Find...

Ctrl+F

Info

Ctrl+I

Cut

Ctrl+X

Find Again

F3

Swatches

Ctrl+F9

Copy

Ctrl+C

Go to Line...

Ctrl+G

Transform

Ctrl+T

Paste in Center

Ctrl+V

Preferences...

Ctrl+U

Components

Ctrl+F7

Paste in Place

Ctrl+Shift+V

Component Inspector

Shift+F7

Duplicate

Ctrl+D

Select All

Ctrl+A

Deselect All

Ctrl+Shift+A

Find and Replace

Ctrl+F

Find Next

F3

Timeline: Remove Frames

Shift+F5

Timeline: Cut Frames

Ctrl+Alt+X

Timeline: Copy Frames

Ctrl+Alt+C

Shortcuts for Drawing Menu

Timeline: Paste Frames

Ctrl+Alt+V

In the File Menu

Timeline: Clear Frames

Alt+Backspace

Timeline: Select All Frames

Ctrl+Alt+A

In the View Menu

Action

Shortcut

Accessibility

Shift+F11

Hidden Characters

Ctrl+Shift+8

History

Ctrl+F10

Word Wrap

Ctrl+Shift+W

Scene

Shift+F2

Hide Panels

F4

Strings

Ctrl+F11

In the Debug Menu

Action

Shortcut

Continue

Alt+F5

End Debug Session

Alt+F12

Step In

Alt+F6

Step Over

Alt+F7

Step Out

Alt+F8

Toggle Breakpoint

Ctrl+B

Remove All Breakpoints

Ctrl+Shift+B

In the Window Menu

Web Services

Ctrl+Shift+F10

Hide Panels

F4

Action

Shortcut

New...

Ctrl+N

Edit Symbols

Ctrl+E

Open...

Ctrl+O

Preferences...

Ctrl+U

Browse...

Ctrl+Alt+O

Close

Ctrl+W

Action

Shortcut

Close All

Ctrl+Alt+W

Go to: First

Home

In the View Menu

Action

Shortcut

Save

Ctrl+S

Go to: Previous

Page Up

Timeline

Ctrl+Alt+T

Save As...

Ctrl+Shift+S

Go to: Next

Page Down

Tools

Ctrl+F2

Import to Stage...

Ctrl+R

Go to: Last

End

Open External Library...

Ctrl+Shift+O

Zoom In

Ctrl+=

Export Movie...

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S

Zoom Out

Ctrl+-

Publish Settings...

Ctrl+Shift+F12

100%

Ctrl+1

F12

400%

Ctrl+4

800%

Ctrl+8

Show Frame

Ctrl+2

Show All

Ctrl+3

Preview Mode: Outlines

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+O

Properties
Library
Actions

Ctrl+F3
Ctrl+L, F11
F9

Behaviors

Shift+F3

Publish Preview: Default

(HTML)

Compiler Errors

Alt+F2

Publish

Shift+F12

ActionScript 2.0 Debugger

Shift+F4

Print...

Ctrl+P

Movie Explorer

Alt+F3

Exit

Ctrl+Q

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Adobe Flash CS3: Keyboard Shortcuts

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Preview Mode: Fast

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+F

Distribute Widths

Ctrl+Alt+7

Properties

Ctrl+F3

Preview Mode: Anti-Alias

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+A

Distribute Heights

Ctrl+Alt+9

Library

Ctrl+L, F11

Make Same Width

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+7

Actions

F9

Make Same Height

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+9

Behaviors

Shift+F3

Ctrl+Alt+8

Compiler Errors

Alt+F2

ActionScript 2.0 Debugger

Shift+F4

Movie Explorer

Alt+F3

Output

F2

Preview Mode: Anti-Alias Text

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+T

Pasteboard

Ctrl+Shift+W

Rulers

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+R

Show Grid

Ctrl+

Edit Grid...

Ctrl+Alt+G

Show Guides

Ctrl+;

Lock Guides

Ctrl+Alt+;

Edit Guides...

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+G

Snap to Grid

Ctrl+Shift+

Snap to Guides

Ctrl+Shift+;

Snap to Objects

Ctrl+Shift+/

Edit Snapping...
Hide Edges
Show Shape Hints

Ctrl+/
Ctrl+H
Ctrl+Alt+H

In the Insert Menu

Action

Shortcut

New Symbol...

Ctrl+F8

Frame

F5

In the Modify Menu

To Stage
Group

Ctrl+G

Ungroup

Ctrl+Shift+G

In the Text Menu

Project

Shift+F8

Action

Shortcut

Align

Ctrl+K

Plain

Ctrl+Shift+P

Color

Shift+F9

Bold

Ctrl+Shift+B

Info

Ctrl+I

Italic

Ctrl+Shift+I

Swatches

Ctrl+F9

Transform

Ctrl+T

Components

Ctrl+F7

Align Left

Ctrl+Shift+L

Align Center

Ctrl+Shift+C

Component Inspector

Shift+F7

Align Right

Ctrl+Shift+R

Accessibility

Shift+F11

Justify

Ctrl+Shift+J

History

Ctrl+F10

Letter Spacing: Increase

Ctrl+Alt+Right

Scene

Shift+F2

Letter Spacing: Decrease

Ctrl+Alt+Left

Strings

Ctrl+F11

Web Services

Ctrl+Shift+F10

Hide Panels

F4

Letter Spacing: Reset

Ctrl+Alt+Up

In the Control Menu

Action

Shortcut

Play

Enter

Action

Shortcut

Document...

Ctrl+J

Rewind

Ctrl+Alt+R

Convert to Symbol...

F8

Step Forward One Frame

Break Apart

Ctrl+B

Step Backward One Frame

Optimize...

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+C

Test Movie

Ctrl+Enter

Add Shape Hint

Ctrl+Shift+H

Test Scene

Ctrl+Alt+Enter

Distribute to Layers

Ctrl+Shift+D

Test Project

Ctrl+Alt+P

Convert to Keyframes

F6

Enable Simple Frame Actions

Ctrl+Alt+F

Clear Keyframe

Shift+F6

Convert to Blank Keyframes

F7

Enable Simple Buttons

Ctrl+Alt+B

Scale and Rotate...

Ctrl+Alt+S

Mute Sounds

Ctrl+Alt+M

Rotate 90 CW

Ctrl+Shift+9

Rotate 90 CCW

Ctrl+Shift+7

Remove Transform

Ctrl+Shift+Z

Arrange: Bring to Front

Ctrl+Shift+Up

Arrange: Bring Forward

Ctrl+Up

Arrange: Send Backward

Ctrl+Down

Arrange: Send to Back

Ctrl+Shift+Down

Arrange: Lock

In the Debug Menu

Action

Shortcut

Debug Movie

Ctrl+Shift+Enter

Continue

Alt+F5

End Debug Session

Alt+F12

Step In

Alt+F6

Ctrl+Alt+L

Step Over

Alt+F7

Arrange: Unlock All

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+L

Step Out

Alt+F8

Align Left

Ctrl+Alt+1

Align Horizontal Center

Ctrl+Alt+2

Align Right

Ctrl+Alt+3

Align Top

Ctrl+Alt+4

Align Vertical Center

Ctrl+Alt+5

Align Bottom

Ctrl+Alt+6

In the Window Menu

Action

Shortcut

Duplicate Window

Ctrl+Alt+K

Timeline

Ctrl+Alt+T

Tools

Ctrl+F2

Shortcuts for Script Edit

In the File Menu
Action

Shortcut

New...

Ctrl+N

Open...

Ctrl+O

Browse...

Ctrl+Alt+O

Close

Ctrl+W

Close All

Ctrl+Alt+W

Save

Ctrl+S

Save As...

Ctrl+Shift+S

Import Script...

Ctrl+Shift+I

Print...

Ctrl+P

Exit

Ctrl+Q

In the Edit Menu

Action

Shortcut

Undo

Ctrl+Z

Redo

Ctrl+Y

Cut

Ctrl+X

Copy

Ctrl+C

Paste

Ctrl+V

Select All

Ctrl+A

Find and Replace...

Ctrl+F

Find Again

F3

Go to Line...

Ctrl+G

Indent Code

Ctrl+[

Outdent Code

Ctrl+]

Adobe Flash CS3: Keyboard Shortcuts

www.quamut.com
Balance Braces

Ctrl+

Align

Ctrl+K

Code Collapse: Collapse

Between Braces

Ctrl+Shift+

Color

Shift+F9

Code Collapse: Collapse

Selection

Ctrl+Shift+C

Info

Ctrl+I

Action

Shortcut

Swatches

Ctrl+F9

Move Frame Left

Left

Code Collapse: Collapse

Outside Selection

Ctrl+Alt+C

Components

Ctrl+F7

Move Frame Right

Right

Move Frame Up

Up

Code Collapse: Expand

Selection

Ctrl+Shift+X

Move Frame Down

Down

Code Collapse: Expand All

Ctrl+Alt+X

Select Left Frame

Shift+Left

Preferences...

Ctrl+U

Select Right Frame

Shift+Right

Select Frame Above

Shift+Up

Select Frame Below

Shift+Down

In the View Menu

Component Inspector

Shift+F7

Accessibility

Shift+F11

History

Ctrl+F10

Scene

Shift+F2

Strings

Ctrl+F11

Action

Shortcut

Web Services

Ctrl+Shift+F10

Hidden Characters

Ctrl+Shift+8

Hide Panels

F4

Line Numbers

Ctrl+Shift+L

Word Wrap

Ctrl+Shift+W

Hide Panels

F4

In the Tools Menu

Shortcuts for Test Movie Menu

In the View Menu
Action

Shortcut

Action

Shortcut

Zoom In

Ctrl+=

Auto Format

Ctrl+Shift+F

Zoom in 100%

Ctrl+1

Check Syntax

Ctrl+T

Zoom in 400%

Ctrl+4

Show Code Hint

Ctrl+Space Bar

Zoom in 800%

Ctrl+8

Zoom Out

Ctrl+-

Show Frame

Ctrl+2

In the Control Menu

Action

Shortcut

Show All

Ctrl+3

Test Movie

Ctrl+Enter

Bandwidth Profiler

Ctrl+B

Test Project

Ctrl+Alt+P

Streaming Graph

Ctrl+G

Frame By Frame Graph

Ctrl+F

Simulate Download

Ctrl+Enter

Show Redraw Regions

Ctrl+E

In the Debug Menu

Action

Shortcut

Debug Movie

Ctrl+Shift+Enter

Continue

Alt+F5

In the Control Menu

End Debug Session

Alt+F12

Action

Shortcut

Step In

Alt+F6

Play

Enter

Step Over

Alt+F7

Rewind

Ctrl+Alt+R

Step Out

Alt+F8

Step Forward One Frame

Step Backward One Frame

Toggle Breakpoint
Remove Breakpoints in This File

Ctrl+B
Ctrl+Shift+B

In the Window Menu

In the Debug Menu

Action

Shortcut

Action

Shortcut

Continue

Alt+F5

Timeline

Ctrl+Alt+T

End Debug Session

Alt+F12

Tools

Ctrl+F2

Step In

Alt+F6

Properties

Ctrl+F3

Step Over

Alt+F7

Library

Ctrl+L, F11

Step Out

Alt+F8

Actions

F9

List Objects

Ctrl+L

Behaviors

Shift+F3

List Variables

Ctrl+Alt+V

In the Window Menu

Shortcuts for Timeline

Shortcuts for Tools Panel

Action

Shortcut

Arrow

Sub Select

Lasso

Line

Pen

Add Anchor Point

Delete Anchor Point

Convert Anchor Point

Text

Oval

Rectangle

Oval Primitive

Rectangle Primitive

Pencil

Brush

Ink Bottle

Paint Bucket

Dropper

Eraser

Hand

Magnifier

M, Z

Free Transform

Fill Transform

Object Drawing

Shortcuts for Workspace Accessibility

Action

Shortcut

Forward Panel Focus

Ctrl+F6

Backward Panel Focus

Ctrl+Shift+F6

Select Stage

Ctrl+Alt+Home

Select Next Object

Tab

Select Previous Object

Shift+Tab

Compiler Errors

Alt+F2

ActionScript 2.0 Debugger

Shift+F4

Action

Shortcut

Movie Explorer

Alt+F3

ActionScript 2.0 Debugger

Shift+F4

Output

F2

Output

F2

Action

Shortcut

Project

Shift+F8

Project

Shift+F8

Open the Flash Help Feature

F1

Flash Help