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PlexiiDraw keyboard shortcuts

PlexiiDraw uses Illustrator's default keys. See the keys that moved, every tool and command key, and how to change keys in the Keyboard shortcuts dialog.

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PlexiiDraw's keyboard shortcuts follow Adobe Illustrator's default keys, so if you already know Illustrator, the same keys pick the same tools and run the same commands. You can see every key in the Keyboard shortcuts dialog, search it, and change any key you like.

Before you start

  • Keyboard shortcuts are on every plan.
  • Open an artwork. See Start an artwork and set up the artboard.
  • Mac and Windows. This page writes the Mac keys. On Windows, press Ctrl for ⌘ and Alt for ⌥. ⇧ is the Shift key.
  • Keys do nothing while you are typing in a box or editing text on the artboard.

The keys that moved

The first time you open PlexiiDraw with the Illustrator keys, a notice called PlexiiDraw now uses Illustrator's shortcuts lists the keys that changed. Click See all shortcuts to open the Keyboard shortcuts dialog, or click × to dismiss it. Once dismissed, the notice does not come back.

Tool or command Key before Key now
Rectangle R M. R is now the Rotate tool.
Ellipse O L. O is now the Reflect tool.
Line L \
Eraser E ⇧ E. E is now the Free Transform tool.
Paint bucket G K
Rounded rectangle D No key. Pick it in the toolbox.
Polygon U No key. Pick it in the toolbox.
Star S No key. Pick it in the toolbox. S is now the Scale tool.
Duplicate ⌘ D No key. Use Edit > Duplicate. ⌘ D is now Transform Again.
Redo ⌘ Y ⇧ ⌘ Z, which already worked before.

Tool keys

Press a key to switch to that tool. Rest the pointer on a tool in the toolbox to see its name and key.

Tool Key Tool Key
Select V Type T
Direct Selection A Rotate R
Group selection No key Reflect O
Pen P Scale S
Curvature ⇧ ~ Free Transform E
Add Anchor Point + Scissors C
Delete Anchor Point - Knife No key
Anchor Point ⇧ C Brush B
Pencil N Eraser ⇧ E
Rectangle M Paint bucket K
Ellipse L Eyedropper I
Line \ Pan H
Rounded rectangle, Polygon, Star No key

Command keys

To do this On a Mac On Windows
Open the Keyboard shortcuts dialog ⌥ ⇧ ⌘ K Ctrl Alt Shift K
Open an SVG as a new drawing ⌘ O Ctrl O
Undo ⌘ Z Ctrl Z
Redo ⇧ ⌘ Z Ctrl Shift Z
Cut, copy, paste ⌘ X, ⌘ C, ⌘ V, or F2, F3, F4 Ctrl X, Ctrl C, Ctrl V, or F2, F3, F4
Paste in front, paste in back ⌘ F, ⌘ B Ctrl F, Ctrl B
Paste in place ⇧ ⌘ V Ctrl Shift V
Paste on all artboards ⌥ ⇧ ⌘ V Ctrl Alt Shift V
Select all ⌘ A Ctrl A
Transform Again ⌘ D Ctrl D
Move… dialog ⇧ ⌘ M Ctrl Shift M
Transform Each… dialog ⌥ ⇧ ⌘ D Ctrl Alt Shift D
Join ⌘ J Ctrl J
Average… dialog ⌥ ⌘ J Ctrl Alt J
Average and join in one step ⌥ ⇧ ⌘ J Ctrl Alt Shift J
Group, ungroup ⌘ G, ⇧ ⌘ G Ctrl G, Ctrl Shift G
Make, release a clipping mask ⌘ 7, ⌥ ⌘ 7 Ctrl 7, Ctrl Alt 7
Make, release a compound path ⌘ 8, ⌥ ⇧ ⌘ 8 Ctrl 8, Ctrl Alt Shift 8
Lock the selection, unlock all ⌘ 2, ⌥ ⌘ 2 Ctrl 2, Ctrl Alt 2
Hide the selection, show all ⌘ 3, ⌥ ⌘ 3 Ctrl 3, Ctrl Alt 3
Nudge the selection Arrow keys Arrow keys
Nudge a copy across ⌥ and an arrow key Alt and an arrow key
Smaller or larger brush [ and ] [ and ]
Finish a path, leave isolation mode or clear the selection Esc Esc

Find a shortcut

  1. Press ⌥ ⇧ ⌘ K, or choose Edit > Keyboard shortcuts…. The Keyboard shortcuts dialog opens.
  2. Click Tools or Menu commands to see that list.
  3. To find one quickly, type in Search by name or key. You can type a name, such as "Rectangle", or a key, such as "⌘D". A search looks through both lists. Searching "⌘D" shows only Transform Again.

Change a key

  1. In the Keyboard shortcuts dialog, find the tool or command.
  2. Click the pencil button at the end of its row, Change the key for the tool or command.
  3. Press the new key, with any modifier keys. To stop without a change, press Esc.

The new key works as soon as you close the dialog. For example, change Rectangle to G, close the dialog and press G: the Rectangle tool is selected.

  • A key that is taken is refused. If another tool or command already uses the key, the dialog says so, such as "already used by the Select tool", and keeps the old key. To use that key, change or remove the other one first.
  • Illustrator's keys for other features. If Illustrator uses the key for something PlexiiDraw does not have, the key is saved, with a note saying what Illustrator uses it for. G, for example, is Illustrator's key for its Gradient tool.
  • Tool keys are one key. A tool's key is a single key, or ⇧ with a key, as in Illustrator.
  • Remove a key. The Remove the key from button takes the key off a row, so it has none.
  • Undo one change. A row you changed has a reset button that puts back Illustrator's key.

Your keys are kept for your profile only. They do not change anyone else's keys.

Reset all keys

Once you have changed a key, the top of the dialog reads Set: Illustrator defaults, changed. Click Reset all to Illustrator defaults to put every key back. Rectangle, for example, is back on M.

Tooltips and tool options

  • Tooltips. Rest the pointer on a tool in the toolbox. Its tooltip shows the tool's name and its key.
  • Tool options. Some tools have an options dialog. Their tooltip says "double-click for options". Double-click Rotate in the toolbox, for example, to open its options dialog. See Transform and align objects.

Common questions

R used to draw rectangles and now it rotates. PlexiiDraw follows Illustrator's keys: R is Rotate and M is Rectangle. The table under The keys that moved lists every change.

Can I have my old keys back? You can set any key yourself. For example, to put Rectangle back on R, first remove R from Rotate, then change Rectangle to R.

How do I duplicate now? Choose Edit > Duplicate, or copy and paste. ⌘ D is Transform Again, which repeats your last move, rotation or other transform. See Cut, copy and paste.

A key does nothing. Click the artboard first. Keys do nothing while you type in a box or edit text, and commands that act on a selection need something selected.

Still need help? Contact support at [email protected].